Entry Clearances
Sir James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates of sponsorship for tier 5 visas have been issued by each sponsoring body in each of the last three years. [158968][Official Report, 15 October 2013, Vol. 568, c. 5-8MC.]
Mr Harper [holding answer 10 June 2013]: We are unable to provide the data regarding all tier 5 sponsors as the low volume of certificates issued by a third of them would make it possible to identify individuals or personal data.
The following table shows how many certificates of sponsorship (CoS) for tier 5 visas have been issued by the top 50 sponsors in each of the last three years. This information has also been placed in the House Library.
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| Notes: 1. The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. 2. Figures relate to Certificates of Sponsorship issued to applicants by sponsoring bodies, and used in support of tier 5 visa applications. 3. Figures rounded to the nearest 5 (— = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. | |||||
Heathrow Airport
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure is in place for exit checks on passengers departing from Heathrow Terminal 4. [160750]
Mr Harper: Home Office Immigration Enforcement regularly conducts manual embarkation checks on passengers on an intelligence-led basis, targeting routes which are known to be used by immigration offenders. This ensures that immigration offenders are prevented from returning to the UK for a defined period. Embarkation checks can be conducted at any port, including Terminal 4 at London Heathrow. More generally, the use of advance passenger information supports our ability to undertake effective exit checks as passengers leave the UK.
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Human Trafficking
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) adult and (b) children subjected to human trafficking have been detained while leaving the UK to go to Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [160833]
Mr Harper: This information is not collected centrally. The Common Travel Area (CTA) is based on the principle that once a person has been granted leave to enter one part of the CTA, they will not normally require leave to enter another part of it while that leave is still valid. Targeted operations may be conducted where intelligence identifies a particular risk.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings (a) she and (b) her ministerial colleagues have had with their foreign counterparts on improving international co-operation in tackling human trafficking. [160931]
Mr Harper: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are published on the Cabinet Office website on a quarterly basis.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to developing multi-country specialist training for the purpose of tackling human trafficking. [160980]
Mr Harper: The UK works with other member states to share best practice and to strengthen its response to tackling trafficking, including sharing knowledge and information on training for a range of front-line professionals who may come into contact with potential trafficking victims.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what protocols are in place to improve data collection across Europe on human trafficking. [160981]
Mr Harper: The UK works with other member states to share best practice and improve data collection techniques, through a number of informal and formal EU networks. The UK is a key contributor of human trafficking data to EU data collection processes.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of human trafficking who are owed wages by employers have been (a) granted, (b) denied access to those wages by the courts. [160982]
Mr Harper: There are no central records maintained of the number of victims of human trafficking who are owed wages by employers, where they have either been granted or denied access to those wages by the court.
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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount her Department spent on advertising to raise awareness of human trafficking in each of the last five years. [160983]
Mr Harper: The table sets out the amount spent by the Home Office and the UK Human Trafficking Centre on raising awareness of human trafficking during the last five years.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has commissioned on human trafficking in each of the last 10 years for which data is available. [160984]
Mr Harper: Home Office research commissioned in the last 10 years, on human trafficking, is set out as follows:
'An evidence assessment of the routes of human trafficking into the UK' (2012)
Kevin Marsh, Rashmi Sarmah, Phil Davies, Emma Froud, Jacque Mallender, Elizabeth Scalia, Tony Munton (Matrix Knowledge Group) With Andrew Zurawan, Laura Powlton, and Carolyne Tah (Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management, UK Border Agency)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-evidence-assessment-of-the-routes-of-human-trafficking-into-the-uk
Interviews with prisoners convicted of HT offences to understand market dynamics (2009)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/organised-immigration-crime-a-post-conviction-study
Process review of Operation Pentameter (HT for sexual exploitation) (2008)
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/horr07b.pdf
‘Trafficking for the purposes of labour exploitation: a literature review’ (2007)
Samantha Dowling, Karen Moreton and Leila Wright
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr1007.pdf
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Project Acumen: Setting the record—The trafficking of migrant women in England and Wales for off-street prostitution. August 2010)
http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/crime/2010/201008CRITMW01.pdf
Additional research has also been commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers, Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre and United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to raise awareness of human trafficking in the (a) agriculture, (b) restaurant, (c) entertainment, (d) health and beauty and (e) construction industries. [160986]
Mr Harper: The Government recognises that the private sector has an important role to play in tackling human trafficking and exploitation.
The Government held a conference with industry in March 2013. This highlighted the need for businesses and their employees to be aware of the potential for human trafficking to occur and what they should do if they suspect someone is a victim of trafficking.
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority continues to provide best practice guidance and briefing to the agriculture and food processing sectors, including companies in their supply chains.
Work to raise the awareness of businesses in a number of sectors is ongoing.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to raise awareness of human trafficking among teachers. [160987]
Mr Harper: The Government recognises the importance of raising awareness of human trafficking among a wide range of front-line professionals, including teachers. The Joint Strategic Group on Human Trafficking, comprised of Government officials and non-governmental organisation representatives, is currently considering how training and awareness-raising can be improved for front-line professionals who may come into contact with potential victims of trafficking.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider issuing leaflets on human trafficking when work permits are issued. [161023]
Mr Harper: Work routes are generally managed under the points based system. Those applying under this system have access to detailed guidance on the Home Office website and local country sites and a telephone and email service. The Home Office will consider if the information we provide on the dangers of trafficking can be improved through the use of leaflets.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what seminars are held on human trafficking for staff processing work permits. [161025]
Mr Harper:
Work routes are generally managed under the points based system. Human trafficking training is mandatory for all UK Visas and Immigration staff who
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manage and process applications under this system. This helps them to identify those who might have been trafficked and understand the steps that should be taken to safeguard possible victims. In addition, seminars and conferences may be arranged with local partners in countries where there is a known threat.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition of the term forced labour her Department uses for the purposes of tackling human trafficking; and whether she has any plans to change that definition. [161059]
Mr Harper: The Crown Prosecution Service has issued legal guidance to prosecutors on human trafficking for forced labour arising under section 4 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 and for the stand alone offence of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, arising under section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. For both offences, there is reference to the definitions outlined in Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights which, for forced labour, are as interpreted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions.
These define forced or compulsory labour as being:
'all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily'.
There have been successful prosecutions brought for both trafficking for forced labour and for the stand alone offence of forced labour. There are no plans to change that definition.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been trafficked for the purpose of removal of organs in each of the last 10 years. [161061]
Mr Harper: Since the establishment of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), on 1 April 2013, there have been three potential victims of trafficking referred to the NRM who reported organ harvesting as the main exploitation type. Data are not held prior to this date.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with her Irish counterpart on the establishment of a European hotline for the purposes of tackling human trafficking. [161062]
Mr Harper: The Home Office has not discussed the establishment of a European hotline for the purposes of tackling human trafficking with the Irish Government.
There are no plans to introduce a human trafficking hotline. Individuals wishing to report suspicions of trafficking should contact the Crimestoppers hotline, the Metropolitan Police Service human trafficking phone line or their local police force.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alleged victims of human trafficking have been deported in each of the last 10 years. [161063]
Mr Harper:
The UK Border Agency began recording information on victims of trafficking in a reportable
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format on 1 April 2009. From 1 April 2009 to 30 April 2013, fewer than five victims of trafficking have had an enforced removal from the UK.
Notes:
1. The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
2. Data relate to individuals removed after being deemed to have been a victim of trafficking.
3. Data relate to main applicants and dependants.
4. Figures rounded to the nearest five.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what co-operation her Department has with the European Migration Network's Common Research Template to tackle human trafficking. [161064]
Mr Harper: The Home Office is currently co-ordinating the response to the common research template for human trafficking. The response, which will take the form of a national report, will be published on the European Migration Network's website in September.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider using social networking sites to raise awareness of indicators of human trafficking. [161065]
Mr Harper: The Government recognises the importance of raising awareness of human trafficking among the public and front-line professionals through a range of media, including social networking sites. Work to raise awareness is ongoing and includes consideration of the target audience and the most appropriate media channels available.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to raise awareness of human trafficking in migrant communities. [161066]
Mr Harper: The Government recognises the importance of raising awareness of human trafficking among the public and, in particular, migrant communities. Government officials work with a number of non-governmental organisations to support their activities in raising awareness among communities at a local and regional level.
The Home Office also regularly issues messages about the danger of illegal working and trafficking. There have also been targeted information campaigns on migrants' employment rights such as through the Home Office and TUC dissemination of leaflets to East European workers following the 2004 accession.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female (i) adults and (ii) children were victims of human trafficking in each of the last 10 years for which data are available. [161067]
Mr Harper:
Data on the number of male and female adult victims of human trafficking and the number of male and female child victims of human trafficking, who have been referred into the National Referral
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Mechanism since April 2009, are 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 what rules govern access to the 45-day recovery and reflection period for victims of human trafficking; and whether she has any plans to change (a) the rules on access or (b) the length of time allowed for recovery and reflection. [161128]
Mr Harper: Detailed information on the rules governing access to the extendable 45-day recovery and reflection period can be found in the Home Office guidance for competent authorities:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/asylumprocessguidance/specialcases/guidance/competent-guidance?view=Binary.
This guidance is currently being updated. There are no plans to change the rules on access or the length of the recovery and reflection period, which is longer than the 30 day minimum stipulated by the Council of Europe Convention and can be extended in cases where there are high levels of trauma or acute support needs.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss human trafficking. [161267]
Mr Harper: The Solicitor-General, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for North East Hertfordshire (Oliver Heald), representing the Attorney-General, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr Grieve) who is responsible for appointing the Director of Public Prosecutions, is a member of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking. The Group oversees the UK's response to tackling trafficking, including prosecutions and convictions.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2013, Official Report, column 1077W, on human trafficking, what amount was awarded by government grant to the (a) Refugee Council and (b) Children's Society for the purpose of scoping the practical care arrangements for trafficked children. [161411]
Mr Harper: £44,266, in total, was paid to the Refugee Council and The Children's Society for a joint bid to undertake the scoping review on the practical care arrangements for trafficked children.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who monitors the performance of the UK national rapporteur on human trafficking. [161466]
Mr Harper: The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group (IDMG) on human trafficking is the UK's national rapporteur equivalent mechanism. The first IDMG Group report, published on 18 October 2012, was the subject of a Westminster Hall debate held on 20 December 2012. As Chair of the Group and Minister responsible for policy on human trafficking I also attended a recent Home Affairs Select Committee enquiry into human trafficking. I and my fellow Minister am accountable to Parliament for the performance of the IDMG.
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Human Trafficking Ministerial Group
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2013, Official Report, column 1077W, on human trafficking, what the name is of each other member of the inter-ministerial team on human trafficking; and how many and what proportion of meetings each has attended since the team's establishment. [161452]
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Mr Harper: The following table sets out each Department/Government represented on the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group and the incumbent member, for each meeting held.
Other Ministers may, from time to time, attend meetings of the group, as required. Membership of this group will be kept under review. The following table sets out each Department/Government represented on the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group and the incumbent member, for each meeting held.
Human Trafficking: Scotland
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspected victims of trafficking were found in Scotland in each of the last three years; how many traffickers were prosecuted and convicted in Scotland in that period; and what assets belonging to such traffickers were then seized from the UK and overseas. [161357]
Mr Harper: The numbers of potential victims of trafficking, who were found in Scotland in each of the last three years, are set out in the following table:
| Number of victims referred | |
In Scotland, criminal law is devolved to the Scottish Government and the Lord Advocate has responsibility for prosecutorial matters in Scotland.
Immigration
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria her Department uses to decide whether an immigration case is deemed complex; and what service standards apply to such cases. [158819]
Mr Harper [holding answer 10 June 2013]: The Complex Casework Directorate forms part of UK Visas and Immigration and was formally established in April 2013. The 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; and
referrals for cancellation of cessation of Refugee Status.
The Complex Casework Directorate is in the process of defining service standards for each of the above workstreams.
We are not able to supply the management information requested as we do not hold such information.
Immigration Controls
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the effects of the minimum income requirement for UK citizens to bring a spouse or partner of non-European Economic Area nationality to settle in the UK. [161167]
Mr Harper
[holding answer 24 June 2013]: The Government is satisfied the minimum income requirement is working as intended. However, as with all new policies,
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we will keep the impact under review in the light of the published immigration statistics and other sources of information available. These will include the information and representations provided by those affected by the rules, such as are contained in the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration published on 10 June 2013.
Legal Opinion: Treaties
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2013, Official Report, column 1230W, on legal opinion: treaties, how the sending and receiving of requests between the UK and the US since February 2010 has been facilitated without a secure email link; and if she will make a statement. [160465]
Mr Harper [holding answer 19 June 2013]: Requests to the US are sent securely in hard copy. Most requests from the US are received in hard copy, but some urgent requests have been received via email.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed will receive a reply from the Minister for Immigration to her letters of 4 February 2013 and 15 April 2013 concerning the sponsor's minimum income figure being determined on a national basis. [160949]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 21 June 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 13 May 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Girma Worke and Mrs Nurya Kedir Gobena. [161543]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 24 June 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 13 May 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Rahman. [161544]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 25 June 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter dated 13 May 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Edwige Nadebe Koagne. [161545]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 24 June 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 13 May
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2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Daniel Olabode Ogun Mulele. [161546]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 25 June 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 9 May 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Mohammad Jawas. [161547]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 24 June 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter dated 9 May 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M.S. Anjum. [161548]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 25 June 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 8 May 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Godfrey Jones. [161549]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 19 June 2013.
Police
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of police officers is per head of population in each police force in England and Wales. [161694]
Damian Green: The table shows the number of police officers per 100,000 population (population as estimated at mid 2010), in each police force area in England and Wales (full-time equivalent) as at 31 March 2012. These figures are published in the Police Service Strength, England and Wales, 31 March 2012 bulletin.
| Number of police officers per 100,000 population, in each police force area in England and Wales, as at 31 March 2012(1, 3, 4) | |
| Total officers per 100,000 population(2) | |
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| (1) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan police are combined. (3) These figures are published in the Police Service Strength, England and Wales, 31 March 2012 bulletin (table 4). (4) Source—Home Office annual data requirement. | |
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Police and Crime Commissioners
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to commission or instruct an independent national body to publish a national register of police and crime commissioners' interests. [161163]
Damian Green [holding answer 24 June 2013]: It is not the role of central Government to establish and maintain a national register of interests.
Under the Specified Information Order, police and crime commissioners' have to publish a register of interests, including every pecuniary interest or other paid interest as well as other key information such as budgets; contracts and tenders; senior salaries; expenses; and key decisions.
Public Appointments
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the members of (a) the Police Advisory and Police Negotiating Boards, (b) the Police Arbitration Tribunal, (c) the Police Discipline Appeals Tribunal, (d) the Security Industry Authority, (e) the Serious Organised Crime Agency and (f) the Technical Advisory Board were on 1 January 2013; and what the (i) ethnicity, (ii) term of office and (iii) remuneration is in each case. [156631]
Damian Green [holding answer 21 May 2013]: Members of these bodies, along with information about their remuneration and term of office are set out in the following table.
The Commissioner for Public Appointments collates and publishes information on the number of appointments of candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds; however this information is not broken down by public body or ethnicity. The Commissioner's annual reports are at:
http://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk
copies of which are also available in the Library of the House.
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Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration she has given to enabling the registration of births in children's centres; [160970]
(2) what estimate she has made of the number of registrars who have outsourced their registration of births to other places in the community due to high demand. [160971]
Mr Harper [holding answer 24 June 2013]: The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 provides for every child's birth to be recorded in a register kept for the sub-district in which the child was born. Related legislation allows for the registration to take place in a wide range of premises such as town halls, hospitals, libraries and children's centres.
It is a matter for local authorities, who employ registrars, to determine the locations at which they provide birth registration facilities in order to best meet the needs of their local community. No central record is held of the number of locations in which the facilities are provided across England and Wales. The registration of births is not outsourced by registrars.
Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to replace the seasonal agricultural workers scheme. [161332]
Mr Harper: When the current scheme closes, the quotas on seasonal labour from Bulgaria and Romania will be lifted, giving growers free access to labour from anywhere in the EU. The Migration Advisory Committee has recently reported on the impact of closure of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme and we are considering their report carefully.
Security Guards: Licensing
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many licence applications the Security Industry Authority refused (a) in total and (b) due to unspent convictions in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; [161454]
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(2) how many licence applications the Security Industry Authority granted in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [161455]
(3) how many applications for licences the Security Industry Authority received in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [161456]
James Brokenshire: The following figures detail the number of licence applications refused, and how many of those were criminality related, per year from 2010 to 2012. It should be noted that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) takes into account all convictions, spent and unspent. As such for reporting purposes it is not recorded whether a licence is refused on the basis of spent or unspent convictions, but simply on the basis of criminality.
| Total | Of which: Due to criminality | |
The following figures detail how many licence applications across all sectors were granted by the SIA per year from 2010-12.
| Number | |
The following figures below detail how many licence applications across all sectors that the SIA received per year from 2010-12.
| Total | |
Social Enterprises
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of her Department's suppliers are social enterprises. [161608]
James Brokenshire: The Home Department is unable to provide this information as it is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Terrorism
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests for terrorism offences there have been in each police force area in each of the last five years. [161691]
James Brokenshire: Although the Home Office publishes statistics containing the number of counter-terrorism arrests, statistics for arrests are not recorded to show the police force area in which the arrests have taken place.
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Data on counter-terrorism arrests, charges and convictions are available in the Home Office statistical release ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: Arrests, outcomes and stops and searches’. This statistical release can be accessed from the Gov.UK website at:
www.gov.uk/home-office
UK Border Agency
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many specialists work on human trafficking in the UK Border Agency; and if she will make a statement. [161459]
Mr Harper: Under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) decisions about who is a victim of trafficking are made by trained specialists. Four staff located in the UK Visas and Immigration NRM Hub and two immigration staff seconded to the UK Human Trafficking Centre undertake this role on a full time basis. In addition, approximately 92 trained staff within UK Visas and Immigration who are located across the United Kingdom undertake this role alongside other duties.
Human Trafficking specialists are also located in other parts of the Home Office including Intelligence, Policy and Border Force.
UK Membership of EU
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what her Department's top priorities are for changing the UK's relationship with the EU; [157262]
(2) what assessment she has made of the greatest benefit which accrues to her Department by reason of the UK's membership of the EU. [159213]
James Brokenshire [holding answers 3 and 11 June 2013]: As the Prime Minister's speech on Europe in January this year made clear, Britain's national interest is best served by membership of a flexible, adaptable and open European Union. However, the EU needs to change both to deliver prosperity and to retain the support of its peoples.
The Government is currently carrying out the Balance of Competence Review which is an evidence based and objective analysis of what EU membership means for the UK and our national interest. The Home Office will publish two reports in December on the Freedom of Movement and Asylum and Immigration. The reports will not produce recommendations but will look at the impact of the EU in these areas.
Treasury
Long-term Unemployment
15. Pamela Nash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect of fiscal policy on the level of long-term unemployment. [161232]
Sajid Javid: The UK labour market is showing some signs of recovery with more people in work than under any previous government.
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To support long-term and vulnerable jobseekers, the Government launched the Work programme in June 2011, which has delivered personalised support to around 850,000 people so far, as well as an intensive regime of post-Work programme support for the very long-term unemployed from June 2013.
Small Businesses
18. Mr Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent fiscal steps he has taken to support small businesses. [161235]
19. David Rutley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent fiscal steps he has taken to support small businesses. [161237]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Members for South East Cornwall (Sheryll Murray) and Mid Norfolk (George Freeman).
National Assembly for Wales: Fiscal Accountability
21. Glyn Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to devolve fiscal accountability to the National Assembly for Wales. [161240]
Danny Alexander: The Government established the Commission on Devolution in Wales to consider, as part of its remit, how to increase the fiscal accountability and autonomy of the Welsh Assembly.
The Government has carefully considered the Commission's recommendations and is now in the process of finalising its response.
This is an important issue and the Government is committed to delivering the right solution for Wales.
Territorial Army: Departmental Staff
22. Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's staff have notified the Department that they have applied to join the Territorial Army since January 2013. [161241]
Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him earlier today.
Air Passenger Duty
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the comparative competitiveness of the UK's air passenger duty regime; and what assessment he has made of claims by the British Air Transport Association that the UK's regime ranks 139th globally on this measure. [161070]
Sajid Javid: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and considers them in the round. The Government has limited the increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) to inflation over the period since 2010-11. Budget 2013 announced that rates for 2014-15 will also increase by inflation only, ensuring that the real burden of APD will therefore remain unchanged for a further year.
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The Government has undertaken a series of reforms to increase the competitiveness of the UK tax system, including cutting the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 23%. It will continue to fall, reaching 20% in April 2015, giving the UK the joint lowest rate in the G20. The 2012 KPMG Annual Survey of Tax Competitiveness looked at the tax regimes of six key competitor economies—including Ireland and the US—and found that the UK was the most commonly cited as being in the top three.
Billing
John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the savings it could achieve by paying its suppliers early in return for rebates. [161057]
Sajid Javid: No assessment has been made of any savings HM Treasury could achieve by paying its suppliers early in return for rebates.
HM Treasury recognises that prompt payment is critical to the cash flow of every business, particularly small and medium sized enterprises. All valid goods and services invoices it receives are already paid as soon as they have been authorised by the HM Treasury officials responsible for the contract. In 2012 HM Treasury Group paid 88% of invoices within five working days.
Climate Change Levy
Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 26 March 2013, Official Report, column 1069W, on Climate Change Levy: bricks, what progress he has made on setting out the scope of the ceramics industry to be exempt from the Climate Change Levy. [161280]
Sajid Javid: The Government is currently seeking views from industry on the design and scope of the metallurgical and mineralogical exemption from the climate change levy, announced at Budget 2013. This work is led by HM Revenue and Customs, who are working closely with industry in order to gain a clear understanding as to which processes should be covered by the new exemption. This will be followed in the summer by round table meetings to discuss these findings.
Draft legislation to implement the exemption will be published around the time of the autumn statement 2013. This will provide a further opportunity for interested parties to comment. As announced at the Budget, the new exemption will be introduced from 1 April 2014.
This approach is consistent with Government's commitment to better tax policy making, in which tax changes are announced at Budget and legislated in the following year's Finance Bill in order to allow proper scrutiny and consultation and hence improve stability and predictability of the tax system.
Developing Countries: Tax Avoidance
David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to ensure that UK-linked tax havens do not enable tax avoidance in developing countries. [161091]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 June 2013, Official Report, column 776W.
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Financial Institutions
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Co-operative Bank, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) Barclays, (d) Lloyds Banking Group and (e) Nationwide about their capital positions. [161517]
Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials engage with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. The Treasury publishes a list off ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is responsible for the prudential regulation and supervision of banks and building societies.
Income Tax: Scotland
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2013, Official Report, column 1239W, on income tax: Scotland, if he will (a) name each member of the Scotland Act Pensions Technical Group and (b) indicate in what capacity each such person is a member of the Group. [161518]
Mr Gauke: The following organisations have been represented on the Scotland Act Pensions Technical Group—Association of British Insurers, Association of Member-directed Pension Schemes, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, Law Society of Scotland, Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, National Association of Pension Funds, National Employment Savings Trust, Scottish Government, Scottish Widows, Society of Pensions Consultants and Standard Life.
Limited Liability
Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many limited liability partnerships (LLPs) have been created since 2000; how many partners have been created in such LLPs in that period; and what their average income is. [161345]
Mr Gauke: Between 2000 and 2012 a total of 77,000 UK limited liability partnerships were newly registered with Companies House. There were 376,000 partners within these entities including both individual and corporate partners.
An individual or company can be a member of more than one UK limited liability partnership.
Estimates of the average income of these partners could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
National Insurance Contributions
Richard Fuller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has undertaken on the impact of combining increases in the employment allowance and payment of the living wage on (a) small businesses, (b) government receipts, (c) employment and (d) income for the lowest decile and quintile of employed households. [161019]
Sajid Javid: There is no universally agreed definition of a living wage.
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The Treasury has not carried out any research on the impacts of combining increases in the employment allowance and payment of the living wage.
Private Sector: Employment
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the rate of private sector employment growth. [161421]
Sajid Javid: Private sector employment has been growing robustly. Over 2012 it grew by 3%, the fastest rate since 2000. Since the start of 2010 private sector employment has increased by 1.3 million and for every one job lost in the public sector over the last year, nearly five have been created in the private sector. There are now more people employed in the UK than ever before.
Public Expenditure
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the equality impact of his Department's spending reductions since 2010; whether this assessment has been used to inform his planning ahead of the 2013 comprehensive spending review and with what result; what plans he has to publish the equality impact assessments undertaken by his Department as a result of the upcoming comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement. [161184]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury considers equalities issues in the usual course of its work in order to comply with equality legislation and to ensure it understands how its activities will affect specific groups in society.
Departments provided HMT with equalities assessments of their main areas of expenditure, both before and during the spending round 2013 process. HMT (as a Department with its own corporate budget) responded to these commissions in order to inform overall spending round advice on HMT.
Departmental equalities assessments have fully informed advice to Ministers on spending round decisions. A statement on the outcome of the spending round will be made on 26 June 2013 and the spending round document will be published at that time.
Public Expenditure: North East
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funding he plans to devolve to the proposed North East Combined Authority from 1 April 2014 to enable it to promote better transport, skills and economic development. [161550]
Danny Alexander: The Government welcomes the development of the North East Combined Authority and looks forward to working with this new body to devolve resources overtime.
Specifically, the Government has confirmed that it will implement Lord Heseltine's recommendation that economic development spending should be devolved to local areas through a single pot from April 2015.
Alongside the Budget we published more detail on the creation of the Single Local Growth Fund and Growth Deals. The next step is an announcement on the size and content of the Fund as part of the spending round.
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The Government also confirmed that it agrees with Lord Heseltine's recommendation to streamline the management of the EU Structural and Investment Funds (EU SI Funds) in England. The large majority of funds in the EU SI Funds Growth Programme will be notionally allocated to LEP areas. This will give LEPs freedom to prioritise spend in their local areas from 2014 onwards.
Public Sector: Borrowing
Steve McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes his Department has made since 2010 to methods used to calculate public borrowing. [161087]
Sajid Javid: The Treasury has made no changes to the methods used to calculate public borrowing since 2010.
The Office for National Statistics has made changes during this period in response to Eurostat guidance and other classification decisions.
Steve McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on Government borrowing of interest payments on quantitative easing remaining on the Bank of England's books instead being counted as Treasury receipts. [161088]
Sajid Javid: The Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for producing forecasts of the public finances.
A full description of the Bank of England Asset Purchase Facility Fund treatment, including its effects on borrowing, is set out on table 4.4 on page 97 of the OBR's March 2013 Economic and Fiscal Outlook publication.
Revenue and Customs
Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, column 455W, on Members: correspondence, if he will make it his policy to reopen the HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centres, closed as part of the pilot scheme, if such a reopening is supported in the public consultation. [161609]
Mr Gauke: No decisions have been made about the future of HM Revenue and Custom's inquiry centres after the pilot concludes. The public consultation is only one factor in that decision making process. The feedback is being collated and will be considered along with all of the data gathered.
HMRC will evaluate all of the information gathered from the pilot and plans to announce its decision on the way forward in January 2014.
Smuggling: Tobacco
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 2011-12 and 2012-13. [161410]
Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 5 June 2013, Official Report, column 1169W, regarding the expenditure incurred by HM Revenue and Customs on Government publicity campaigns to prevent tobacco smuggling in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
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Stephen Hester
Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the role of UK Financial Investments (UKFI) was in determining the amount of compensation received by Stephen Hester as outgoing Chief Executive of RBS; and whether the compensation paid to Mr Hester had to be authorised by UKFI. [161651]
Sajid Javid: The terms of Stephen Hester's departure are a matter for the Board of RBS. UKFI was consulted on the terms, but the final decision was for the RBS Board.
Tax Allowances: Cultural Heritage
Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number and value of tax exempt heritage assets which are (a) land, buildings and their contents, (b) works of art and (c) collections of art. [161654]
Mr Gauke: The numbers of tax exempt heritage assets are: (a) 374 land and buildings, (b) 114,342 works of art, and (c) 103 collections of art.
Information about the value of these assets is not available.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what minimum requirement he has placed on public access to tax exempt heritage assets. [161669]
Mr Gauke: The minimum requirement on public access to tax exempt heritage assets depends on the type and location of the asset, and the tax involved. For inheritance tax exemptions, for land and buildings, and any historically associated objects, it is at least 28 days (for properties in England and Wales) or 25 days (for properties in Scotland). For chattels the minimum requirement is at least one month. There are no public access requirements for estate duty exemptions.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average number of days the public had access to tax exempt heritage assets was in (a) 2005, (b) 2010 and (c) 2012. [161670]
Mr Gauke: The information requested on the average number of days that the public had access to tax exempt heritage assets could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Taxation: Lancashire
Jake Berry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) Blackburn with Darwen and (b) Rossendale local authority area were taken out of paying tax in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013 to date. [160842]
Mr Gauke: By April 2013, the cumulative effect of the Government's increases in the personal allowance for those aged under 65 years (born after 5 April 1948 since 2013-14 tax year) since 2010-11 had taken 2.4 million people out of the income tax system while over 25 million individuals will have seen their income tax liability reduced.
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This estimate is based on the 2010-11 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2013-14 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.
Reliable estimates are not available at the local authority level due to greater uncertainties in making projections for small geographical areas.
Taxation: Shipping
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the collection of revenues from any proposed international pricing of carbon dioxide emissions from shipping. [160941]
Sajid Javid: Where greenhouse gas emissions from ships are concerned, the UK's strong preference is for a global market based solution to be developed and adopted in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In line with our principles of fiscal sovereignty the Government believes that any revenues from such schemes should accrue to national governments.
Termination of Employment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [160915]
Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 16 April 2013, Official Report, column 294W.
There are no occasions when judicial mediation was used.