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State Retirement Pensions: Females
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average number of qualifying years of the women born between 1951 and 1953 who would be ineligible to receive the single-tier pension even though men of the same age would be eligible. [161093]
Steve Webb: The Department projects that the average (median) number of qualifying years to the basic state pension for women reaching state pension age in Great Britain between 2012 and 2015 is around 38.
Source:
DWP modelling based on PENSIM2.
Universal Credit
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will exempt families with an unemployed non-dependant aged under 25 years old from housing cost contributions following the introduction of universal credit. [160649]
Steve Webb: It is a long-established principle that someone living in a benefit claimant's home should be expected to contribute towards the rent. This principle will be carried forward into universal credit, although the system will be simpler and will provide improved work incentives. We are introducing a single flat rate of housing cost contribution which will apply, irrespective of income, to non-dependants aged 21 and over.
While many non-dependants aged under the age of 21 are currently expected to make a contribution in housing benefits, under universal credit all will be exempt. For those aged 21 and over, a contribution will be expected only where the person is either in work or there is an expectation that they should be working/can return to work. A contribution will not be expected if the person is a carer, is responsible for a young child, or is in receipt of a specified disability benefit.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will exempt people who are (a) in receipt of employment and support allowance and (b) awaiting a work capability assessment from housing cost contributions under universal credit. [160700]
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Steve Webb: It is a long-established principle that someone living in a benefit claimant's home should be expected to contribute towards the rent. This principle will be carried forward into universal credit, although the system will be simpler and will provide improved work incentives.
Employment and support allowance does not of itself exempt a non-dependant from the contribution in housing benefit. This principle will be carried into universal credit.
Universal Credit: Brent
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the timetable is for the rollout of universal credit in the London borough of Brent. [161371]
Mr Hoban: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne) on 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 1052W.
Universal credit will progressively roll-out in a carefully managed and controlled way from October 2013 with all those who are entitled to UC claiming the new benefit by 2017.
Work Capability Assessment: Appeals
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr Hepburn) of 4 June 2013, Official Report, columns 1103-4W, on work capability assessment, how many of the appeals against the work capability assessment have been upheld in (a) Corby, (b) Northamptonshire, (c) the East Midlands and (d) East Anglia in each year since October 2008. [160578]
Mr Hoban: The following table shows the outcomes of appeals heard against Fit for Work outcomes at initial work capability assessments (WCAs) for new employment and support allowance (ESA) claims that started between October 2008 and February 2012 (the latest data available), by the year that the claim started, for claimants in (a) Corby local authority area, (b) Northamptonshire, (c) east midlands and (d) East Anglia.
| Outcomes of appeals heard against Fit for Work outcomes at initial WCAs for new ESA claims that started between October 2008 and February 2012 for (a) Corby local authority, (b) Northamptonshire, (c) east midlands and (d) East Anglia | ||||||||
| Corby LA | Northamptonshire | East midlands | East Anglia | |||||
| Year of claim start | Initial decision overturned | Initial decision upheld | Initial decision overturned | Initial decision upheld | Initial decision overturned | Initial decision upheld | Initial decision overturned | Initial decision upheld |
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| (1) Nil or negligible value Notes: 1. Rounding: All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Hence totals may not sum exactly. 2. Data for 2008 only include claims started between October and December, since ESA was introduced in October 2008. Data for 2012 only include claims started in January and February. 3. Information on appeals against repeat assessment, incapacity benefit reassessment and work related activity group outcomes are not included. 4. The volume of appeals heard and inferred to be on Fit for Work decision in each cohort are likely to alter over time and change is likely to be most marked in more recent cohorts. This is because of the length of time it takes to submit an appeal and have it heard by HMCTS. Source: Department for Work and Pensions benefit administration datasets | ||||||||
Work Capability Assessment: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of training in myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome received by medical practitioners and assessors employed by Atos Healthcare to carry out work capability assessments. [161158]
Mr Hoban: DWP recognises Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) as a real and potentially significantly disabling condition. The assessment of individuals with CFS/ME or any other condition is not dependent on their classification but rather on the disabling effects of the condition.
All health care professionals who undertake assessments on behalf of DWP are required to read an evidence based protocol on CFS/ME as part of their induction training. All health care professionals are required to engage in a programme of continuing medical education which includes modules on CFS.
While the role of the examining health care professional is not to diagnose they are expected to elicit clinical signs relevant to a function assessment. Features such as pain, fatigue and repeatability of symptoms are all considered.
Work Capability Assessment: Lincolnshire
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in North East Lincolnshire have been assessed by Atos to date; how many of those assessed have been moved from disability living allowance to jobseeker's allowance; and how many appeals against those decisions have been made. [159917]
Esther McVey: Claimants are not moved from DLA to JSA. They are not linked benefits and therefore no appeals can be made.
Communities and Local Government
Empty Property
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of empty properties in England. [161156]
Mr Foster: Annual statistics on total numbers of vacant dwellings and those vacant longer than six months in England and in each local authority district are published in the Department's live table 615, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants
The number of long-term empty homes has already fallen by 20,000 between 2011 and 2012 and by over 40,800 since 2010. Ministers will keep the House updated with progress.
Fire Services
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 138W, on fire services, which procurement routes would permit a fire and rescue authority acting as a commissioner to not open up to competitive tender the services that would be delivered by a spun-out fire brigade public service mutual. [161314]
Brandon Lewis: Procurement routes would be a matter for the relevant fire and rescue authority to consider if they want to explore the option of a public service mutual.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Government have for future accountability arrangements for fire and rescue services; and if he will make a statement. [161404]
Brandon Lewis: We are currently considering the findings of Sir Ken Knight's review of fire and rescue authorities ‘Facing the Future’, including those on accountability arrangements. The Government will respond later this year setting out our position.
Fires: Death
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of death from a fire-related accident (a) at work and (b) at home. [160736]
Brandon Lewis: The Department has not made an assessment.
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Figures on the number of fire deaths in dwellings and in other buildings in England are published in the Fire Statistics Monitor:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/fire-statistics-monitor
In England in 2011-12 there were 231 fire-related deaths in dwellings and 17 in other buildings.
Housing: Construction
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the size of new homes being built in England. [160927]
Mr Foster: As part of the Housing Standards Review DCLG has commissioned independent research including an estimate of the average size of new dwellings. The results of this research will be published in due course.
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has made of the introduction of minimum standards in the provision of natural light in new homes. [160928]
Mr Foster: The setting of natural light standards in new homes is one of a range of issues which has been considered by the housing standards review over the past nine months. A consultation document setting out the proposals will be published shortly.
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has made of the introduction of national minimum space standards for all new homes in England. [160929]
Mr Foster: Space standards have been considered as part of the housing standards review and a consultation document will be published shortly setting out the Government’s views.
Human Trafficking
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what initiatives his Department has undertaken to use art to promote awareness of human trafficking. [161144]
Mr Foster: My Department has not undertaken any specific initiative in relation to art and human trafficking.
Notwithstanding, I refer the hon. Member to the Government's Human Trafficking Strategy which outlines the Government's broader actions to address this issue:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/97845/human-trafficking-strategy.pdf
Local Government Finance
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department plans to publish data for grants rolled in using tailored distributions for individual local authorities in 2014-15; what the indicative level of HIV/AIDS social care support funding will be for 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [160698]
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Brandon Lewis: Grants rolled in using tailored distributions were set out for 2013-14 in the formula funding document that supported the 2013-14 local government finance settlement. The formula funding document is available on our website at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/calcffs.pdf
Amounts rolled in for all tailored grants can be found in Key Table 3 in the supporting documents for the appropriate year's settlement on the same website. Formula grant and revenue support grant are unhypothecated block grants and it is therefore not possible to set out how much funding is provided for any particular service.
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of the Environmental, Cultural and Protective Services block is distributed using indicators of (a) social deprivation, (b) population density and (c) population sparsity. [161574]
Brandon Lewis: Indicators used in the Environmental, Cultural and Protective Services block for the 2013-14 settlement are set out from page 81 onwards of the formula funding document that supports the Local Government Finance Report. Both documents are available at:
www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/settle.htm
Local Government: Conditions of Employment
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on how many people are employed on zero-hours contracts in each local authority in England. [161438]
Brandon Lewis: The Department does not hold any information on the use of zero-hours contracts in local authorities in England.
Parish Councils: Bank Services
Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to allow parish councils to make payments by electronic banking; and if he will make a statement. [160992]
Brandon Lewis: I plan to make a statement on this subject before the House rises for the summer recess, explaining how we will take forward the proposals on which we consulted last year concerning the "two signature rule" for parish council payments.
Social Enterprises
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of his Department's suppliers are social enterprises. [160660]
Brandon Lewis: Departmental records show that six of my Department’s suppliers in 2012-13 were social enterprises.
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Social Rented Housing: Barnsley
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of people who have fallen into arrears on social housing rent in (a) Barnsley East constituency and (b) Barnsley local authority area since April 2013. [160657]
Mr Prisk: This information is not held centrally.
Attorney-General
Human Trafficking
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) attempted prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for human trafficking offences in 2012; what length of sentence was handed down to each person convicted; and what the value was of any assets seized. [160272]
The Solicitor-General: The CPS maintains a record of human trafficking prosecutions by way of a database monitoring flag. A flag is applied at the onset of a case; and remains in place even if the charges are subsequently amended or dropped. The number of finalised defendant prosecutions, flagged as human trafficking prosecutions, for 2012 are as follows:
| Number | Rate (%) | |
In 2012, the CPS obtained confiscation orders to the value of £582,478.18 against offenders whose primary offence was human trafficking. The CPS does not hold any data relating to sentences imposed by the courts.
Legal Aid Scheme
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, column 480W, on the Legal Aid Scheme, how much the Government spent on (a) legal services, including those provided by in-house staff and (b) legal aid (i) in cash terms and (ii) at constant prices in each of the last 20 years. [160834]
The Solicitor-General: The Ministry of Justice deals with legal aid spending. The Government do not keep central records of spending on legal services. However, data were collected, for the financial year 2009-10, as part of the Cabinet Office Back Office Benchmarking Analysis. This data showed that departments within the Government Legal Service (most central Whitehall Departments and the SFO) spent £340,707,128 on legal services, of which £319,550,727 was for technical legal services and £21,156,406 was for administrative support. Departments outside the Government Legal Service, including the CPS and SOCA, spent a total of £753,511,193, of which £510,858,712 was for technical legal services and £241,197,059 was for administrative support. These figures include:
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All employee costs for legal services (where legal staff are devolved in the organisation, include the total cost of those staff that spend more than 50% of their time on legal activities, unless the exact data are available);
External legal services (solicitors, Counsel, Parliamentary Counsel, etc.);
Training budget;
Library/publications budget;
Travel and subsistence budget;
IT costs directly related to the legal function;
Accommodation costs;
Other costs, eg supplies and consumables.
The figures exclude staff time or activities covered in other professions within this benchmarking (e.g. the cost of procurement advice over engaging legal support).
Legal Opinion
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, column 480W, on the Legal Aid Scheme, if he will consider limiting remuneration for prosecution lawyers or expert witnesses in criminal cases in which the defendant is on legal aid such that it does not pay fees or in-house salaries above legal aid rates to its own lawyers or expert witnesses and does not pay for more hours of legal services than would be allowed in a court's detailed assessment of costs for legal aid clients; and if he will estimate the cost savings which such a policy would deliver. [160835]
The Solicitor-General: No realistic comparison between the roles of prosecution and defence can be made for these purposes. The amount of preparation and the burden of responsibility differs. As part of the programme of public spending savings, the CPS has absorbed a 28% reduction over the period 2010 to 2015, part of which has been passed on to the Bar by way of a reduction in fees paid overall.
Defence
Armed Forces: Foreign Nationals
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) the UK Border Agency on providing information and assistance to foreign and Commonwealth military personnel and their families with regard to visa applications; and if he will make a statement. [160650]
Mr Francois: We have been in discussion with the Home Office on a regular basis about immigration matters relating to the armed forces and their families. A joint review by both Departments has recently been completed with the aim of aligning, where appropriate, the armed forces immigration rules with the family migration rules introduced by the Home Office last year. The review has recognised the unique circumstances of service life and has taken into account the Armed Forces Covenant principle of no disadvantage through service. The outcome of the joint review will be announced by the Home Office before the summer recess.
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For those armed forces personnel who wish to settle in the United Kingdom, as part of the delivery of covenant commitments, a process has recently been introduced by the Home Office which enables, where possible, settlement to be granted the day after discharge. This gives non-British personnel the right to live and work in the United Kingdom and access to public funds to which they are entitled.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) training and (b) guidance he makes available to Army welfare officers to (i) the immigration status, (ii) support for spouses and (iii) domestic violence relating to foreign and Commonwealth military personnel; and if he will make a statement. [160651]
Mr Francois: The majority of immigration and nationality issues are a personal matter between individuals and the Home Office.
As part of their training, Unit Welfare Officers receive a presentation about immigration and nationality matters and how they affect members of the British Army and their families. They are supported by Army policy which is available through internal instructions and publications, information hosted on internal and external web pages and quarterly welfare newsletters. Welfare Officers are required to refer complex casework up the chain of command to the Army Headquarters, where officials maintain a close link with the Home Office who are able to provide advice. Welfare Officers are not qualified immigration advisers, and concentrate on signposting individuals to the most appropriate source of help in a particular case.
Support to spouses is provided regardless of nationality and spans the range of welfare issues faced by personnel including housing, finance and family matters. In addition to Welfare Officer training and Army guidance on these issues, spouses can independently seek advice from immigration advisers, legal professionals, the Army Families Federation or Service charities.
Army welfare policy makes it clear that the British Army does not tolerate domestic abuse. This follows Tri-Service policy on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence. In the Army it is mandatory for Unit Welfare Officers to seek advice from the Army Welfare Service where domestic abuse is suspected or takes place, to ensure that appropriate action is taken.
Army: Redundancy
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers serving with the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have taken voluntary redundancy packages since 2010. [161138]
Mr Francois: 31 personnel from 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have been accepted as applicants for redundancy since 2010.
Selections are based on performance, potential and wider employability. Wherever possible, applicants will be selected over non-applicants.
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Second Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have been issued with redundancy notices. [161164]
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Mr Francois: 35 personnel from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have been selected for redundancy since 2010; 31 of whom were applicants.
Selections are based on performance, potential and wider employability. Wherever possible, applicants will be selected over non-applicants.
Billing
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial benefits that could be achieved by paying suppliers early in return for rebates. [160960]
Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its approach to paying suppliers under review to ensure opportunities are seized for improving value for money in its contractual arrangements, including the use of e-purchasing to request discounts for prompt or early payment—a recent development. The MOD is a signatory to the Government's Prompt Payment Code and exceeds the Government's prompt payment stretch targets.
Buildings
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total running costs were for each building used, owned or rented in central London by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies, other than buildings operated exclusively by the armed services, in each of the last three financial years. [154239]
Mr Francois: The total running costs for the buildings used by the Ministry of Defence in London in the last three financial years (FY) is shown in the following table:
| £ million | ||||
| Running cost FY | ||||
| Name of building | Details | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
The Department also acts on behalf of the following organisations:
| £ million | ||||
| Running cost FY | ||||
| Name of building | Details | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
|
Held under a memorandum of terms of occupation since October 2008 | ||||
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Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the (a) effectiveness of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation's new competency based application process and (b) the effect of such a process on existing employees in the Organisation. [160962]
Mr Francois: The new competency based application process is not unique to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. It was rolled out across Government by the Cabinet Office starting in April 2013. It is therefore too soon to assess its effectiveness or effects.
Military Decorations: World War II
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department decided to award a clasp rather than a medal to those who served in Bomber Command. [161080]
Mr Francois: In his independent Medal Review, Sir John Holmes concluded that Bomber Command veterans had been treated inconsistently with those who served in Fighter Command. The award of a clasp to Bomber Command air crew to be worn on existing medals is intended to bring this Command into line with Fighter Command aircrew who were awarded a Battle of Britain clasp to be worn on the 1939-45 Star.
MOD Ashchurch
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the potential sale value of the military site at Ashchurch; and if he will make a statement. [161377]
Mr Dunne: Details of any valuations obtained for the sale of Ashchurch can not be released. I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the suitability for development of the Ashchurch military site and the possible presence of asbestos and unexploded ordnance; what the likely cost of clean-up of the site would be before it could be sold for development; and if he will make a statement. [161406]
Mr Dunne: In line with the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) policy, the site has been subjected to a land quality assessment and unexploded ordnance risk assessment in advance of any sale. The MOD has obtained cost estimates in respect of the clean-up of contamination including asbestos to facilitate the anticipated redevelopment of the land. These costs will be reflected in the sale value and as such are commercially sensitive at this time.
As with the sale of any MOD land, the purchaser will be expected, in consultation with the local planning authority, to undertake the remediation necessary to make the land suitable for its intended use.
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Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the available space at Salisbury to potentially accommodate operations currently carried out at Ashchurch military site following the draw-down of forces from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [161379]
Mr Dunne: No assessment or decision for relocating the activities at Ashchurch to Salisbury has been made.
Nuclear Weapons
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that Ministry of Defence personnel are on hand to provide advice to local emergency managers at the gold command level in the immediate aftermath of a radiation incident involving a truck cargo heavy duty nuclear weapons convoy. [160996]
Mr Dunne: In the unlikely event of an emergency, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Incident Commander, who travels with the convoy in his role as the senior MOD Police officer, would be on the scene immediately to direct events and to work with the emergency services. The Joint Regional Liaison Officer for that geographical area would deploy immediately to undertake the MOD liaison duties at the strategic response centre (GOLD). In addition, a team of 11 appropriately qualified MOD personnel, led by the MOD co-ordinating authority, would deploy to GOLD as soon as possible.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to close out each of the findings and observations made by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator in its assessment of Exercise Senator 2011. [160997]
Mr Dunne: The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's assessment concluded that Exercise Senator 2011 achieved its stated objectives. The assessment findings and observations are being addressed and have been prioritised within the wider programme for maintaining emergency plans.
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the future viability of UK defence policy if the costs of new nuclear weapons platforms developments were met wholly from his Department's budget. [161343]
Mr Dunne: Future spending rounds will set the Defence budget at a level that balances the Ministry of Defence's resources with its policy commitments.
Termination of Employment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions (a) a compromise agreement, (b) a confidentiality clause and (c) judicial mediation was used when an employee of (i) his Department and (ii) the public bodies for which he is responsible left their employment in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [160903]
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Mr Francois: The information is not held in the format requested. However, upon leaving the Department all staff are required to continue to adhere to the terms of the Official Secrets Act and the Business Appointments Rules for Civil Servants and the Armed Forces. The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998 would apply in appropriate circumstances.
Home Department
Action Fraud
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what oversight of Action Fraud is conducted by her Department. [160920]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Action Fraud is part of the National Fraud Authority which is an Executive agency of the Home Office. The relationship between the National Fraud Authority and the Home Office is governed by a Framework Agreement which sets out the strategic objectives, responsibilities and lines of accountability of the National Fraud Authority to the Home Office.
The permanent secretary, as the Home Office's principal accounting officer, holds the chief executive to account for the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Fraud Authority. The director general of crime and policing has been appointed by the permanent secretary to act as the departmental sponsor of the National Fraud Authority and a senior Home Office representative sits on the National Fraud Authority Management Board.
Animal Experiments
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations on the anaesthetising of live non-human embryos during medical experimentations are required to be observed by persons licensed by her Department to undertake scientific procedures on animals. [160819]
James Brokenshire: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (as amended by SI 2012/3039), provides protection for live non-human embryos and the framework sets out the circumstances when anaesthesia or analgesia should be employed.
For the purposes of the 1986 Act (as amended) a ‘protected animal' is any living vertebrate other than man and any living cephalopod. Embryonic and foetal forms of mammals, birds and reptiles are protected during the last third of their gestation or incubation period. Embryonic and foetal forms are protected from an earlier stage of development if they are going to live beyond the last third of their gestation or incubation period and the procedure is likely to cause them pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm after they have developed to that stage.
Standard project licence condition 17 set out in schedule 3, part 4, paragraph 17 of the 1986 Act (as amended) provides that all authorised procedures shall be carried out under general or local anaesthesia unless (a) anaesthesia would be more traumatic to the animal concerned than the procedures themselves; or (b) anaesthesia would be incompatible with the purposes of the procedures.
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Standard personal licence condition 9 set out in schedule 3, part 3, paragraph 9 of the 1986 Act (as amended) provides that the licence holder may apply a regulated procedure without the use of general or local anaesthesia only if the holder is satisfied that (a) the procedure would not inflict serious injuries capable of causing severe pain; and (b) the use of general or local anaesthesia would be more traumatic to the animal than the procedure itself or would frustrate the purposes of the procedure.
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many live animals have been used in scientific experiments in each year since 2006. [161169]
James Brokenshire: The most recent figures published by the Home Office show that there were 3.7 million animals used in scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain in 2011. This compares with 2.9 million in 2006, 3.1 million in 2007, 3.6 million in 2008, 3.5 million in 2009 and 3.6 million in 2010.
Anti-Slavery Day
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her plans are to mark Anti-Slavery Day 2013. [160542]
Mr Harper: The Government will announce their plans in due course.
Arrest Warrants
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2013, Official Report, column 860W, on arrest warrants, if she will place a copy of the report submitted following HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary's review of SOCA's processes in the Library. [160675]
Mr Harper: A copy of the report was placed in the House Library on 20 June 2013.
COE Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of which provisions of the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings are (a) being complied with and (b) not being complied with by the UK, by Government Department. [160495]
Mr Harper: The UK is fully compliant with the convention on action against trafficking in human beings. We regularly review the UK’s compliance in relation to our national and international obligations.
Domestic Violence: Ashfield
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many domestic violence arrests have been made in Ashfield constituency in each of the last five years. [160951]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The requested arrests data are not collected centrally.
Dual Nationality: Scotland
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Scottish Government requested any discussions with her Department to discuss the potential provision of dual nationality for Scottish citizens in the event of Scottish independence. [160403]
Mr Harper: There have been no such requests for discussions from the Scottish Government.
Entry Clearances: Israel
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holders of Israeli passports entered the UK (a) as visitors, (b) as students, (c) to work and (d) for other reasons in 2012. [160647]
Mr Harper: The latest available statistics for Israeli nationals entering the UK relate to 2011 and appear in the following table:
| Israeli nationals given leave to enter the United Kingdom by purpose of journey by main category, 2011 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Data are provisional and relate to the number of journeys made. 2. Data of 1,000 or less are rounded to the nearest 5 (* = 1 or 2) and numbers greater than 1,000 are rounded to 3 significant figures. 3. Figures may not sum to the totals due to rounding. Source: Immigration Statistics, January to March 2013, Table ad_03 and ad_03_o | |
Passenger arrival data by nationality for 2012 are due to be published on 29 August 2013.
The latest Home Office immigration statistics are published in the release Immigration Statistics January-March 2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holders of Israeli passports entered the UK (a) with and (b) without a visa in 2012; and what proportion of such people are normally resident within (i) the 1967 borders of Israel and (ii) settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. [160648]
Mr Harper:
The latest available statistics show that 189,000 journeys were made by Israeli nationals entering into the UK in 2011 (of which 153,000 were visitors, 13,600 were passengers in transit and 19,300 were passengers returning after a temporary absence abroad). It is not possible to say how many of these journeys were made with an entry clearance visa or where those persons
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were normally resident. There were a total of 847 entry clearance visas issued to Israelis in 2011, of which 74 were visit visas.
The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas and admissions are published in the release Immigration Statistics January-March 2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
Passenger arrival data by nationality for 2012 are due to be published on 29 August 2013.
Female Genital Mutilation
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has set up a national register of girls at risk of female genital mutilation. [161465]
Mr Jeremy Browne: There is no national register for girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM). If a child is found to be at risk of significant harm then a child protection plan should be put in place to ensure the child is safe. FGM is an extremely harmful practice and safeguarding professionals have a clear duty to protect children from the abuse.
Human Trafficking
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the obligations set out in the EU anti-human trafficking directive have been implemented; and when she plans to implement the others. [160431]
Mr Harper: The Government have fully implemented the EU directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims and we advised the European Commission of our position in April 2013.
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the consequences of moving her Department's human trafficking unit to the public risk unit; and if she will make a statement. [160489]
Mr Harper: Moving the Human Trafficking Team to the Public Risk Unit demonstrates the importance the Government place on preventing people from becoming a victim of this crime. We also continue to strengthen our law enforcement response to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 900W, on human trafficking, which types of data are held by each authority; and whether this information is also centrally held. [160502]
Mr Harper: National Referral Mechanism data are centrally held and published quarterly on the SOCA website:
http://www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-the-ukhtc/national-referral-mechanism/statistics
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The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group report, published in October 2012, also sets out this data. Authorities may hold additional information relevant to their business.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 900W, on human trafficking, which authorities were involved in each trafficking case. [160503]
Mr Harper: This information is not held centrally.
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the potential victims of trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism in 2012 (a) did not receive a reasonable grounds decision, (b) (i) did and (ii) did not receive a positive conclusive decision and (c) did not wish to proceed with their referral. [R] [160540]
Mr Harper: There were 1,186 referrals to the National Referral Mechanism in 2012. 19% received a negative reasonable grounds decision. 34% received a positive reasonable grounds decision, 11% received a negative conclusive grounds decision. 3% of applications were withdrawn.
The National Referral Mechanism is a live document and is subject to change. The data provided here are from the National Referral Mechanism as of 1 April 2013.
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many potential (a) adult and (b) child victims of trafficking were referred to the National Referral Mechanism in 2012 by (i) police region, (ii) location of exploitation, (iii) nationality of victim, (iv) exploitation type and (v) gender. [R] [160541]
Mr Harper: National Referral Mechanism (NRM) data are published on a quarterly basis on the Serious Organised Crime Agency website. Provisional data have also been published for 2012. This includes nationality, exploitation type and gender.
http://www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-the-ukhtc/national-referral-mechanism/statistics
NRM data record referring organisation. Where this is a police force this is shown in the published statistics. The following table shows the number of adults and minors referred to the NRM by police region from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.
The data used are taken from the NRM as of 1 April 2013.
| ACPO region/country of presentation | Minors total | Adult total | Unknown | Total |
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NRM data routinely record the location of referral. Because of the nature of trafficking the location of referral may not be the same as the location of exploitation. Data on the location of exploitation are presented in the following tables. Where the number of individuals exploited at a location was less than five the breakdown is not disclosed, to avoid identifying the victim.
| Location of exploitation | Adults |
| Location of exploitation | Minors |
Mrs Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding is made available by the Government for non-governmental organisations other than the Salvation Army for fighting modern day slavery. [160600]
Mr Harper: In the 2012-13 financial year the Home Office awarded funding, of £74,000, in total, to three non-governmental organisations to undertake awareness raising and training activities on human trafficking issues with a diverse range of front-line professionals.
The joint Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development managed Returns and Reintegration Funding can be used to support anti-trafficking activity as required.
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office Posts have bilateral programme budgets to further achieve their objectives. These can be used to fund trafficking projects in priority source countries where trafficking objectives are included in the Posts' business plan.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to implement in full the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive. [160706]
Mr Harper: The Government have implemented the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. We advised the European Commission of our position in April 2013.
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to improve data collection on modern day slavery. [160707]
Mr Harper: High quality data are essential to support our understanding of, and response to human trafficking. The inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking (IDMG) identified data as a key area to strengthen in their first report, published in October 2012, and they continue to be a priority focus for the group.
A number of Government, law enforcement and civil society representatives are taking forward work on data collection. An update on progress will be included in the IDMG annual report to be published in the autumn.
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to receive the Serious Organised Crime Agency and UK Human Trafficking Centre’s baseline assessment of the nature and scale of human trafficking in 2012. [160708]
Mr Harper: The UK Human Trafficking Centre’s baseline assessment on the nature and scale of human trafficking in 2012 is expected to be published in the summer.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place at (a) domestic, (b) EU and (c) international level to monitor the performance of the UK in implementation of conventions and legislation on human trafficking. [160818]
Mr Harper: The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group is the UK's national rapporteur equivalent mechanism and oversees UK domestic legislation. The European Council and European Commission monitor the UK's compliance with European legislation, including the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and the European directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.
The UK is also a signatory to a number of United Nations' and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions intended to drive down the exploitation of labour and sexual services. The Government routinely report on our performance against these measures to the relevant UN and ILO committees.
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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the use of video evidence from (a) children and (b) adults in the gathering and presentation of evidence in trials involving human trafficking. [160820]
Mr Harper: Video evidence is used as appropriate in trials involving human trafficking. No specific assessment has been made of its use. It is considered to be an effective way to maximise the quality of the complainant's evidence and relieve some of the stress associated with giving evidence for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including the victims of human trafficking.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officers dealing with those subject to human trafficking were (a) men and (b) women in each of the last 10 years. [160821]
Mr Harper: Data on the gender of police officers dealing with those subject to human trafficking are not collected.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific services are available for the child victims of human trafficking. [160823]
Mr Harper: Local authorities have well-established child support arrangements and a statutory duty under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in need of protection, including trafficked children.
In addition to a social worker and independent reviewing officer, a looked after child also has access to an independent advocate.
Under these arrangements, looked after children are provided with support for all their needs including education, accommodation and health.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the three most frequent issues raised by advocacy groups of the victims of human trafficking were in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what steps her Department has taken to tackle those issues. [160824]
Mr Harper: Figures on issues raised by advocacy groups of victims of human trafficking are not available. However, currently the three issues most frequently raised with the Home Office by non-governmental organisations are: the provision of support for child victims; the appointment of a National Rapporteur or Anti-Slavery Commissioner; and non-prosecution of victims of human trafficking.
The Government have taken the following actions.
To improve our understanding of the experiences of child victims of trafficking in the care system and enhance practice in this area, the Government have awarded a grant to the Refugee Council and The Children's Society to undertake a joint independent scoping review on the practical care arrangements for trafficked children in care. The findings of the review will be published in the summer.
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The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group (IDMG) on Human Trafficking is the UK's National Rapporteur equivalent mechanism. The Government recognise the importance of effective critical assessment of the UK's efforts to tackle trafficking and will keep the role of the IDMG under review.
The Government have provided guidance for prosecutors which sets out that, when reviewing a case in which there are suspicions that the suspect might be a victim of trafficking, they should obtain further information about the circumstances in which the suspect was apprehended. If new information or evidence supports the fact that the suspect has been trafficked and has committed the offence while in a coerced situation, there is a strong public interest to stop the prosecution. Where there is clear evidence that the suspect has a credible defence of duress, guidance states that the case should be discontinued on evidential grounds.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support her Department has sought from the An Garda Siochana in training for the purpose of tackling human trafficking. [160825]
Mr Harper: Co-operation on training takes places on a need specific basis. In November 2012, the UK Human Trafficking Centre and the European Police College ran a training course for EU police officers on the prevention of human trafficking. The course was attended by an officer from An Garda Siochana, who provided input on prevention in Ireland.
An Garda Siochana is also regularly invited to attend regional representatives group meetings managed by the National Policing Lead for human trafficking. The meetings provide an opportunity for active input on awareness and training issues from An Garda Siochana.
Responsibility for justice matters in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Department of Justice, which is responsible for cross-border co-operation on human trafficking within that jurisdiction.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to adopt international best practice in tackling human trafficking. [160826]
Mr Harper: The Home Office regularly participates in European and international conferences intended to identify and share good practice in tackling human trafficking.
The UK, through the UK Human Trafficking Centre, chairs the EU operational action plan forum on human trafficking. This involves engagement with a number of EU member states and agencies, primarily focused upon law enforcement co-operation. The UK is a significant contributor to new developments on international best practice as well as identifying good practice, which is shared through law enforcement networks in the UK.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what international agreements on human trafficking are in place to which the UK is a signatory. [160827]
Mr Harper: The UK is a signatory to the following international agreements on human trafficking:
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The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children;
The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings;
The EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims; and
The EU strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings 2012-16.
The UK is also a signatory to a number of United Nations and International Labour Organisation Conventions intended to impact on the exploitation of labour and sexual services.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the 10 countries with the highest involvement in child trafficking in each of the last three years. [160828]
Mr Harper: An assessment of the nationality of children referred into the National Referral Mechanism was made in the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking report published in October 2012:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118116/human-trafficking-report.pdf
National Referral Mechanism data from April 2009 are also published on the Serious Organised Crime Agency website:
www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-the-ukhtc/national-referral-mechanism/statistics
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child victims of human trafficking there were in each region in each of the last three years. [160829]
Mr Harper: Data on the number of child victims are not collected at regional level. Statistics on the number of child victims referred into the National Referral Mechanism by First Responders, including local authorities and police forces, from October 2011 are set out in the National Referral Mechanism statistics published on the Serious Organised Crime Agency website:
www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-the-ukhtc/national-referral-mechanism/statistics
A breakdown of child victim referrals by First Responder is not available prior to October 2011.
As set out in the first annual report of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, the Government are committed to developing the range of data collected by the UK Human Trafficking Centre to strengthen our understanding of this crime.
Human Trafficking Ministerial Group
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last inter-ministerial group meeting on human trafficking took place; and who attended that meeting. [160669]
Mr Harper: The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking last met on 17 June 2013.
A list of invitees and attendees is in the following table:
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Immigration
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary migration cases were judged to be backlogged in each of the last 10 years. [160076]
Mr Harper: The number of temporary migration cases judged to be backlogged in each of the last 10 years is not available in the format requested and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
However, the Home Office publishes figures on its performance against migration service standards on a quarterly basis as part of its commitment to transparency. These data are disaggregated by quarter and work stream and cover the period from April 2010 to March 2013. The latest figures are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/percentage-of-migration/
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 4 applications were processed on time by the UK Border Agency in each year for which data are available. [160162]
Mr Harper: The Home Office publishes figures on its performance against migration service standards on a quarterly basis as part of its commitment to transparency. Although these figures are not disaggregated by tier, they are broken down into work streams, with Tier 1 cases included in employment and Tier 4 in study. The data are also disaggregated by quarter and cover the period from April 2010 to March 2013.
The latest figures are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/percentage-of-migration/
Immigration: Armed Forces
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to establishing a dedicated unit within the UK Border Agency to handle immigration inquiries and applications from foreign and Commonwealth military personnel and their families; and if she will make a statement. [160652]
Mr Harper: We have considered whether to establish a dedicated unit within the Home Office to process applications from military personnel and their families as part of our ongoing commitment under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Setting up such a unit would involve significant reorganisation as applications are currently processed according to the stage the case has reached in the immigration system: visa applications are largely dealt with overseas, postal applications for leave to remain are dealt with in Croydon or Sheffield, applications for settlement and naturalisation in Liverpool. We are not satisfied that dealing with all applications in a single place would be a more efficient way of processing the cases.
A key priority for the new UK Visas and Immigration Directorate will be to deliver a high-volume service that makes high-quality decisions about who comes here, with a culture of customer satisfaction. This will apply equally to armed forces applications.
Individuals may inquire about their applications using the Home Office public inquiry line.
Immigration: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complex immigration cases relating to Northern Ireland were processed by her Department in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what the time taken to process each such case was; [160335]
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(2) how many asylum legacy cases relating to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Down constituency were outstanding on 1 June 2013; what steps her Department is taking to reduce such figures; and if she will make a statement. [160343]
Mr Harper: As of the week commencing 10 June 2013 there are 156 persons in the Asylum Live Legacy cohort with a Northern Ireland postcode, three of which are in the North Down constituency.
The Older Live Cases Unit (formerly the Case Assurance and Audit Unit) will continue to manage the remaining live legacy cases. The Older Live Cases Unit is committed to reviewing these remaining legacy cases as quickly as possible.
The Complex Casework Directorate deals with the following workstreams that are defined as ‘complex’:
Pre-March 2007 asylum cases;
Asylum Active review applications;
Referrals for deprivation of citizenship where it was granted through deception;
Referrals for revocation of indefinite leave where it was granted through deception;
Referrals for cancellation of cessation of refugee status.
We are not able to supply the management information requested as we do not hold such information in the form which would be required.
By “asylum legacy cases”, we are referring to the pre-5 March 2007 asylum cases which remain outstanding from the residual Case Resolution Directorate (CRD) Asylum Legacy Cohort which is currently owned by the Older Live Cases Unit.
Results are based on person ID rather than case reference ID in line with Older Live Cases Unit reporting.
The information has been provided from local management information and has not been quality assured to the level of published National Statistics. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.
Prostitution
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations her Department has received on the relocation of web servers that promote prostitution to the UK from countries that ban such promotion. [160985]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office has received no such representations.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the proportion of active prostitutes in the UK who are (a) UK nationals and (b) foreign nationals. [161060]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office has made no formal assessment of the nationalities of prostitutes in the UK.
The Government are committed to eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls. This includes protecting those involved in prostitution, who are particularly vulnerable. We are also committed to tackling the harm and exploitation to individuals, impact on communities,
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and links to organised crime, that can be associated with prostitution. Our focus is on harm-minimisation, including supporting those who wish to exit prostitution.
UK Human Trafficking Centre
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2013, Official Report, columns 919-20W, on UK Human Trafficking Centre, if she will give the spending for (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 of the UK Human Trafficking Centre. [160655]
Mr Harper: Direct costs attributable to the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) are set out in the following table:
| Cost (£ million) | |
These figures consists of pay costs and non-pay costs. It should be noted that the UKHTC is part of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and draws on the wider expertise and resources of specialist teams within SOCA to support intelligence-led operational activity.
It is not possible to include the costs of these in the above figures.
Church Commissioners
Redundant Churches
Rehman Chishti: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how many Church of England churches have been taken out of use for worship in each year since 2007. [161575]
Sir Tony Baldry: The Church of England operates some 16,000 churches and places of worship across the country which are in regular use. During the period specified the Church of England has taken the decision to close the following number of churches for regular public worship under the Mission and Pastoral Measure each year since 2007:
| Number | |
These figures include six schemes during the specified period which provided for replacement places of worship.
More information about closed churches can be found on page 16 of the Church Commissioners Annual Report 2012 a copy of which will be placed in the Library.
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Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if his Department will report emissions indicators on a consumption, rather than just a production, basis. [161307]
Gregory Barker: The Government have already committed to publishing emission estimates on a consumption basis. These estimates can be found on GOV.UK at the following web addresses:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uks-carbon-footprint
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/uk-carbon-footprint-1993-2010
Energy Companies Obligation
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to ensure that Ofgem is able to impose penalties on energy suppliers that have failed to meet their obligations to consumers under the Community Energy Saving Programme. [160937]
Gregory Barker: Enforcement and compliance under the Carbon Emissions Saving Programme (CESP) is entirely a matter for Ofgem as the statutorily appointed administrator for the scheme.
Where an obligated energy company is found to have failed to comply with its obligations under CESP then Ofgem has a range of enforcement options open to it, under its existing powers to enforce companies’ compliance with their operating licences. This includes the power to impose a fine of up to 10% of a licensed company's turnover.
Energy Supply
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average level of debt was for customers disconnected by their (a) energy and (b) gas supplier in each of the last five years. [161254]
Michael Fallon: Ofgem does not publish data on the average level of debt for customers disconnected by their electricity or gas supplier.
Energy: Finance
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 21W, on energy: finance, if he will list all financial transactions made by his Department to energy suppliers in each of the last five years. [160674]
Gregory Barker:
Pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 21W, on energy: finance, a copy of the table listing the Department's financial transactions for the period 2009-10 to 2012-13 with RWE npower, EDF, SSE, Scottish Power, British Gas/Scottish Gas and E.ON will be placed in the Libraries
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of the House, It would incur disproportionate costs to list all energy suppliers as this would involve examination of transactions with a large number of suppliers to identify relevant services.
Full information for 2008-09 is not held within DECC but by its legacy Departments, DEFRA and BIS.
Fracking
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish environmental and technical guidelines on fracking. [161100]
Michael Fallon: The Department for Communities and Local Government will produce technical planning guidance on shale gas by July 2013 to provide clarity around planning for shale gas during the important exploration phase for the industry. In addition, the Environment Agency intends to publish technical guidance on exploratory oil and gas operations, involving the use of hydraulic fracturing, for public consultation in the summer.
Green Deal Scheme
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) monetary value and (b) number of grants awarded to households living in (i) social housing, (ii) private rented housing and (iii) privately-owned housing under the Green Deal scheme. [159564]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal is a market-based scheme, rather than a Government grant scheme. For information, the Department will publish, on 27 June, monthly and quarterly Official Statistics publications that will provide more information on the Green Deal.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2013, Official Report, column 413W, on the Green Deal Scheme, when the second update on the number of Green Deal plans be published. [161291]
Gregory Barker: The second update on the number of Green Deal plans will be published in the Domestic Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation statistical monthly report on 18 July.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2013, Official Report, column 413W, on the Green Deal Scheme, how many staff hours have been spent on producing the first quarterly Official Statistics on Green Deal and Energy Companies Obligation; [161292]
(2) how much the first quarterly Official Statistics on Green Deal and Energy Companies Obligation cost his Department to produce; [161293]
(3) how many staff have worked to produce the first quarterly Official Statistics on Green Deal and Energy Companies Obligation. [161294]
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Gregory Barker: We do not separately record the time spent on producing individual Official Statistics reports. There is no cost associated with the production of the reports beyond staff time. The Green Deal and ECO statistical team has three team members, and has a range of functions beyond the production of Official Statistics reports. As with all statistical outputs, and in line with the statistics code, the head of profession for statistics is involved in the quality control of statistical outputs.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2013, Official Report, column 413W, on the Green Deal Scheme, for what reason the report will only cover the period up to 31 March 2013. [161295]
Gregory Barker: The first Domestic Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation in Great Britain, Quarterly Report, will be published on the same day as the next monthly report on 27 June 2013. The monthly report will contain the most up to date statistics on Green Deal and ECO, whereas the quarterly report contains breakdowns of the information already released on Green Deal and ECO up to 31 March 2013.
Hinkley Point C Power Station
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the total likely cost to (a) the public purse and (b) energy consumers of direct and indirect subsidies for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C and its connection to the grid. [161149]
Michael Fallon: My officials are in negotiations with NNB Genco (a subsidiary of EDF) about the potential terms of an investment contract (an early form of contract for difference) that might enable them to make a final investment decision on their Hinkley Point C project. It would not be appropriate to comment on cost estimates given the commercially confidential nature of the negotiations, which remain ongoing.
A contract will only be offered for Hinkley Point C if it is value for money, fair and affordable, in line with Government policy on public subsidy, and consistent with state aid. Should a contract be concluded, this will be laid before Parliament and published, alongside summaries of reports from external expert advisers and our value for money appraisal (which will include information on costs).
International Development
Afghanistan
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes and resources her Department provides for (a) the prevention of violence against women and girls and (b) services for survivors of violence against women and girls in Afghanistan. [161165]
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Justine Greening: In March I announced that tackling violence against women and girls would be a strategic priority for DFID in Afghanistan.
Support includes UK funding for the Tawanmandi programme—£19.95 million over five years—which helps Afghan civil society organisations take forward a range of projects, including some that focus on tackling violence against women and girls. The UK Government are also providing specialist training to provide the Afghan police and judiciary with skills and tools to curb violence against women. Alongside its programme work, the UK and other donors are working closely with the Afghan Government to ensure that the law on Elimination of Violence Against Women is fully implemented.
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources her Department provides to support grassroots women's rights organisations working to prevent violence against women and girls in Afghanistan. [161166]
Justine Greening: To date, the UK's approach to the elimination of violence against women has primarily been through wider investments for gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls and protection of their rights.
This includes support to the Tawanmandi programme, to strengthen civil society in Afghanistan. DFID is providing £19.95 million to fund this programme over five years until 2016. In the first two rounds of grant selection, 35 grants were awarded to organisations which either focus on women's rights or have women's rights as one of their main components.
Africa
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department has plans to support agricultural productivity in Africa through increased irrigation. [161161]
Lynne Featherstone: Irrigation infrastructure boosts agricultural productivity and DFID works with Governments and companies to leverage public and private investment into irrigation. The UK supports the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Plan which helps over 30 African Governments to improve their agriculture planning and to increase the amount of domestic resources invested in agriculture, including irrigation. On 8 June, the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), announced that DFID will provide a further £50 million for the African Agriculture Development Company (AgDevCo) over the next five years. AgDevCo invests in early-stage agricultural SMEs and new agribusiness ventures that give smallholder farmers access to affordable modern inputs and irrigation and guarantee a market for their produce. DFID funding will benefit 650,000 people across Africa with jobs and income, improve access to irrigation and agro-processing infrastructure for 49,000 smallholder farmers and ensure that 30,000 additional hectares are under irrigation by 2018.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what bilateral expenditure her Department has spent in Bosnia-Herzegovina in each financial year since 2009-10; and if she will make a statement. [161007]
Lynne Featherstone: The total DFID bilateral programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina was £2,379,000 in 2009-10 and £3,866,000 in 2010-11. There was no expenditure in 2011-12, as DFID ended its operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2011.
Conditions of Employment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff were retained on zero-hour contracts by (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public body for which she is responsible in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [160772]
Developing Countries: Education
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is providing to the Global Campaign for Education's Every Child Needs a Teacher campaign; and if she will make a statement. [161147]
Lynne Featherstone: DFID is a long-term supporter of the Global Campaign for Education's ‘Send My Friend to School' campaign, for which this year's theme is ‘Every Child Needs a Teacher'.
On 14 June 2013, I visited children at Rhodes Avenue primary school as part of the campaign, to explain what the UK Government are doing for children and teachers in poor countries.
The UK has pledged to support, by 2014, at least nine million children in primary school and two million children in secondary school. We will also help to train 190,000 teachers to help improve the quality of education and children's learning.
Developing Countries: Females
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to contribute to the implementation of the UN High Level Panel's (a) stand-alone goal on empowering girls and women and achieving gender equality and (b) target to eliminate discrimination against women in political, social and economic life. [160468]
Justine Greening: The High Level Panel, co-chaired by the Prime Minister, has laid out a bold vision that we will want to see continued in the next two years of discussions. I will focus on building a strong international coalition with others to ensure that empowering girls and women and achieving gender equality is at the heart of the Post-2015 framework.
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Developing Countries: Health Services
Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department has reduced budget support for health initiatives. [161412]
Mr Duncan: Details of the total expenditure on health are published in Statistics on International Development (SID) which is available in the House Library or online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/table-20-total-dfid-bilateral-and-gpex-expenditure-by-broad-sector-2007-08-2011-12
International Citizen Service
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people (a) applied to and (b) participated in the International Citizen Service programme in the last three years; and how many such people applied from addresses in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland. [161311]
Mr Duncan: The International Citizen Service was launched as a pilot in March 2011 and as a full three-year programme in March 2012. As of the end of May 2013, 12,228 people had applied to the scheme and 2,582 UK ICS volunteers had completed or were on their overseas placements.
During the pilot, 4,699 people applied and 1,216 completed overseas placements. The regional data for pilot phase applications are not available, but the breakdown of successful applicants was 4.7% from Scotland, 91% from England, 2.6% from Wales, 0.8% from Northern Ireland, and 0.9% from UK Dependencies or data not available.
As of 31 May 2013, 7,588 people had applied to the full scheme and 1,366 had either completed or were on their overseas placements. 5.4% of these applications were from Scotland, 89% from England, 3.5 % from Wales, 1.9% from Northern Ireland and 0.2% from other locations. The breakdown of successful applicants is 7.6% from Scotland, 87.4% from England, 3.6% from Wales, and 1.4% from Northern Ireland.
The improvement of representation from across the UK was a specific objective of the full programme, based on learning from the pilot programme.
Overseas Aid
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's expenditure was spent on (a) aid and (b) trade development in developing countries in the last year for which figures are available. [161058]
Mr Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) on 17 June, Official Report, column 482W.