Written Answers to Questions
Monday 20 May 2013
Scotland
Clothing
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been. [155455]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not separately record claims for evening dress hire.
Conditions of Employment
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in his Department are employed on zero-hours contracts. [156171]
David Mundell: No staff in the Scotland Office are employed on a zero-hours contract.
Inflation
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the purposes for which his Department uses (a) the retail price index measure of inflation, (b) the consumer price index measure of inflation and (c) any alternative measure of inflation. [154970]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office uses measures of inflation for a range of analytical purposes, including in respect of the Scottish economy.
Public Opinion
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has conducted any polling or surveys since May 2010. [155930]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not conducted any polling or surveys since May 2010.
Training
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year. [155435]
David Mundell:
All staff that join the Scotland Office do so on an assignment, or loan from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice. The Office encourages all staff to
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undertake learning and development activities, the majority of which are provided through the parent bodies' learning and development portals at no direct cost to the Office.
The Office does not maintain a central record of training courses attended. However, the following table shows direct spending by the Scotland Office on training and the monetary value of the 10 highest training course fees.
| £ | ||
| Direct spending | 10 highest training course fees | |
Travel
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year. [155415]
Michael Moore: The Scotland Office travel subsistence expenses information for the last five years is supplied in the following table.
| Number of officials claiming reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses | Total cost of claims (£) | Monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims (£) | |
Culture, Media and Sport
Apprentices
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many apprenticeships were created by her Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [154889]
Hugh Robertson: DCMS is fully committed to the apprenticeship scheme and, with The Royal Parks, has agreed to provide at least five apprenticeships every year, going forward. Apprenticeships created by DCMS:
| Number | |
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We do not hold information for our arm’s length bodies.
Broadband
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to tackle the practice of slamming in the broadband industry. [155598]
Mr Vaizey: This is a matter for the independent communications regulator, Ofcom. DCMS officials have spoken with Ofcom and can advise that:
Slamming is where someone's broadband or telephone line is switched to another provider without their consent. Ofcom is committed to tackling slamming and has a number of rules in place to prevent it. Ofcom rules explicitly prohibit all companies from engaging in dishonest, misleading or deceptive conduct, and oblige providers to ensure consumers fully understand and consent to a contract before it is agreed.
There are also a number of safeguards built into the switching process which are specifically designed to protect consumers from being slammed. According to these rules, consumers must receive a letter informing them of the imminent switch, with a 10-day switchover period during which the order can be stopped. Typically, the consumer will receive letters from both companies involved. This gives them the ability to cancel any inadvertent transfer before it happens. Since the introduction of these rules three years ago, the number of average monthly mis-selling and slamming complaints has fallen from 845 per month in the 12 months prior to these rules being introduced, to 460 complaints per month in the last 12 months.
Ofcom can and will take action if companies repeatedly breach these rules, and has the power to fine providers up to 10% of annual turnover.
In addition, Ofcom is currently reviewing the switching process for broadband and landline services delivered over BT’s copper telephone network. Ofcom has been consulting on proposed changes to the current process aimed at ensuring there are no undue barriers to switching and guarding against unintended consequences, such as slamming.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote retail competition in the super-fast broadband market. [155849]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are committed to achieving a transformation in broadband in the UK by 2015 and we already have a highly competitive retail broadband market
Ofcom, the independent communications regulator, is responsible for monitoring the broadband market Where it finds evidence of insufficient competition, or a position of significant market power, Ofcom is required to regulate to promote competition. For example, in the past, Ofcom has required BT to provide access to its street cabinets, through a process known as sub-loop unbundling, and to provide access to its duct and pole infrastructure. These actions in support of competition have led to the UK having one of the most competitive
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broadband markets in Europe as shown by the European Broadband Scorecard published by Ofcom in March 2013.
The Scorecard, which focuses on the five leading economies in the EU (UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain), found that the UK has some of the lowest fixed and mobile broadband prices among the comparator countries. The proportion of fixed lines operated by the incumbent was the lowest (BT at 31%) and the market share of the largest mobile operator is the joint lowest (EE, with 33%).
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the regulatory structure of the UK retail super-fast broadband market. [155850]
Mr Vaizey: Ofcom, the independent communications regulator, is responsible for monitoring the broadband market within a regulatory framework set by the EU. Consequently it regularly carries out market reviews to ensure competition across all telecommunication services. Where Ofcom finds there is insufficient competition, that is, there is a dominant supplier which is not constrained by competition, it is required to introduce regulation to address this.
Ofcom has recently commenced a new review of fixed access markets, and this will also help ensure that any future regulatory framework for the retail super-fast broadband market remains effective.
Clothing
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been. [155444]
Hugh Robertson: There have been no claims made for evening dress by any officials of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the last five years. Information relating to our ALBs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Football: Tickets
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will commission an investigation into recent trends in football season ticket prices and the effects on consumers of any price rises. [155661]
Hugh Robertson: While the Government acknowledge supporters' concerns over recent rises in football season ticket prices, the matter is one for individual football clubs and not for Government.
ICT
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from her Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [156422]
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Hugh Robertson: The information requested is set out in the following tables:
| 2012-13 | |
| Item | Number |
| 2010-11 | |
| Item | Number |
| 2011-12 | |
| Item | Number |
Mobile Phones
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which company holds the largest contract to provide mobile telephony services to her Department; how much was paid under the contract in the last year for which figures are available; how many individual services are covered by the contract; when the contract was awarded; when the contract will next be renewed; and for how long. [155635]
Hugh Robertson: The largest providers of mobile telephone services to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are O2 (for BlackBerry smartphones) and Vodafone (for other mobile phones, pagers and tablets).
These are employed via call-off agreements from a Government procurement service framework, which operates on a rolling one-year contract. The contract was last renewed in February this year and will be reviewed towards the end of the year to decide what the requirements of the Department will be moving forward.
The table sets out how much the Department has paid to Vodafone and 02 in 2012-13.
| Company | Paid to company in 2012-13 (£) | Number of handsets |
Olympic Games 2012
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Olympic legacy funding has been spent on (a) sports and (b) the arts; and what proportion remains unspent. [155616]
Hugh Robertson:
There has never been a single central Government or other pot for funding the various legacy programmes that have been developed as part of the London 2012 games. The legacy programmes are owned
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and funded by a range of bodies, including Government Departments, arm’s length bodies, the GLA, local authorities, LOCOG and private sector organisations, and relate to sport and healthy living, communities, the economic legacy, regeneration of East London and disability.
Public Lending Right
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the transfer of public lending rights functions to the British Library will require primary legislation. [156146]
Mr Vaizey: The Registrar of Public Lending Right is listed in schedule 1 of the Public Bodies Act 2011, which confers a series of order-making powers on Ministers to abolish, merge, or modify constitutional or funding arrangements, or modify or transfer functions of public bodies through secondary legislation.
Public Libraries
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information she holds on the charges levied by public libraries for the loan of audio books; and what the income received by each local authority area from this service in the last 12 months was. [156110]
Mr Vaizey: The financial information requested is not held centrally by this Department as it is a matter for individual authorities. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) collects financial information from library authorities annually, including information relating to the hiring of audio and visual material, and copies of CIPFA statistics are available in the House Library.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many audio book loans have been recorded in UK public libraries in each year since 2010. [156111]
Mr Vaizey: The data requested are not collected by this Department. However the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) collects, annually, information relating to audio book loans from the library authorities and copies of CIPFA statistics are available in the House Library.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what steps she is taking to support the continued operation of libraries in deprived areas; and whether the degree of social deprivation in an area for which library closures are proposed is given weight in deciding whether to launch an inquiry into the closures; [156112]
(2) what steps she is taking to ensure the survival of branch libraries in areas of deprivation that face closure. [156152]
Mr Vaizey:
Responsibility and accountability for individual library services is vested in local authorities. Authorities must be able to show that they have discharged their statutory duty to understand the local needs for library services in their area and to provide a comprehensive
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and efficient library service to meet those needs. DCMS continues to monitor and assess proposals and decisions being made about changes to library services across England.
Regulation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what processes her Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by her Department. [155789]
Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) monitors and collates cost information on regulations introduced through the Statement of New Regulation. The Statement of New Regulation is a Government-wide publication that lists regulatory and deregulatory measures and their expected impact on businesses.
DCMS has used the Red Tape Challenge process to review existing regulations, and in particular invite requests from stakeholders to amend or revoke regulations that impose unnecessary burdens on business.
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the title was of each set of
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regulations introduced by her Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been
(a)
subject to the (i) one-in, one-out and (ii) one-in, two-out procedure and
(b)
(i) revoked and (ii) amended; [155811]
(2) if she will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by her Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were. [155955]
Hugh Robertson: The information requested is provided in the following table, based on the following definitions:
Regulation: a measure within scope of the one-in, one-out (OIOO) or one-in, two-out (OITO)
Introduced: the date at which a regulation came into force
Business impact: the annual net cost to business (negative should be interpreted as benefits)
The one-in, one-out rule came into force in January 2011. The one-in, two-out rule replaced the one-in, one-out rule from January 2013. EU derived regulatory measures are out of the scope of OIOO and OITO. The machinery of government change brought the Government Equalities Office (GEO) under control of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in September 2012. This table also covers the period when GEO was under the control of the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
Rugby: World Cup
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent the unauthorised resale of tickets to the Rugby World Cup 2015; [156244]
(2) what discussions she has had with the Rugby Football Union and other representatives of the sport with regard to the sale of Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets on the secondary market. [156275]
Hugh Robertson: I have regular meetings with the chair and chief executive of England Rugby 2015 and the DCMS representative on the board. We are in discussions with ER 2015 about how best Government can help them deliver a great tournament. This is one of the issues my officials are looking at with them.
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Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract. [155765]
Hugh Robertson: The information requested could be compiled only through incurring disproportionate costs.
Sports: Public Appointments
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) Sport England, (b) UK Sport and (c) other Secretaries of State about the appointment of the new chairs of (i) Sport England and (ii) UK Sport. [156039]
Hugh Robertson: The appointments were made in accordance with the OCPA code, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. In accordance with that code both organisations advised on the skills needed to chair both boards.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recommendations the interview panel chaired by Sir Keith Mills gave on the appointments of the new chairs of (a) UK Sport and (b) Sport England. [156040]
Hugh Robertson: The appointments were made in accordance with the OCPA code, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. In accordance with the code, an independent selection panel was chaired by a public appointments assessor, appointed by the commissioner. The panel report described the conduct of the selection process and is confidential.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what process the new chair of (a) Sport England and (b) UK Sport was appointed. [156041]
Hugh Robertson: The appointment process was conducted under the terms of the OCPA code.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recommendation the (a) Minister of State for Sport and Tourism and (b) the Olympics legacy ambassador made about the appointments of the new chairs of (i) UK Sport and (ii) Sport England. [156042]
Hugh Robertson: The appointments were made in accordance with the OCPA code. My views were taken into account, as part of the appointments process. The Olympics legacy ambassador was not involved in the appointment process.
Tourism
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote the whole of the UK as a holiday destination to international tourists. [156257]
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Hugh Robertson: Through VisitBritain, we have created the biggest ever international tourism campaign, as we look to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by 2012. Government have invested £50 million in a £100 million tactical marketing campaign and £34.5 million in the tourism pillar of the GREAT Britain image campaign. Together they will deliver 4.7 million extra visitors and £2.3 billion additional spend over four years. All the UK will continue to benefit from this funding.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department plans to begin applying the findings of its new biomass emissions calculator. [154810]
Michael Fallon: We are developing a model to investigate the possible carbon impacts of different bioenergy feedstocks and different land uses, to help ensure we have robust evidence behind our bioenergy policies. A preliminary version of the tool has been discussed with stakeholders, as part of a peer review process. We are aiming to publish this tool in the summer. The model is not intended as a tool for regulation.
Coal Gasification
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make a statement on underground coal gasification technology. [155014]
Michael Fallon: Underground coal gasification (UCG) involves the partial in-situ combustion of deep underground coal seams to produce a gas for use as an energy source. UCG is very much in its infancy at this stage, but I am keen that we play our part in creating a regulatory environment which helps rather than hinders those with ambitions in the sector. Our NDPB, the Coal Authority, is very much in the lead as the freehold owner of the coal resource and the licensing body for the exploitation of coal. The authority has to date issued some 14 conditional near offshore UCG licences to companies keen to pursue the technology further in Great Britain. These enable prospective operators to secure the rights to the coal while projects are developed, but importantly do not permit UCG operations to commence until all other rights and permissions are in place.
Energy Efficiency Deployment Office
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the progress of the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office in delivering its national energy efficiency strategy. [155851]
Gregory Barker:
The Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO) is currently implementing the energy efficiency strategy, which we published in November 2012. We are actively monitoring progress against our commitments, and will report on this and the Government’s
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other energy efficiency achievements and priorities in the energy efficiency strategy update in November 2013.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total cost of the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office has been to date. [155853]
Gregory Barker: Since its launch in February 2012, the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO) has incurred running costs of £5.83 million (total confirmed administrative costs for financial year 2011-12 and 2012-13).
In addition, EEDO co-ordinates a research and development budget (total £3.53 million to end 2012-13) which supports the wider International Climate Change and Energy Efficiency business group. EEDO now has responsibility for the Salix Fund (to which it has provided £38 million capital spend, to end 2012-13). EEDO initially had responsibility for a £22.5 million rural development agencies programme, but it has since transferred to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many of his Department’s officials work at the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office. [155854]
Gregory Barker: As of 16 May 2013, 41 of the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s officials worked within the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO). In addition, EEDO employs a non-executive chair (part-time) and an engineering specialist, who are not departmental officials. As EEDO also hosts a number of EEDO economists who work to support other teams, and has several vacancies, it expects to operate at around 50 FTE for the rest of 2013-14.
A number of EEDO officials provide dedicated support to specific energy efficiency programmes like the Green Deal and others have cross-cutting roles across the wider International Climate Change and Energy Efficiency group.
Energy: Competition
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 March 2013, Official Report, column 465, on energy market competition, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of low liquidity in the wholesale power market on new market participants entering the energy market. [155062]
Michael Fallon: We believe low wholesale market liquidity, in the forward markets especially, is acting as a barrier to entry for new market participants.
In order to compete in the generation and retail markets, new entrants and potential new entrants, need to be able to manage their risks by trading forwards. Poor liquidity in the forward markets, therefore, reduces risk management opportunities and, along with the cost of trading, acts as a key barrier to entry and greater competition.
Ofgem is currently taking forward reforms to address liquidity concerns and we are encouraged by its indication
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of a strong preference for intervention, with a decision expected by summer 2013. Given the importance of liquidity to competition, Government are also seeking backstop powers in the current Energy Bill to address the issue if it proves necessary.
Energy: Foreign Investment in UK
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 March 2013, Official Report, column 464, on new generating capacity (investment), what evidential basis he used to state that the UK is one of the most attractive places in the world to invest in energy infrastructure. [155063]
Michael Fallon: The UK is an attractive and welcoming destination for energy investment and is attracting interest from potential new investors across renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage. Ernst & Young's most recent attractiveness indices rated the UK as one of the top six worldwide destinations to invest in renewable energy (February 2013). The UK has the most installed offshore wind capacity in the world and we have the four largest offshore wind farms. We also have more installed wave and tidal capacity than any other country.
The current Energy Bill will further improve the attractiveness of the UK market, with contracts for difference, providing long-term revenue stabilisation for low-carbon generators, and powers to introduce a capacity market to incentivise reliable capacity.
Energy: Housing
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many off-gas grid installations he expects to be delivered under the renewable heat premium payment. [154769]
Gregory Barker: Phase 1 of the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme delivered 5,417 off-gas grid installations. The Energy Saving Trust is still processing outstanding claims made under phase 2. A small number of existing projects have until 30 June 2013 to complete, but we estimate that a further 9,000 off-gas grid installations will be delivered.
In addition, we are hoping to see at least another 9,000 off-gas grid installations this financial year following the extension of the scheme.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government are taking to ensure that off-grid customers benefit from fuel efficiency and other assistance programmes commensurate with assistance available to on-grid households. [154780]
Gregory Barker: We are helping people to cut their energy waste through a variety of policies that are available to consumers whether they are on or off-grid, such as the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation.
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We also provide Ofgem with enabling powers to ensure that around 9,000 consumers in remote communities can receive gas at a similar price to consumers elsewhere in GB. This protects some of the most vulnerable gas customers.
Energy: Subsidies
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how much his Department has given in subsidy to RWE Npower in each of the last five years; and to what projects such money was allocated; [154591]
(2) how much his Department has given in subsidies to EDF in each of the last five years; and to what projects such money was allocated; [154592]
(3) how much his Department has given in subsidies to E.ON in each of the last five years; and for which projects this money was earmarked; [154606]
(4) how much his Department has given in subsidies to British Gas in each of the last five years; and to which projects such money was allocated; [154607]
(5) how much his Department has given in subsidies to SSE in each of the last five years; and to which projects such money was allocated; [154608]
(6) how much his Department has given in subsidies to Scottish Power in each of the last five years; and to which projects such money was allocated. [154609]
Michael Fallon: The data are not collected in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Green Deal Scheme
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Green Deal assessments took place in (a) Scotland, (b) England and Wales, (c) Wales in (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March and (iv) April 2013. [156033]
Gregory Barker: The latest Green Deal and energy company obligation monthly statistics, as released on 14 May:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-monthly-statistics-may-2013
report the following number of Green Deal assessments lodged in each month, for the whole of Great Britain:
| Number | |
DECC will publish, on 27 June, our first quarterly official statistics publication which will contain more detailed analysis of Green Deal assessments lodged up to the end of March.
Inflation
Mr Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will list the purposes for which his Department uses (a) the retail price index
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measure of inflation,
(b)
the consumer price index measure of inflation and
(c)
any alternative measure of inflation. [154978]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change uses relevant inflation indices where appropriate. Significant applications are:
The DECC statistics team republishes the energy components of the RPI within tables 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 of our Quarterly Energy Prices publication. The DECC statistics and fuel poverty teams use the data for price indicators for non-metered energy fuels. We are likely to switch from using the RPI to the CPI later this year following recent changes to the designation of the RPI series by the UK Statistics Authority.
Where contractually obliged, the Department refers to relevant RPI indices when assessing specific historic energy liabilities. These are payments for historic fuel liabilities resulting from the British Energy restructuring in 2005, and the cost of providing either solid fuel or a cash alternative to ex-miners and their dependents under the National Concessionary Fuel scheme.
The Levy Control Framework does not use any particular inflator, but constituent schemes (Warm Homes Discount, Renewable Obligation, Feed in Tariffs, FiTs Contract for Difference) are uplifted where necessary using either the RPI or CPI, as dictated by the relevant policy.
For the Renewable Heat Incentive, the RPI is used to express prices in nominal terms. This means that the tariff received, and the total spend under the RHI, is expressed in the price level of the year in question.
For the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme the methodology used to project the revenue to Government from the sale of CRC allowances is based on the prices announced by Government adjusted in line with Retail Price Index thereafter.
The CPI is used for the gas price projections in the latest published DECC fossil fuel price projections (2012).
Alternative measures of inflation
The DECC statistics team use the GDP deflator published by the Office for National Statistics to show data in real or constant price terms.
Coal price projections use the International Monetary Fund's GDP deflator.
Natural Gas: Wales
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the quantity of coal gas off the coast of North Wales; [154437]
(2) what public consultation has taken place concerning the exploration and extraction of coal gas off the coast of North Wales; [154445]
(3) what licences have been issued for the purpose of coal gas exploration and extraction off the coast of North Wales; [154446]
(4) what assessment he has made of the potential environmental effect of coal gas exploration off the North Wales coast; [154447]
(5) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of health and safety procedures used for the flooding of the Point of Ayr colliery pit; what information his Department holds on any proposed gas and mineral extraction from the (a) onshore and (b) offshore areas near to the pit; and if he will make a statement; [154448]
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(6) what licences have been issued for the purpose of mineral and gas extraction in North Wales in each of the last 10 years; what the name was of each company to which a licence was granted; and in which year each such licence was issued. [154449]
Michael Fallon: “Coal gas” could refer to production by in-situ combustion of coal of a mixture of combustible gases, a process usually known as underground coal gasification or UCG; or extraction of methane from coal seams by drilling, usually known as coal bed methane or CBM.
As regards licences for areas off the coast of North Wales:
In January 2013 the Coal Authority issued a conditional licence to Cluff Natural Resources plc for the potential development of a UCG project in the Dee estuary.
Seaward Production Licence P1481 was issued by the Department on 13 June 2007 and it is currently held by Island Gas Ltd.
No assessment has been made by DECC of the magnitude of either resource, or of potential environmental effects, and no public consultation has been conducted. It is expected that any near-shore development of either type would in practice be carried out from facilities located onshore, but no planning application for either activity has been made to date. It would be for the relevant planning authority, as and when any such application may be made, to consider the environmental effects and conduct appropriate public consultation.
In the last 10 years five Petroleum Act licences covering acreage some or all of which lies in North Wales have been issued:
PEDL147 was awarded 1 April 2005 and is currently held by GP Energy Limited;
PEDL184 was awarded 8 October 2008 and is currently held by Island Gas Limited;
PEDL185 was awarded 3 September 2008 and is currently held by Dart Energy (West England) Limited;
PEDL186 was awarded 4 September 2008 and is currently held by GP Energy Limited; and
PEDL187 was awarded 4 September 2008 and is currently held by GP Energy Limited.
In addition, PEDL107, currently held by Island Gas Limited, was issued on 11 March 2002; it is included here because its licensed area lies close to Point of Ayr. None of these licences are specific to particular forms of gas; they all cover all native hydrocarbons. They do not give permission for any specific operations. Any questions about what a licensee plans to do in the future should be addressed to the licensee himself.
A licence for surface mining of coal was granted to Brymbo Developments on 4 December 2003. The site, at Brymbo near Wrexham, worked from January 2004 until September 2005 and produced some 87,500 tonnes of coal. The licence expired on 15 November 2005.
Health and safety considerations around the closure of any coal mine are matters for the operator in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
Offshore Industry: Safety
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the offshore oil and gas (a) workforce and (b) industry of the draft European Union directive on offshore safety. [155908]
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Michael Fallon: The UK argued successfully for a directive, as opposed to a regulation, on offshore safety.
As the draft directive largely duplicates our existing UK regime the workforce will continue to be protected by a robust framework and the economic effects on the industry are therefore likely to be far less than those of a regulation.
An impact assessment will be prepared when legislative proposals are made to implement the final text of the directive.
Pay
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) average and (b) total amount paid in bonuses to staff at his Department was in 2012-13. [154932]
Gregory Barker: The details of the average and the total amount of the in-year and end-of-year non-consolidated performance related awards paid by the Department of Energy and Climate Change for 2012-13 are shown in the following table.
| Description | 2012-13 (£) |
Radioactive Waste
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had since 30 January 2013 on the reviewing of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme; and if he will place in the Library and (b) post on his Department's website minutes of each such meeting. [155267]
Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Baroness Verma), had one meeting in February with the hon. Member for Copeland (Mr Reed), and the hon. Member for Workington (Sir Tony Cunningham), and the leaders of Allerdale borough council and Copeland borough council. The minutes of this meeting have been released publicly:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138342/FOI_EIR_13_0235_for_website.pdf
The noble Baroness attended the February meeting of the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Nuclear NGO Forum, which was also attended by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Environment Agency, where she discussed the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme with a range of non-governmental organisations, listed in the answer given today to your parliamentary question 154473. Minutes of this meeting will be published on the gov.uk website in due course.
Both meetings were in the context of the Government's efforts to learn the lessons of the MRWS programme's experience to date. A public call for evidence on the site selection process of the MRWS programme was announced on 13 May 2013.
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Radioactive Waste: Cumbria
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which organisations and stakeholder groups (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met as part of the review of nuclear waste management strategy following the decision of Cumbria county council on the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme since 30 January 2013; and when the Geological Disposal Implementation Board last met to discuss the matter. [154473]
Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy, Baroness Verma, had one meeting in February with the hon. Member for Copeland (Mr Reed), the hon. Member for Workington (Sir Tony Cunningham), and the leaders of Allerdale borough council and Copeland borough council.
The noble Baroness attended the February meeting of the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Nuclear NGO Forum, which was also attended by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Environment Agency, where she discussed the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme with the range of non-governmental organisations present: Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group, Parents Concerned About Hinkley, Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy, Low Level Radiation Campaign, Bradwell for Renewable Energy, Ayrshire Radiation Monitoring Group, Greenpeace, Nuclear Free local authorities, Stop Hinkley, Save Our Lake District, People Against Wylfa-B, West Cumbria and North Lakes Friends of the Earth, Nuclear Information Service, Socialist Environment and Resources Association, and the Low-level Radiation and Health Conference.
Both meetings were in the context of the Government's efforts to learn the lessons of the MRWS programme's experience to date. A public call for evidence on the site selection process of the MRWS programme was announced on 13 May 2013.
The Geological Disposal Implementation Board has not met since the decisions by the local authorities in Cumbria.
Regulation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department. [155793]
Gregory Barker: Every six months the Government publish overarching statements of new regulation. These statements list the regulations that each Department expects to introduce over the coming six months. They also include an account of the Government's performance under “one in, one out” and, more recently, “one in, two out”, broken down by Department, showing the net business impact of the regulations added and removed by each Department. Published Statements of New Regulation are available at:
www.gov.uk
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The Department publishes its own statements of new regulation, and it also publishes impact assessments on all regulations which impose significant cost to business. These impact assessments are available from:
www.legislation.gov.uk
The Department includes review or sunset clauses in new regulations where appropriate, to ensure they continue to be scrutinised. We also have a strong programme of monitoring and evaluation embedded in our systems for policy and programme management. Specific focus is given to policies and programmes that are high risk or high uncertainty, large-scale or high-profile, amenable to real learning or pilots. The Department will also be producing scrutiny memoranda on certain Acts for which it is responsible to enable the Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change to decide whether a fuller post-legislative inquiry would be appropriate in relation to any of them.
We consulted our stakeholders on DECC's regulations as part of the Red Tape Challenge and we are in the process of implementing the outcomes. We are always happy to consider new suggestions for how our regulations can be improved.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by his Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one-in, one-out and (ii) one-in, two-out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended. [155815]
Gregory Barker: I will write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by his Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were. [155959]
Gregory Barker: I will write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.
Renewable Energy
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the remit of the low carbon communities challenge; and if he will make a statement. [154938]
Gregory Barker: We conducted an evaluation of the low carbon communities challenge project and published a report synthesising the results in July 2012, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-carbon-communities-challenge-evaluation-report
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of incentives that will exist for the purchase of renewable energy from independent generators when the renewables obligation ends. [155499]
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Michael Fallon [holding answer 16 May 2013]:During our call for evidence last year, we heard concerns that some independent renewable generators are finding it more difficult to secure long-term contracts to sell their power on viable terms, and that this situation may persist as we move from the renewables obligation to the contract for difference support mechanism.
The Government's view is that contracts for difference (CfDs) will open up new opportunities for independent generation developers and will support the development of a more competitive market for power purchase agreements. Government are working closely with industry to smooth the transition to the new regime, and have included powers in the Energy Bill to give them the flexibility to act to improve the route to market for independents if it becomes necessary. Government are also considering whether there is a case for further action to ensure that the market is ready for the CfD and that independent generators are able actively to participate in it.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the amount of funding provided by (a) wind energy companies and (b) coal or gas companies for community benefit schemes. [155622]
Gregory Barker: The Government have not made an estimate of the amount of funding provided by wind energy, coal or gas companies. However, some companies provide community benefits on a voluntary basis.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which projects are currently prioritised by the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment; what financial support is currently provided for each such project; what roadshows have been held promoting the take-up of these technologies; what liaison the Office has had with the related offices in each of the devolved Administrations on each project; and which projects are jointly being developed with EU institutions having the mission to promote and develop renewable energy technologies. [156006]
Gregory Barker: The Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED) does not prioritise individual renewable energy projects.
In 2011 ORED published a renewable energy roadmap that sets out how the Government expect to reach their goal of generating 15% of energy use from renewable sources by 2020. The roadmap, as updated in 2012, focuses on eight key technologies that have either the greatest potential to help meet the 2020 target in a cost-effective and sustainable way, or offer the greatest potential for the UK in the decades that follow. In no priority order, these technologies are:
onshore wind
offshore wind
marine energy
biomass electricity
biomass heat
air source and ground source heat pumps
renewable transport
solar.
ORED has not held any roadshows promoting any of these technologies.
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The renewable obligation (RO) and the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme provide market-based support for large- scale and small-scale low carbon technologies.
Officials from ORED are in regular dialogue with related offices in the devolved Administrations on a number of issues of joint interest, such as support mechanisms available to renewable technologies, investment opportunities in renewables and the UK renewables supply chain.
Likewise, ORED officials engage with EU institutions to promote and develop renewable energy technologies. For example, officials are currently working to support the delivery of two tidal projects funded through the EU New Entrant Reserve (NER) 300 fund.
Wind Power
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the onshore wind call for evidence will be published. [156302]
Michael Fallon: We are finalising the Government response to the onshore wind call for evidence and will publish a report on Part A (Community Engagement and Benefits) and Part B (Costs) shortly.
Communities and Local Government
Carbon Monoxide
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many instances of carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of faulty solid fuel burners there have been in each year since 2010. [156079]
Mr Foster: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The most recent statistics available on carbon monoxide poisoning are set out in the annual report of the cross- Government group on gas safety and carbon monoxide awareness. This is available on the Health and Safety Executive's website at:
www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group.htm
The impact assessment supporting the Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendment) Regulations 2010 SI. No. 719 includes an analysis of fatalities caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from solid fuel appliances for the years 2002 to 2008. This is available on the legislation.gov.uk website at:
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2010/88/pdfs/ukia_20100088.pdf
Change of Use
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to his statement of 9 May 2013, Official Report, columns 4-6WS, on planning: re-use of buildings, (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the number of public houses of his proposal to allow businesses currently covered by A1, A2 and A3 use classes to open up in premises currently used as a public house without having to apply for planning permission; [155899]
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(2) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the likely effect on public health of enabling fast food premises to open up using the new permitted development rights in A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, D1 and D2 premises; [155900]
(3) what permission will businesses that have opened up using permitted development rights in A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, D1 and D2 premises have to apply for once two years have elapsed. [155901]
Nick Boles: Existing permitted development rights allow for public houses to change use to businesses within the Al, A2 and A3 use classes. The new relaxations will not change this position. Hot-food takeaways are within the A5 use class. The new permitted development rights allow for change of use away from A5 use but not for conversion to A5 use. Businesses using the new temporary permitted development rights can seek full planning permission at any time during the two-year period. Ministers meet regularly to discuss Government business, and these changes were agreed across Government in the usual way.
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on pubs of the introduction of a flexible use class to ease temporary change of use on the high street; [155985]
(2) how his Department will monitor the effect on his decision to introduce a new flexible use class on (a) the high street and (b) agricultural communities; [155986]
(3) to which organisations (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department spoke in advance of the announcement made last week that new permitted development rights would be put in place for change of use on the high street. [155987]
Nick Boles: A final impact assessment for the new permitted development rights to promote the reuse of existing buildings, taking account of consultation responses, is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/197804/reuse_of_existing_buildings_-_impact_assessment.pdf
We are committed to supporting community pubs, and local authorities have tools they can use where locally appropriate to protect pubs, for example by introducing an article 4 direction or including relevant policies in their local plan.
We will continue to keep the operation of the use class system under review. Our approach to monitoring and review of the changes is set out in the explanatory memorandum to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 which is available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1101/memorandum/contents
The changes set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 were the result of a call for evidence on changes to handling change of use in 2011, and a formal consultation exercise on proposals for making better use of existing buildings in 2012. They also implement recommendations from Mary Portas's review
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to reduce restrictive planning red tape. This provided for discussions with key partners and other Government Departments to inform the final policy.
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what timescale he has put in place to assess the effect of the new office to residential permitted development right; [155988]
(2) what plans his Department has to consider further exemptions from the new office to residential permitted development right; [155989]
(3) what plans his Department has to review the areas excluded from the new office to residential permitted development right; [155990]
(4) for how long exemptions from the new office to residential permitted development right will remain in place; [155991]
(5) what criteria were used to decide which areas should be exempt from the new office to residential permitted development right; [155992]
(6) how many local authorities submitted a request for exemption, for all or part of their local authority area, from the new office to residential permitted development right. [155993]
Nick Boles: Our approach to monitoring and review of the changes is set out in the explanatory memorandum to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 which is available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1101/memorandum/contents
The Department for Communities and Local Government received requests for exemption from the permitted development rights for change of use from office to residential uses from 165 local planning authorities. A robust and thorough assessment of all requests was carried out against the criteria set out in the chief planner's letter of 24 January, taking into account the strength of the case and the robustness of the supporting evidence. Following this assessment process there will not be another opportunity to request an exemption during the three-year period that the new rights are in place.
Children: Barnsley
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many children in Barnsley Central constituency are currently living in temporary accommodation; and what such figures were in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [155539]
(2) how many households with children in Barnsley Central constituency were accepted as homeless in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [155562]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 May 2013]:The following tables show (i) the number of children living in temporary accommodation as at 31 December (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 and (ii) the number of households with children accepted as homeless in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
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| Number of children in temporary accommodation—Barnsley | |
| As at end 31 December each year: | Number |
| Number of families with children accepted as being homeless—Barnsley | |
| Number | |
| Source: DCLG P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly) | |
Figures for children in temporary accommodation as at 31 March 2013 and families accepted as homeless during January to March 2013 will be published on 6 June.
The Barnsley Central constituency falls wholly within the area of Barnsley council. The area of Barnsley council also includes parts of Penistone and Stocksbridge, Wentworth and Dearne, and Barnsley East constituencies.
We are determined to tackle the problem of homeless families. Since 9 November 2012, local authorities have had new powers under the Localism Act 2011 to use good-quality private rented sector accommodation to end the main homelessness duty. Families will no longer need to always be placed in temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing to become available.
At the same time, we have also put in place extra protection for the most vulnerable. The Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012 will help prevent the use of temporary accommodation that is long distances from the families’ previous home and community.
For households already in temporary accommodation the local authority has a duty (under section 193 of the Housing Act) to find that family settled accommodation. Local authorities should continue to work with these households to discuss alternative housing options as they become available.
Fire Stations: West Midlands
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire stations there were in (a) Birmingham and (b) the west midlands in each year since 2010. [156281]
Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to his question of 15 May 2013, Official Report, column 286W.
Fracking: Planning Permission
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to publish regulations outlining the circumstances in which an environmental impact assessment is required to accompany a planning application for a new fracking site. [155994]
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Nick Boles: No. Applications for new fracking sites, whether for exploratory drilling or full production, are already within the scope of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011. Whether an environmental impact assessment is required will depend on the circumstance of each application.
Housing: Disability
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what discussions he has had with Ministers in the devolved Administrations on best practice in provision of housing for individuals with disabilities; [154869]
(2) when he or Ministers in his Department last met representatives of people with disabilities to discuss housing provision. [154874]
Mr Prisk: Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are routinely published on my Department's website.
Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly engage with colleagues from the devolved Administrations and discuss a range of matters.
My Department secured £725 million for the disabled facilities grant during the current spending review period (2011-12 to 2014-15). Over the last two years, the Government have provided a further £60 million for the grant, bringing the total over the spending review period to £785 million.
As part of last year's Social Care White Paper, the Government launched the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund, making up to £300 million available to support and accelerate the development of the specialised housing market for older and disabled adults.
Local Government: Employment
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what rules exist regarding the employment of outgoing council employees by private employers with whom their former council has a contractual relationship. [155576]
Brandon Lewis [holding answer 16 May 2013]: Local authorities are independent employers in their own right. As such, it is for each to ensure that they manage their work forces, including the appointment and departure of staff, in a way that protects against conflicts of interest. While there is no statutory requirement for authorities to have in place a code of conduct for officers, many have established such arrangements locally.
Non-domestic Rates: Hartlepool
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will ensure that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth, provides a formal response and actions to be taken following the meeting held on 26 February 2013 between himself, the hon. Member for Hartlepool and representatives from Hartlepool borough council in respect of business rates and the impact from Hartlepool nuclear power station. [155898]
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Brandon Lewis: Since my meeting with the hon. Member for Hartlepool and Hartlepool borough council we have made regulations to introduce a safety net which effectively guarantees authorities 92.5% of their baseline funding under the rates retention scheme. This will provide support to authorities who experience a significant decline in business rates income, for example as a result of unplanned outages at large power stations. We have also adjusted the starting position for local authorities so that they have extra financial head room to reflect the costs of future appeals losses. We have established a new working group with local government to look at the implementation of the rates retention scheme.
Planning Permission
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria will be used to determine the proportion of the possible £7,000 a neighbourhood forum will receive towards its costs. [155983]
Nick Boles: Under the new Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning programme, which opened for applications on 1 May 2013, communities undertaking neighbourhood planning can apply for grants of up to £7,000 per neighbourhood area, to contribute to costs incurred by the group in preparing a neighbourhood plan or order, as long as the group has a plan for how to spend it, and the costs cannot be met from other sources.
Applications for a grant from eligible applicants will be assessed based on the information provided in the application form and against the following criteria:
1. Is all the proposed expenditure eligible? (the total amount of grant awarded will be reduced for any items of ineligible expenditure)
2. Is there a clear need for the project spend?
3. Is there evidence of how the planned activities will help the group progress towards a neighbourhood plan for their area?
4. Is the project realistic and achievable? Can the activities be delivered in the timetable given?
5. Are the project costs reasonable and do they add up?
6. Does the project demonstrate value for money in terms of the relationship between cost and benefit?
Details, application forms and guidance can be found at:
http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/neighbourhood-planning/
Neighbourhood planning groups can also apply for direct support, and can receive both direct support and grant.
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the total cost to a neighbourhood planning forum of drawing up and holding a referendum on a draft neighbourhood plan. [155984]
Nick Boles:
Neighbourhood planning is a flexible tool designed to enable communities to make their own choices as to what issues they wish to address in their neighbourhood. As a consequence the costs of preparing neighbourhood plans will vary depending on the complexity and size of the proposal, and the available supporting evidence. We anticipate that the costs of neighbourhood planning will decrease as experience builds and there are more examples, templates and opportunities to share
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learning for communities doing neighbourhood planning. The impact assessment produced in 2012 discussed the potential costs of neighbourhood planning. It can be found at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2012/9780111525050/pdfs/ukdsifia_9780111525050_en.pdf
Neighbourhood planning forums will incur no cost for holding a neighbourhood planning referendum; these costs will be covered by the local authority. The Government have agreed that all new burdens placed on local authorities by central Government must be assessed, and fully and properly funded. Local authorities can claim up to £30,000 per neighbourhood planning area to enable them to meet legislative duties on neighbourhood planning, including the cost of making arrangements for a referendum.
Planning Permission: Bassetlaw
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeowner planning applications made in Bassetlaw constituency were (a) approved and (b) rejected in 2012; and how many such applications were approved or rejected at (i) officer and (ii) plans sub-committee level. [154166]
Nick Boles: In 2012 there were a total of 332 householder applications decided in the local authority of Bassetlaw, of which 303 were approved and 29 were rejected. Information is not centrally available on the number of such applications approved or rejected at officer or sub-committee level.
This approval rate of 91% illustrates the scope for reforms of the householder planning process, to take uncontroversial, small-scale applications for home improvements out of the full planning system.
Regulation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department. [155788]
Nick Boles: The Government introduced a one-in, one-out system for regulations on 1 September 2010 applying to regulations from 1 January 2011, which was replaced by a one-in, two-out system on 1 January 2013. All measures that have a regulatory or deregulatory impact on business and civil society organisations are in scope of these systems. Regulations introduced by the Department, that are in scope of the one-in, one-out or one-in, two-out system, are monitored in the statements of new regulation. These statements also collate cost information for each regulation. In addition, the statements include EU regulations and any Red Tape Challenge measures. The most recent statement of new regulation can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dclg-statement-of-new-regulation-1-january-to-30-june-2013
The Red Tape Challenge is a cross-Government programme through which we review and improve our stock of regulation. The Department leads two Red Tape Challenge themes; one on housing and construction
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and one on planning administration. Through the Red Tape Challenge the Department's regulations within these themes are reviewed on the Red Tape Challenge website. Requests to keep, amend or revoke regulations are considered in the resulting proposals which are put to the Reducing Regulation Committee.
Sign Language
Sir Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the equality of access available for deaf people whose first language is British Sign Language in terms of communicating with (a) local councillors and local government workers and (b) the agencies and public bodies for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement; [155494]
(2) what measures his Department has in place to ensure that deaf people have the opportunity to communicate in British Sign Language with (a) local councillors and local government workers and (b) the agencies and public bodies for which he is responsible. [155496]
Brandon Lewis: The responsibility for providing appropriate support to enable meaningful communication with deaf people lies with local public bodies. All local authorities, other public bodies and agencies listed under schedule 19 of the Equality Act 2010 have a legal responsibility under section 20 and 29(7) to make 'reasonable adjustments', which means for example providing information in an accessible format to allow deaf people to have equal access to their services.
Social Rented Housing
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from social housing providers on the effect on their budgets of planned welfare reform changes and the risk of increased movements of tenants, non-payment of rent and number of voids. [R] [155553]
Mr Prisk: Ministers and officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government are in regular contact with social housing providers across a range of issues.
My Department and the Department for Work and Pensions recognise the importance of protecting the budgets of social housing providers as our welfare reform changes are implemented. This is shown through our close working with a group of social landlords on the direct payment demonstration projects, which are testing the impact of the payment of housing benefit direct to tenants. A key aim of the demonstration projects is to explore how we can best protect social landlords, and tenants themselves, from the risk of increases in rent arrears. We intend to use the evidence gathered from the projects to inform the design of universal credit, including the safeguards needed to protect the financial position of social landlords and prevent tenants from falling into significant debt. We are also co-funding a learning network to capture the lessons from the demonstration projects, and encourage the sharing of best practice and information, to help social landlords prepare for direct payment.
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In addition, the removal of the spare room subsidy will be monitored and evaluated over a two year period from April this year, with initial findings available in 2014 and a final report in late 2015. Among other questions, the evaluation will consider the impact of the measure on landlords' finances, by means of small-scale primary research with a range of social landlords.
The 2012 Global Accounts of housing providers, published by the Homes and Communities Agency in March, show that tenant arrears have fallen in the last year and the overall financial performance of the sector has improved compared with the year before.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are currently on a waiting list for social housing in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England; and how many such people are currently homeless. [155561]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 May 2013]:Statistics on the number of households on social housing waiting lists for each local authority district in England in 2011-12 are published in the statistical dataset accompanying the Department's Local Authority Housing Statistics release, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/local-authority-housing-statistics-data-returns-for-2011-to-2012
The dataset also records the number of households on waiting lists that fall into the following reasonable preference groups:
people who are homeless within the meaning of part VII of the Housing Act (regardless of whether or not they are owed a statutory homelessness duty)
people owed a homelessness duty.
Through the Localism Act we have given local authorities much greater flexibility to manage their housing waiting list; and we have broken the link between homelessness and social housing by giving authorities the freedom to end the homelessness duty with private rented accommodation.
This information is not available at a constituency level.
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social housing units there are in England; how many such houses are unoccupied; and what the annual turnover of occupancy rate of such housing has been in each of the last five years. [155568]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 May 2013]: Information is collected about social housing dwelling stock and vacant properties owned by both private registered providers (housing associations) and local authorities. Statistics on private registered provider and local authority dwelling stock and vacant properties in England for the period from 2007-08 to 2011 -12 are published in the Department's live tables 104 and 615, which are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants
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The Department does not collect or publish statistics on the turnover of occupancy rate of social housing but based on stock and lettings figures this can be estimated to be approximately 10% each year for the period from 2007-08 to 2011-12.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Licence Reviews
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many alcohol licence reviews have taken place due to the premises in question selling non duty paid alcohol in the last three years; [156058]
(2) how many licence reviews have taken place due to the premises in question serving customers that were drunk, in the last year for which figures are available; [155775]
(3) how many cumulative impact zones there are in England and Wales. [155777]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office collects data on reasons for licence reviews within the Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Statistical Bulletin. However, this information cannot be broken down further to the requested level of detail.
Based on returns received from 336 of the 350 licensing authorities in England and Wales, there were 160 cumulative impact areas in place on 31 March 2012.
Alcoholic Drinks: Designated Public Places Orders
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many designated public place orders there are in England and Wales. [155779]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office does not publish official statistics on the number of designated public place orders (DPPO) in force. Based on data provided by local authorities, who are requested to notify the Home Office whenever a DPPO is made, we believe there have been a total of 852 DPPOs issued nationally since their introduction in 2001. This data is correct as of 15 May 2013.
Alcoholic Drinks: Sales
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effect on businesses of the ban on multi-buy alcohol promotions in Scotland; and if she will make a statement. [155776]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government recently consulted on whether to introduce a ban on multi-buy promotions in the off-trade. The Government are currently analysing all responses and available evidence and will publish a response to the consultation in due course.
Animal Experiments
Henry Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer from the Leader of the House of 18 April 2013, Official Report, column 503, when she expects her Department's
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inspectors to make recommendations relating to allegations of cruelty and bad practice at Imperial College, London; and if she will place the findings of this inspection in the Library. [155043]
James Brokenshire: The use of living animals in scientific procedures which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm is strictly regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
We are determined to ensure animal research is carried out humanely and only when necessary and any reports suggesting that individuals or establishments are falling short of the high standards required by the 1986 Act are taken extremely seriously.
Home Office inspectors are investigating the allegations of cruelty and bad practice at the Imperial College Hammersmith campus as a matter of urgency and will submit a preliminary report on 13 May 2013. A fuller report and recommendations will be completed by mid-July 2013. A copy of that report will be placed in the Library.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of risk rating was assigned to Imperial College London by her Department's Animals in Science Regulation Unit during 2012; and if she will make a statement. [155045]
James Brokenshire: It is not Home Office policy to disclose the risk assessment of an establishment licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 other than to the relevant establishment. The risk assessment is reviewed after each visit of inspection and is discussed at least annually with the establishment licence holder. The risk assessment is used to determine the frequency, duration and style of inspection and may vary as any relevant risks change. From January 2012 to March 2013 inclusive, Home Office inspectors made 48 visits to Imperial College in line with the risk assessment at that time.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will increase the number of inspectors employed within her Department's Animals in Science Regulation Unit; and if she will make a statement. [155068]
James Brokenshire: We have no plans to do so. However, Inspectorate staffing is kept under regular review taking account of the expected workload. We are committed to maintaining a strong and properly resourced inspectorate and a full, risk-based programme of inspections.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will suspend or revoke the establishment licence for Imperial College London to conduct animal research under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if she will make a statement. [155387]
James Brokenshire:
We have no current plans to do so. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 provides powers for the Secretary of State to suspend or revoke a licence issued under the Act in any case in which it appears appropriate to do so. The Home Office Inspectorate is investigating recent allegations of cruel treatment of
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animals, poor training and poor supervision at the Imperial College London Hammersmith Campus and delivered a preliminary report on 13 May 2013. This did not recommend immediate suspension or revocation of any relevant licences held at Imperial College London. The Inspectorate will provide a fuller report and recommendations by mid-July 2013. Further decisions on any action that may be appropriate will be considered in the light of those recommendations.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the level of risk rating assigned to Imperial College London by her Department's Animals in Science Regulation Unit has changed in the last six months; and if she will make a statement. [155388]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not assign a risk rating to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU). ASRU maintains a register of operational and other risks and associated mitigating actions which it reviews regularly and adjusts as and when necessary.
Antisocial Behaviour
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will introduce a maximum reporting cap for the activation of the community trigger; and if she will make a statement. [156057]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have proposed a national maximum threshold of three complaints to activate the community trigger as set out in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill. However, local agencies are able to set the threshold even lower if they believe it would better reflect the needs of their community.
Clothing
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been. [155451]
James Brokenshire: The Department's accounting system does not identify information of this kind.
Crime: Nature Conservation
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) with reference to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN.15/2013/L.20/Rev, whether the Government plan to support the resolution; [155592]
(2) with reference to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN.15/2013/L.20/Rev, what her policy is on the request to fully utilise the UN conventions against transnational organised crime and against corruption to prevent and combat
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illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora, and to implement measures to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora, including the adoption of the necessary legislation for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of such trafficking; [155596]
(3) what role she expects the National Crime Agency's organised crime command to play in tackling wildlife crime following the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN.15/2013/L.20/Rev. [155591]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK supported E/CN.15/2013/L20/Rev, which was adopted on 26 April 2013.
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) referred to in E/CN.15/2013/L20/Rev were ratified by the UK in February 2006. The Government will consider how those respective conventions can be used as part of their ongoing approach to tackling the illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora.
The UK has already implemented tough measures to prevent and tackle illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora. The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is currently one of the UK's wildlife crime priorities. The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (COTES) provide a specific legal basis for prosecuting CITES offences, carrying a five year maximum sentence. CITES offences may also be prosecuted under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which carries a seven year maximum sentence.
Where wildlife crime is sufficiently serious, organised or complex, the National Crime Agency will ensure that partners across the law enforcement community benefit from its coordination, tasking and intelligence arrangements, as well as being able to access its specialist capabilities, as appropriate.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) with reference to the Third Report of the Environmental Audit Committee, Session 2012-13, on Wildlife Crime, HC 140, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of making wildlife crime offences recordable and notifiable offences; [155593]
(2) with reference to the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN15/2013/C.20/Rev), if her Department will investigate the viability of making wildlife crime offences recordable and notifiable offences. [155597]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
The Home Secretary has committed to seeking reductions in individual crime classifications wherever possible and any expansion must deliver a clear and tangible benefit that outweighs the additional burdens they create. The Home Office is not convinced that implementing specific wildlife crime codes would deliver the benefits envisaged by the Environmental Audit Committee. The statistics that would result would only reflect crimes recorded and dealt with by the police
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and not by the various other agencies who have investigatory and prosecuting powers and who are frequently the lead agency in these matters. It is for the police to liaise with those other agencies to gather the intelligence they require to understand and combat wildlife crime.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) agencies, (b) Government Departments and (c) groups her Department works with on tackling wildlife crime in the UK. [155594]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office works with a number of partners to tackle wildlife crime, including the national police leads for wildlife crime in England, Wales and Scotland, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency.
The Home Office is also part of the UK Tasking and Co-ordinating Group, which sets the UK’s wildlife crime priorities, and includes additional partners such as the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories, and a member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) which brings together a wide range of non-government organisations with an interest in wildlife law enforcement, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the prevalence and threat of wildlife crime in the UK; and what steps her Department is taking to tackle it. [155595]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Every six months, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) produces a tactical assessment of wildlife crime in the UK. The tactical assessment is based upon scientific advice and intelligence from individual members of the UK Tasking and Co-ordinating Group (UK TCG) and police forces, and uses a risk-based approach to identify current, emerging and future threats. The tactical assessment is considered jointly by the Home Office, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and other members of the UK TCG, and ultimately informs the priorities and activities of the UK TCG.
Databases: Telecommunications
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the money spent on the Communications Capabilities Development Programme has been paid to service providers under the cost recovery system to date. [155077]
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James Brokenshire [holding answer 14 May 2013]: The Communications Capabilities Development Programme funds communications service providers for the delivery of Communications Data (CD) and Lawful Intercept (LI) capabilities. The vast majority of the programme expenditure to date has been on CD and LI delivery under existing legislation, including payments to communications services providers, law enforcement training and programme costs.
Entry Clearances: India
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision for biometric facilities there is in India for Indian nationals applying for a visa to visit the UK. [155375]
Mr Harper: There are 12 visa application centres in India where applicants can make their visa application—including enrolling their biometric information. They are located in the following cities: South Mumbai, North Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar and Kolkata. These are managed by our commercial partner, VFS Global.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with UK Visas and Immigration on the provision of service for the introduction of the same-day business visa service for Indian nationals. [155482]
Mr Harper [holding answer 16 May 2013]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 May 2013, Official Report, column 341W.
Entry Clearances: Peru
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Peru visited the UK in each of the last three years; how many visa applications from that country were refused; and whether she has given consideration to ending the existing visa requirement between the UK and Peru. [155273]
Mr Harper: There were 4,560, 4,880, and 5,420 admissions (numbers of journeys) of Peruvian national visitors respectively in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (the latest available data).
The latest available published statistics for applications for visas to the UK, their issue and refusal for Peruvian nationals (including visitors) for 2010 to 2012 is given in the following table:
| Entry clearance visas applied for, issued and refused to Peruvian Nationals, 2010-12 | |||||
| Of which: | |||||
| Applications | Resolved | Issued | Refused | Withdrawn or Lapsed | |
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| n/a = Not available. Note: Figures include dependants. Source: Immigration Statistics, October to December 2012, Tables be.02.q and be.06.q.o | |||||
The Home Office keeps visa regimes under regular review. There are no current plans to change the visa requirement for Peruvian nationals.
The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in the release Immigration Statistics October to December 2012, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2012