| Defence, University and other sites | |
| Number | |
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1151W
Letter from Paul Hemsley, dated 28 May 2013:
I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 157472 tabled on 21 May 2013 which asked the following:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff in his Department and its agencies are based at (a) One Victoria Street and (b) each of his Department's and its agencies' other sites across the UK.
The table gives the data requested. We have no staff based in Victoria Street.
I hope you find this information useful.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1152W
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the locations are of the offices and premises of (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible in each region. [157473]
Jo Swinson: The following table shows the locations of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, offices and premises in each region.
| BIS Office | Location | Region |
I have asked chief executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.
Letter from Tim Moss, dated 22 May 2013:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 21 May 2013, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UIN 157473.
Companies House has four offices in the UK and the locations of each are given below.
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff
CF14 3UZ
Companies House
4 Abbey Orchard Street
London
SWIH2PT
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1153W
Companies House
4(th) Floor
Edinburgh Quay 2
139 Fountainbridge
Edinburgh
EH3 9FF
Companies House
2(nd) Floor
The Linenhall
32-38 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BG
Letter from Dr Richard Judge, dated 24 May 2013:
The Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, what the locations are of the offices and premises of (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible in each region.
The locations of the offices/premises of the Insolvency Service are shown below, using the Office of National Statistics' definition of regions:
| Region | Insolvency Service Office Location | |
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1154W
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 21st May 2013, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office (Executive Agency of BIS) has three premises:
Headquarters: Concept House, Newport, South Wales (freehold)
Filestore: Unit 6, Nine Mile Point Industrial Estate, Cwmfelinfach, South Wales (leased)
London Office: 1st floor, Abbey Orchard Street, London (leased)
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 22 May 2013:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO), an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 21 May 2013, asking the BIS Secretary of State about the location of the offices and premises of BIS and its agencies.
The location of NMO's offices and premises is at Stanton Avenue, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 OJZ, United Kingdom.
Letter from Kim Thorneywork, dated 29 May 2013:
Further to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the locations are of the offices and premises of (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible in each region. (157473)
For question (b) the Skills Funding Agency currently has offices and premises in the following locations:
Birmingham, Bristol, Chatham, Coventry, Fareham, Gateshead, Histon, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Plymouth, Reading, Sheffield.
Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 24 May 2013:
As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, "what the locations are of the offices and premises of (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible in each region".
The full list of Ordnance Survey's office locations by region is as follows:
| Region | Location |
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1155W
The majority of Ordnance Survey staff are based at our head office in Southampton. The regional offices support our data collection activity.
I hope this information is helpful.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1156W
Letter from David parker, dated 22 May 2013:
Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills asking what the locations are of the offices and premises of (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible in each region.
The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The locations of its offices and premises are Polaris House, Swindon, One Victoria Street, London and the Electron Building, Harwell.
Letter from John Hirst, dated 23 May 2013:
I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 21 May 2013, UIN 157473, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Met Office's headquarters is in Exeter and it is here that most of our staff are based, along with our main IT infrastructure, Operations Centre and National Meteorological Library.
We also have a forecast office in Aberdeen that provides operational resilience to Exeter and delivers critical marine services across the UK and around the world.
The Radiological Incident Management Network (RIMNET) is operated from London, on behalf of DECC.
Smaller shared offices in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff provide for a range of functions including delivery of the Public Weather Service, observations quality control and customer management.
The Met Office also has staff operating across the UK at observation sites and in third party premises, for example forecasters at a number of defence bases, researchers with university departments and within customer organisations, including the BBC.
Letter from Paul Hemsley, dated 28 May 2013:
I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 157473 tabled on 21 May 2013 which asked the following:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the locations are of the offices and premises of (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible in each region.
The tables give the data requested.
I hope you find this information useful.
| Land Registry buildings occupied by Land Registry staff | ||||
| Office | Building Name | Building Address | Post code | Region |
|
Seaton Court, 2 William Prance Road, Plymouth International Business Park, Plymouth | ||||
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1157W
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1158W
| Land Registry buildings not occupied by Land Registry staff | |||||
| Office | Building Name | Building Address | Post code | Region | Comment |
|
No longer a Land Registry occupied building and is surplus to requirements. | |||||
Climate Change
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 15 April 2013, Official Report, column 261W, on climate change, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the statistical model upon which the two statements were based relative to a driftless autoregressive integrated model. [157979]
Michael Fallon: The use of a driftless autoregressive integrated model is not relevant to these statements, and therefore an assessment of this statistical model has not been made.
Conditions of Employment
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts. [158069]
Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not employ anyone on zero-hour contracts.
Construction: Vetting
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) individuals and (ii) organisations on the subject of the blacklisting of construction workers. [157892]
Jo Swinson: There have been two discussions with individuals or organisations about blacklisting of construction workers (we have assumed that the reference to individuals means members of the public).
I had a telephone conversation with the Information Commissioner in January 2013 about progress being made to contact individuals on the Consulting Association's blacklist.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills met the Information Commissioner on 2 April 2013. At this meeting, the Information Commissioner provided an update on progress made to contact individuals named on the Consulting Association's blacklist. The Information Commissioner also reassured the Secretary of State that he would investigate thoroughly any evidence that blacklisting is ongoing, using the additional powers of enforcement he has been given since 2010. To date, we have received no evidence that blacklisting is ongoing, though Ministers are keen to encourage individuals to come forward with any new evidence.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to ensure that the blacklisting of construction workers does not take place. [157893]
Jo Swinson: Blacklisting is an abhorrent practice. That is why, in response to the findings of the investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office into the Consulting Association, and subsequent consultation, the Government legislated in 2010 to prohibit the use of blacklists. The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 make it unlawful, subject to certain exemptions, to compile, use, sell or supply 'prohibited lists', ie a blacklist. Individuals who believe they are being excluded from employment because of a blacklist should seek redress in county courts in England and Wales, or Court of Session in Scotland. Other rights under the regulations can be enforced in employment tribunals.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1159W
The creation, supply or use of a blacklist is also likely to amount to a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 as information about the individual's membership of a trade union is sensitive personal data. The Information Commissioner has the power, increased in 2010, to impose fines, up to £500,000 for serious breaches, on data controllers who unlawfully process data. This can include not only the individual or company that created the blacklist, but any employer or agency using it for employment vetting.
It is also unlawful under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 to refuse to employ a person because they are a member or not a member of a trade union, or because they refuse to join or leave a trade union. It is equally unlawful for an agency to refuse employment services on those grounds. An individual can bring an employment tribunal claim within three months of the offence taking place, or longer if the tribunal decides it was not reasonably practicable to bring the claim in time.
To date, we have received no evidence that blacklisting is ongoing, though Ministers are keen to encourage individuals to come forward with any new evidence. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills met the Information Commissioner on 2 April 2013 to discuss how any new evidence would be handled.
Credit: Licensing
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average waiting time was for applications for a consumer credit licence in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the UK in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012. [157717]
Jo Swinson: The following table gives details of the average processing time for applications for a consumer credit licence in 2010, 2011 and 2012:
| Total number of applications | Mean processing time (working days) | |||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for consumer credit licences in (a) Scotland and (b) other parts of the UK are currently awaiting a decision. [157864]
Jo Swinson: For Scotland, there are 44 open (no decision made) new consumer credit licence applications with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) at close of play on 4 June 2013.
For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are 617 open (no decision made) new consumer credit licence applications with the OFT at close of play on 4 June 2013.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1160W
Directors
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on which occasions his Department's external non-executive directors have met since May 2010. [157471]
Jo Swinson: The Department's non-executive directors met at board meetings on 25 June 2010, 22 July 2010, 30 September 2010, 25 November 2010, 27 January 2011, 31 March 2011, 17 May 2011, 24 May 2011, 19 July 2011, 29 November 2011, 24 January 2012, 29 February 2012, 17 April 2012, 25 June 2012, 28 June 2012, 18 September 2012, 22 November 2012, 21 January 2013, 11 February 2013, 15 April 2013 and 18 April 2013.
Exports: South East Asia
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 593W, on exports: South East Asia, what future approach he plans to adopt on promoting and delivering the Headstart initiative. [157475]
Michael Fallon: The Headstart pilot provides access to office-space and locally established UK expertise in three South East Asian markets: Indonesia; Singapore and Thailand. The scheme is offered by the local British Chambers of Commerce in association with UKTI and the UK-ASEAN Business Council.
On 12 November 2012 the Prime Minister announced that UK Trade & Investment would work with overseas British business networks, including British Chambers of Commerce in 20 pilot markets—including those in Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand—to strengthen the support to UK SMEs in these markets over the next 3-5 years.
UK Trade & Investment is providing seed-corn funding so that overseas business networks can build business to business support capability, including building up the range and quality of SME services such as Headstart.
UK Trade & Investment will promote this offer to UK business alongside key national partners, including the British Chambers of Commerce, UK-ASEAN Business Council, UK India Business Council, trade associations and local chambers of commerce.
Research: Tuberculosis
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to support UK-based research into new drugs to enhance the treatment of those infected with tuberculosis. [157968]
Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. It is an independent research funding body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The MRC supports a wide portfolio of research on tuberculosis, examples of current UK-based research into new drugs to enhance treatments are provided:
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1161W
Dr Giancarlo Biagini, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine:
Lead series development and optimisation of a new drug against active and latent tuberculosis (£1.0 million)
Professor Gurdyal Besra, University of Birmingham:
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Cell Envelope: unravelling complex cell wall assembly and the identification of potential new drug targets (£1.5 million)
The MRC also supports research in this area at the National Institute of Medical Research:
Dr Douglas Young, MRC NIMR:
Mycobacteria and the host response (£7 million from October 2005)
Further details of these projects and other MRC research in this area can be found on the RCUK Gateway to Research:
http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/
The MRC funds investigator-led research in response-mode and encourages research proposals from the academic community. The MRC funds research on the development of new treatments through its main research grant schemes and also through Biomedical Catalyst Confidence in Concept (feasibility) awards. The MRC also funds clinical trials addressing tuberculosis from a global health perspective though an MRC/Wellcome/DIFD joint trials partnership, and through the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).
The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.
Royal Mail
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether prospective purchasers of Royal Mail will be permitted to divest the business of the Postcode Address File. [157654]
Michael Fallon: The Government do not intend to place any specific restrictions on a future owner of Royal Mail with regards to its assets.
A decision by Royal Mail to sell any of its assets would need to meet the directors' duty to act in the best interests of the company.
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether prospective purchasers of Royal Mail will be permitted to divest the business of its international parcels business, General Logistics Systems. [157655]
Michael Fallon: Our intention is to give Royal Mail real commercial freedom and future access to private sector capital by selling shares in Royal Mail this financial year—2013/14. Placing restrictions on GLS or other matters would not be consistent with that policy.
GLS is a profitable part of the Royal Mail business and a contributor to its results. Any decisions on its future, after a sale, would be taken in that context and would be a matter for Royal Mail.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1162W
Skilled Workers: Internet
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency have signed up to (i) seek jobs and (ii) offer jobs on the Talent Retention Solution website. [157956]
Michael Fallon: The Talent Retention Solution (TRS) is a privately owned, funded, and operated organisation, and this information is not available in the level of detail requested from official sources. Inquiries of this nature should therefore be referred to Chris Jarman, Director of Winchester Consulting (the company that provides the TRS service) at:
www.wincon.co.uk
However, we understand there are currently over 600 advanced manufacturing and engineering companies engaged with the TRS; over 3,600 people are registered on the system; and there are around 2,000 live vacancies shown, of which around 130 are in Scotland.
Student Loans
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of new part-time undergraduate entrants to university have been awarded tuition fee loans in 2012-13. [157123]
Mr Willetts: Information on the number of students receiving tuition fee loans is provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). Figures shown in the table for the current academic year 2012/13 are based on the status of part-time applications for Tuition Fee Support in May 2013, eight months into the academic year. These have been updated since my reply on 4 March 2013, Official Report, column 881W. The processing of applications is continual and so the figures are subject to change throughout the academic year.
| Number of part-time applicants(1,4) for Tuition Fee support in the 2012 entry cohort in academic year 2012/13: English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England/ Position as at 27 May 2013 | |
| Number | |
| (1 )Excludes deleted applications. (2 )Excluding those found to be ineligible. (3 )Includes those who are found to be ineligible subsequently after being approved for payment. (4) Figures are rounded to nearest 100 applicants. | |
Statistics on the number of part-time undergraduate entrants to higher education in the academic year 2012/13 will be published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2014.
Students: Radicalism
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to prevent radicalisation by Islamist preachers of students in further education colleges and universities. [157640]
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1163W
Mr Willetts: Universities and colleges have been targeted by some extremist organisations seeking to radicalise and recruit students. Institutions have a clear role to play in safeguarding vulnerable people, and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) supports them to do so.
BIS has put in place 10 regional co-ordinators who work with universities and colleges to provide advice on the risks associated with external speakers and support institutions to have effective policies to manage events. We have worked with Universities UK to produce a website which gives guidance to institutions on these risks, enabling them to share best practice and safeguard their students from radicalisation.
All students unions have received guidance on minimising risk from all types of hate speakers from the National Union of Students, supported by BIS. Guidance for institutions will follow this summer from Universities UK.
Students unions and institutions also have responsibilities under charities legislation in relation to extremism of all kinds. The Charity Commission is working to embed understanding of these responsibilities through workshops and visits.
Telephone Services
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department receives any financial or non-financial benefit from its telephone providers for telephone lines that (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible operate, including but not limited to (i) a share of call revenue, (ii) a reduction in the Department's telephone bill or tariff and (iii) telephony services for free or at a reduced price. [157730]
Jo Swinson: The Department receives no financial or non financial benefits from its own or its Executive agencies' telephone providers.
Treasury
Banks
Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to bring forward proposals to place a requirement on retail banks to implement a duty of care to customers when offering financial products for sale. [157804]
Sajid Javid: The Government have no plans to bring in a duty of care for retail banks when offering financial products for sale. A duty of care would not give retail banks a clear view of the conduct that is 'expected of them or add anything to regulatory or other legal requirements that already apply relating to the sale of financial products.
Child Trust Fund
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on consultation regarding options to transfer savings held in child trust funds into Junior ISAs; and if he will make a statement. [157790]
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1164W
Sajid Javid: The consultation on allowing the transfer of savings from child trust funds to Junior ISAs was published on 14 May and will close on 6 August.
The consultation looks at whether transfers should be allowed and asks if so, then on what basis.
The Government propose that voluntary transfers from child trust funds to Junior ISAs should be allowed if requested by the registered contact for an account, but also asks for opinions on any alternative proposals.
Council Tax
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to take into consideration the level of local council tax precept in any cuts to individual police forces in his Department's upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. [158013]
Danny Alexander: HM Treasury will set departmental expenditure limits as part of the spending round, but decisions on funding allocations for individual police forces are made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
The draft council tax referendums principles are laid before Parliament each year alongside the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Proposals around the council tax referendums principles and police precepts in 2015-16 will be announced in due course.
Setting the police precept is a matter for individual Police and Crime Commissioners to decide taking into account the views of the local community and Police and Crime Panels.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent representations he has received on possible extensions of the rural fuel duty rebate scheme; [157957]
(2) for which rural areas in the UK it is the Government's policy to seek further derogations from the EU in respect of the fuel duty rebate; [157958]
(3) what recent representations he has received on potential extensions of the Rural Fuel Duty Rebate Scheme. [157747]
Sajid Javid: Motorists on the Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly are benefitting from a 5p per litre discount on pump prices since the Government introduced the rural fuel rebate pilot scheme last year.
The Government will consider whether to seek EU approval for an extension of the scheme to remote parts of the UK that are likely to display similar cost characteristics to the islands.
Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of authorities as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1165W
Financial Services: Scotland
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Bank of England have had with the Scottish Government on the (i) governance arrangements of macroprudential and microprudential regulation of the financial system in an independent Scotland and (ii) future composition of the Monetary Policy Committee and Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England. [157726]
Danny Alexander: The Treasury has had no correspondence with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK or on the membership of the Monetary Policy Committee and Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England.
The Bank of England's engagement with other stakeholders is a matter for the Bank of England.
Fuels: Tax Evasion
Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many petrol stations in Northern Ireland have been (a) inspected and (b) shut down in relation to fuel smuggling and laundering in each year since 2007; and how many owners of such petrol stations have been prosecuted in each such year. [157497]
Sajid Javid: It is not possible to identify the number of prosecutions relating specifically to the sale of laundered fuel. However, the Government has detected, disrupted and/or dismantled the following:
| Number | |
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1166W
Stations would generally be garage, forecourt and possible shop. ‘Huxter’ would include, for example, single pumps or sales from car washes.
Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many litres of laundered fuel have been seized in Northern Ireland in each year since 2007. [157498]
Sajid Javid: HM Revenue and Customs seizes many kinds of fraudulent fuel, but does not keep specific records of the proportion of laundered fuel seized.
Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cooperation between authorities in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland in relation to countering fuel smuggling and fuel laundering. [157499]
Sajid Javid: HM Revenue and Customs chairs the quarterly meeting of the Cross Border Fuel group, a sub group of the Organised Crime Task Force. This group has representation from HMRC, PSNI, SOCA, An Garda Siochana, the Revenue Commissioners, Criminal Assets Bureau and the Environment Agencies both north and south of the border. Consequently operational co-operation and understanding is considerable.
The two Revenue Authorities are also working closely together to identify possible improved marker technology.
Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been (a) charged and (b) convicted in Northern Ireland for offences relating to fuel smuggling and fuel laundering since 2007. [157500]
Sajid Javid: The information requested is given as follows:
| Prosecutions | Convictions | |
| (1) Cases. | ||
The figures for the first two years shown are provided by the Crown Prosecution Service and therefore those in the first column are for cases prosecuted rather than individuals charged. Figures in column one for subsequent years are HM Revenue and Customs figures and relate to individuals charged. Figures for all years in the second column are for individuals convicted.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1167W
Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the memorandum of understanding with the Irish Republic regarding the development of a new fuel marker. [157609]
Sajid Javid: The joint Republic of Ireland UK memorandum of understanding was signed in May 2012:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/ channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel= pageExcise_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD1_032150&property Type=document
As a result of this agreement an Invitation to Make Submissions (IMS) was published in June 2012:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel= pageExcise_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD1_032155&property Type=document
12 submissions have been received suggesting a number of different marker products. These are currently being evaluated and the Revenue Authorities are committed to completing this as early as possible.
G20: Russia
Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters were discussed at the Third Sherpas' Meeting held within the framework of Russia's G20 Presidency in St Petersburg on 11-12 May 2013; what papers were submitted to the meeting by the UK; and if he will post on his departmental website details of the decisions taken at this meeting. [157031]
Mr Swire: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
At the G20 Sherpa meeting on 11-12 May 2013, G20 Sherpas discussed: priorities for the G20 Summit (planned for 5-6 September 2013); the views of business, civil society and labour organisations; the outcomes of the Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' meeting (which took place on 18-19 April); and plans for the joint G20 Employment and Finance Ministers meeting (planned for 19 July).
Further details of the Russian presidency's priorities for the G20 in 2013 are available at:
http://www.g20.org
The UK did not submit any papers to this meeting and no final decisions were taken.
Income Tax: Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to First Annual Report on the Implementation and Operation of Part 3 (Financial Provisions) of the Scotland Act 2012, if he will provide a breakdown, by cost heading, of the expected £45 million costs of implementing the Scottish rate of income tax. [157966]
Mr Gauke:
HMRC have previously set out that the cost of implementing the Scottish rate of income tax will be £40 million to £45 million, of which around £10 million is expected to relate to IT systems changes. This is a provisional estimate made at the time the Scotland Bill was introduced to Parliament. As set out in paragraph 16 of the Annual Report, work planned in 2013-14 will lead to a more accurate estimate of the cost of identifying
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1168W
Scottish taxpayers, which will be the major element of non-IT costs for the Scottish rate project. The estimate for the IT costs will be refined further during 2014-15 when this aspect of the work commences.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2013, Official Report, column 463W, on income tax: Scotland, what he expects the cost of implementation of the Scottish rate of income tax to be in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16; and what proportion of these costs will be borne by (i) HM Revenue and Customs and (ii) the Scottish Government. [157972]
Mr Gauke: HMRC estimate that the cost of implementing the Scottish rate of income tax in 2013-14 will be around £750,000. As part of the work to implement the Scottish rate, HMRC will be producing estimates of the costs for 2014-15 and 2015-16 and these will be included in future annual implementation reports. As set out in a memorandum of understanding between HMRC and the Scottish Government, the costs for all additional work undertaken by HMRC as a result of implementing the Scottish rate will be paid for by the Scottish Government.
Minimum Wage
Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many enforcement actions have been taken by HM Revenue and Customs regarding the national minimum wage in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; how many have resulted in criminal proceedings against companies in each such year; and how many have been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service or Procurator Fiscal but no action taken. [157650]
Mr Gauke: For details of the number of non-compliant employers against which enforcement action was taken, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 April 2013, Official Report, column 67W.
For details of the number of criminal prosecutions for minimum wage offences, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, column 1148W.
For details of referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service or Procurator Fiscal, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 April 2013, Official Report, column 815W.
Public Expenditure
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what cash sums (a) were given in block grants to the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) in each of the last five years and (b) have been allocated to the NIE in the next three years; [157815]
(2) what cash sums (a) were given in block grants to the Welsh Government in each of the last five years and (b) have been allocated to that Government for the next three years; [157816]
(3) what cash sums (a) were given in block grants to the Scottish Government in each of the last five years and (b) have been allocated to that Government for the next three years. [157817]
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1169W
Danny Alexander: This information is included in the following table. The data for 2015-16 will be will be published as part of the spending review announcements on 26 June.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1170W
| £ million | |||||||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
| Outturn | Outturn | Outturn | Outturn | Estimated outturn | Plans | Plans | |
Social Rented Housing
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards the Government's policy of giving social landlords certainty until 2025 as outlined in Budget 2013. [157797]
Danny Alexander: Budget 2013 announced that at the 2015-16 spending round, the Government will set out a social rental policy that gives social landlords certainty until 2025.
The 2015-16 spending round will be published on 26 June 2013.
Telephone Services
John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department receives any financial or non-financial benefit from its telephone providers for telephone lines that (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible operate, including but not limited to (i) a share of call revenue, (ii) a reduction in the Department's telephone bill or tariff and (iii) telephony services for free or at a reduced price. [157744]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury and the agencies for which it is responsible do not receive any financial or non-financial benefit from their telephone provider for telephone lines that they use.
Tobacco: Smuggling
Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure HM Revenue and Customs incurred on Government publicity campaigns to prevent tobacco smuggling in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [157434]
Sajid Javid: I can confirm that HM Revenue and Customs has not incurred any expenditure on Government publicity campaigns to prevent tobacco smuggling in 2011-12 or 2012-13.
Travel
Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's budget for ministerial travel for (a) the Government Car Service, (b) private hire vehicles, (c) taxis, (d) rail, (e) aviation and (f) other is for (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16. [157535]
Sajid Javid: Departmental budgets for travel are not currently held at the level you have requested.
The allocated budget for the Government Car Service for 2013-4 and 2014-15 is £200,000 per year. The allocated budget for the Government Car Service in 2009-10 was £468,831.
Budgets for 2015-16 are not yet available.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) Government Car Service, (b) private hire vehicles, (c) taxis, (d) rail, (e) aviation and (f) other means in each year of the current parliament. [157556]
Sajid Javid: Please see the following table which provides details of departmental spend on ministerial travel from April 2009 to March 2013:
| £ | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
Please note that the costs for the Government Car Service may include some payments for the movement of ministerial boxes. These payments cannot be separately identified within the disproportionate cost threshold.
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1171W
International Development
Air Travel
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what amount was spent by her Department on (a) business, (b) first and (c) economy class airline tickets in each of the last three years. [158056]
Justine Greening: The following table provides details of travel expenditure by DFID in each of the last three years:
| £ | |||
| Economy | Business | First | |
Burma
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Government have provided to Burma to promote religious tolerence and multi-faith initiatives. [156811]
Mr Swire: I have been asked to reply on behalf the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
The Government, through the British embassy, are helping fund an inter-faith project delivered by a local non-government organisation. £9,908 has been allocated for this work which aims to raise awareness of inter-faith peace building concepts among young people to encourage reconciliation between communities. The Department for International Development does not have any specific programmes which promote inter-faith and religious tolerance in Burma, but is working with a range of partners, including faith-based organisations, to support peace and reconciliation in Burma.
More generally, the British Government continue to call on the Burmese authorities to sign up to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which includes commitments on protecting religious freedoms. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I raised this issue with the Burmese Foreign Minister during his visit to the UK in February.
Conflict Resolution
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what recent work her Department has undertaken with the Ministry of Defence in the field of conflict resolution; what plans she has for further work with the Ministry of Defence in future; and if she will make a statement; [156691]
(2) what conflict resolution activities her Department has undertaken in each of the last five years; [156692]
(3) how much was spent by her Department on conflict resolution in each of the last five years. [156693]
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1172W
Mr Duncan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and DFID work together closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to resolve conflict. In Afghanistan we work together to support Afghan efforts to achieve a political settlement that will secure peace and stability. Globally our joint efforts are guided by the Building Stability Overseas Strategy which focuses on conflict prevention and helps to build strong, legitimate institutions and stable societies, so fragile countries become more resilient.
All three departments are members of the National Security Council which is the main forum for collective discussion of the Government's objectives for national security.
The tri-departmental (DFID, FCO, MOD) Conflict Pool provides funding for conflict prevention, stabilisation and peace keeping activities.
In addition to working with the MOD and FCO, DFID undertakes a wide range of activities to build peaceful states and societies. By 2014-15 DFID will spend 30% of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) in countries that are fragile or affected by conflict. Twenty one of DFID's twenty eight priority countries fall into this category. Some examples of conflict resolution activities DFID has supported in the last five years includes work in Kenya on post-election violence in 2008 and preparations for elections in 2013; support to the Comprehensive Peace Accord in the run up to independence in South Sudan in 2011; and support to UN mediation efforts in Yemen.
Details of DFID expenditure by sector are published annually in Statistics on international Development. Given the breadth of its activity DFID's total funding for conflict resolution cannot be readily disaggregated from the Department's ODA reporting. The following table lists expenditure recorded under “civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution”.
| Financial year | £000 |
Conflict resolution activities are only a narrow part of the range of work which DFID supports and which contribute to building peaceful states and societies. Overall funding for this area is increasing.
Developing Countries: Health Services
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to support UK-based research into new drugs to enhance the treatment of those suffering from diseases connected with poverty, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. [157967]
Lynne Featherstone:
DFID is in the final stages of an open competition for product development research, for diseases of poverty, including HIV, TB and malaria. Funding through product development partnerships (PDPs) enables the best global research and development for new technologies to be taken forward. The PDPs bidding are international partnerships which include
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1173W
UK-based partners, both from the public and private sectors, with expertise in diagnostic, drug and vaccine development.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure funding for future research and development into new technologies for HIV, TB and malaria. [157971]
Lynne Featherstone: DFID is in the final stages of an open competition for product development research, for diseases of poverty including HIV, TB and malaria. I anticipate that the business cass for those successful in the competition will be sent to me for approval for funding within the next two months.
Developing Countries: Third Sector
Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her timetable is for providing funding to civil society for resilience initiatives. [157376]
Lynne Featherstone: DFID is already providing significant funding to civil society organisations to help build resilience through our country programmes and through our Programme Partnership Arrangements. This year we are developing further resilience programmes, including in the Sahel, that will help finance civil society's important contribution to this agenda. The new programme for the Sahel will be launched in the autumn.
Developing Countries: Tuberculosis
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the level of investment in research and development for new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for tuberculosis in developing countries; and what assessment she has made of the effect of such investment. [157969]
Lynne Featherstone: There is an ongoing need for Research and Development (R&D) for new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries. The UK Government has supported TB R&D, providing over £40 million, since 2005. There are two new combinations of drugs currently in development which, if effective, will reduce standard treatment times from six to four months and will be effective against both drug sensitive and drug resistant TB. The number of TB vaccine candidates in clinical development has increased from one to 10, and six TB diagnostic tests have been approved by the World Health Organisation, after 100 years of using the same diagnostic tools.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to encourage industrial development of (a) diagnostics, (b) drugs and (c) vaccines for tuberculosis; and what assessment she has made of the effect new technologies would have on rates of the disease. [157970]
Lynne Featherstone:
The UK Government have invested in research and development of new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) supporting a number
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1174W
of public private product development partnerships (PDPs). PDPs bring together public and private industrial partners to work together to develop new technologies.
It has been estimated that rapid diagnosis, and subsequent appropriate treatment, of TB can save half a million lives each year. New diagnostic tests have speeded up initiating treatment from months to hours. New, faster-acting, effective drugs which are easier to take, can reduce treatment times from six to four months for drug sensitive TB and from over 18 months down to four months for drug resistant TB. Shorter treatment regimens result in increased adherence and help prevent the development of further drug resistance. It has been estimated that a new, effective TB vaccine could reduce TB deaths by over 40% by 2029.
Private Education
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2013, Official Report, column 523W, on private education, in which countries each year her Department provides financial support for private school fees; and what amount is spent in each country each year. [158057]
Lynne Featherstone: In Pakistan, in 2012-13 we provided £5 million to the Punjab Education Foundation to enable poor children to attend low cost private schools. In Sindh, we are piloting an innovative private sector fund, which in 2012-13 DFID provided £1,027,000 to two non-governmental organisations to support 17,687 poor children to attend low cost private schools.
Tanzania
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment her Department has made of the decision by the Tanzanian Government to establish a 1,500 square kilometre wildlife corridor and its effects on the Masai community. [157660]
Justine Greening: This is an issue that DFID and British high commission officials in Tanzania have been following very closely. The UK has encouraged all sides to seek a peaceful solution through dialogue with respect for legal and human rights and that any concessions let in the area are done so in full transparency.
Cabinet Office
Community Development
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's funding for community organisers; and if he will make a statement; [157003]
(2) how much funding his Department has allocated for community organisers in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [157002]
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1175W
Mr Hurd: An independent assessment of the programme is underway and the final report will be published in 2015.
The Cabinet Office has allocated the following budget to the Community Organisers programme.
| £ | |
In 2012 we committed an additional £7.5 million to the programme, which is included in the figures above. This will give all 500 senior community organisers the opportunity to sustain their work through a match funded £15,000 employment start-up grant.
Conditions of Employment: North East
Alison McGovern: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people employed on zero-hours contracts in (a) Wirral, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West. [157347]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate he has made of the number of people employed on zero-hour contracts in (a) Wirral, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West. 157347
Estimates of the number of people on zero-hours contracts are available from the Labour Force Survey, but due to insufficient sample size are not available for Wirral, Merseyside or the North West.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles labour market statistics for UK regions & local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS), following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of the number of people employed on zero-hours contracts are not available from this source.
Employment: Clwyd
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what proportion of people in Clwyd South constituency were employed in the (a) private, (b) public and (c) third sector in each of the last five years; [156882]
(2) how many people were employed in (a) part-time and (b) full-time work in Clwyd South constituency in each of the last five years. [156890]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of people in Clwyd South constituency were employed in (a) private, (b) public and (c) third sector in each of the last five years
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1176W
(156882); and how many people were employed in (a) part-time and (b) full-time work in Clwyd South constituency in each of the last five years (156890).
Employment statistics for local areas are calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates of people employed in the third sector are currently not available from APS. Individuals employed in voluntary organisations, charities and trusts are included in private sector estimates.
Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers and are based on a National Accounts' definition and are not available for areas smaller than regions.
Tables 1 and 2 show the number and percentage of people aged 16 to 64 years, who were employed in the public or private sector along with those who were unemployed or inactive, resident in Clwyd South constituency. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period January 2012 to December 2012, the latest period available, and the 12 month periods ending in December from 2008 to 2011. It should also be noted that the estimates also include people who were employed but have not provided enough information to be accurately included in either the public or private sectors.
Table 3 shows the number of people aged 16 and over resident in Clwyd South constituency who were in full-time or part-time employment, according to responses to the APS compiled from interviews held during the period January 2012 to December 2012, the latest period available, and the 12 month periods ending in December from 2008 to 2011.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Percentage of people aged 16 to 64 years employed in the public and private sectors(1), resident in Clwyd South constituency | ||||
| Percentage | ||||
| Employed | ||||
| 12 months ending: | Public | Private | Unknown(2) | Unemployed or Inactive |
| n/a = Not available. (1) Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. (2) People who were employed but have not provided enough information to be accurately included in either the public or private sectors. Note: Components may not add to 100% due to rounding and suppression of unavailable estimates. Source: Annual Population Survey | ||||
5 Jun 2013 : Column 1177W
| Table 2: Number of people aged 16 to 64 years employed in the public and private sectors(1), resident in Clwyd South constituency | ||||
| Thousand | ||||
| Employed | ||||
| 12 months ending: | Public | Private | Unknown(2) | Unemployed or Inactive |
| n/a = Not available. (1) Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. (2) People who were employed but have not provided enough information to be accurately included in either the public or private sectors. (3) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality following. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 = CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV = 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey | ||||