Youth Custody
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the use of restorative justice approaches within the secure children's estate. [160515]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has conducted an evaluation of a number of restorative justice pilot schemes. Four reports were published over the period 2004 to 2008 which made reference to the use of restorative justice in respect of young offenders. However, there has not been a specific evaluation of the use of restorative justice in the youth secure estate. The reports are available at:
http://www.restorativejustice.org.uk/resource/ministry_of_justice_evaluation_implementing_restorative_justice_ schemes_crime_reduction_programme_the_first_year_report/
This Government are committed to encouraging greater use of restorative justice and published its Restorative Justice Action Plan for the Criminal Justice System on 19 November 2012. Following on from that, a key action in the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales' Business Plan for 2013-14 is to promote restorative justice approaches with a focus on the development of practice in the youth secure estate.
Cabinet Office
Business: North East
Julie Elliott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses closed in (a) the north-east, (b) Sunderland Local Authority and (c) Sunderland Central constituency in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [162076]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses closed in (a) the North East, (b) Sunderland Local Authority and (c) Sunderland Central Constituency in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [162076]
Data on the number of business closures (enterprise deaths) are available in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/index.html
The latest data available are for 2011. Data for 2012 will be available in December 2013.
The table contains the count of enterprise deaths in (a) the North East, (b) Sunderland Local Authority and (c) Sunderland Central Constituency in 2011.
| Count of enterprise deaths in (a) North East, (b) Sunderland local authority and (c) Sunderland Central constituency in 2011 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. The above table has been produced using an extract from the Inter Departmental Business Register. 2. Figures have been rounded to protect confidentiality. 3. These numbers do not include very small businesses, typically those below the threshold for VAT and PAYE. | |
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Civil Servants
Mr Allen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to section 3(6) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, what steps the Prime Minister (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that, in exercising his power to manage the civil service, he shall have regard to the need to ensure that civil servants who advise Ministers are aware of the constitutional significance of Parliament and of the conventions governing the relationship between Parliament and Her Majesty’s Government. [161991]
Mr Maude: The civil service code makes clear that civil servants advising Ministers should be aware of the constitutional significance of Parliament and of the conventions governing the relationship between Parliament and the Government.
The Government committed in the Civil Service Reform plan to strengthening the accountability of civil servants both to Ministers and to Parliament. It is currently reviewing Cabinet Office guidance on Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees (known as the Osmotherly rules).
Civil Servants: Disclosure of Information
Mr Meacher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will ban the use of special severance payments involving large pay-offs designed to prevent civil servants speaking out about problems. [162204]
Mr Maude: Departments should only make special severance payments under compromise agreements when they provide good value for money compared to costly employment litigation. They cannot lawfully be used to prevent civil servants from whistleblowing.
Cybercrime
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to work with IT industry leaders such as Microsoft and Google to assess the adequacy of the level of cyber security among consumers and small businesses. [162084]
Miss Chloe Smith: The UK Cyber Security Strategy published in November 2011 stresses the importance of partnership with industry in addressing cyber security threats to the UK. Government Departments work closely with industry through a wide range of programmes and initiatives including targeted engagement and dedicated sector partnerships. Through the National Cyber Security Programme we are working with a range of industry partners to assess and address cyber security among consumers and SMEs, using research and awareness campaigns delivered through the joint public and private sector initiative, Get Safe Online, and through the National Fraud Authority's online fraud work.
The Government has announced that in 2013 we will be rolling out a programme of public and SME awareness drives, building on the work of the National Fraud Authority and Get Safe Online. This programme will be delivered in partnership with the private sector including industry leaders and will aim at increasing cyber confidence and measurably improving the online safety of consumers and SMEs. We are working now to understand the
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online behaviour of different segments of consumers in order to prepare the ground for these campaigns and to ensure what we do is based on evidence.
Death
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the rates of death by (a) suicide, (b) heart disease and (c) alcohol-related disease were for (i) men and (ii) women (A) nationally, (B) in each constituent part of the UK and (iii) in each region in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [161813]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rates of death by (a) suicide, (b) heart disease and (c) alcohol-related disease were for (i) men and (ii) women (A) nationally and (B) in each constituent part of the UK and each region in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (161813)
The tables provide age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, by sex, in the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and regions of England, for deaths registered between 2002 and 2011 (the latest year available), for the following causes of death:
Suicide (ages 15 and over (Table 1)
Ischaemic heart disease (Table 2)
Alcohol-related cause (Table 3)
A copy of these tables has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales, by sex, age group and underlying cause of death are available on the ONS website:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/index.html
Mortality data for Scotland are available from National Records of Scotland:
www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/deaths/index.html
Mortality data for Northern Ireland are available from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency:
www.nisra.gov.uk/demography/default.asp14.htm
Hospital Deaths
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many people died at the Royal London Hospital from ventriculitis in 2012; [162770]
(2) how many people died at the Royal London Hospital on (a) 3 June and (b) 4 June 2013; [162775]
(3) how many people died at the Newham University Hospital on (a) 1 June, (b) 2 June and (c) 3 June 2013. [162776]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking the Secretary of State for Health (i) how many people died at the Royal London Hospital from ventriculitis in 2012 (ii) how many people died at the Royal London Hospital on (a) 3 June and
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(b) 4 June 2013 and (iii) how many people died at the Newham University Hospital on (a) 1 June, (b) 2 June and (c) 3 June 2013. (162770, 162775, 162776)
Mortality data for 2012 will be available after July 10 2013, and mortality data for 2013 will be available in July 2014. It may not be possible to publish the number of deaths by specific causes or dates at a particular institution because of the risk of identifying individuals.
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales, by sex, age group and underlying cause of death are available on the ONS website:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/index.html
Human Trafficking
Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what grants his Department has made to local community organisations, voluntary groups and non-governmental organisations engaged in fighting human trafficking in each of the last three years. [161957]
Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office has not awarded any grants in the last three years in support of the fight against human trafficking. The Home Office is the lead Department in dealing with human trafficking.
Infant Mortality
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, columns 463-4W, on infant mortality, when the figures were last updated; what the current figures are; and when the figures will next be updated. [162709]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the Answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, columns 463-4W, on infant mortality, when the figures were last updated; what the current figures are; and when the figures will next be updated. [162709].
Infant deaths are those where a baby has died within the first year of life. Tables 1 and 2 attached provide the infant mortality rate in each (a) local authority and (b) clinical commissioning group in England and Wales; Figures are for 2009-11, the most recent period for which figures are available. The data are presented as three year aggregates in order to smooth the annual fluctuations in deaths and provide large enough numbers to ensure that the figures are sufficiently robust.
Due to the sensitive nature of infant deaths and the risk of identifying individuals, ONS does not publish infant mortality figures for smaller areas. Consequently, rates by (c) parliamentary constituency are not provided.
Numbers and rates, based on three-year aggregated data, for infant mortality by local authority and strategic health authority for 2008-10 were published on 26 March 2012 on the ONS website at: http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadHome.do. Figures are published for 1998-2000 through to 2008-10.
Figures for 2009-11 are due to be published by Public Health England, based on data produced by ONS, on 6 August 2013 and will be available on the Public Health Outcomes Framework Data Tool at; http://www.phoutcomes.info/.
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Further information on infant and childhood deaths in England and Wales can be found in the statistical bulletin Child Mortality Statistics on the ONS website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/child-mortality-statistics--childhood--infant-and-perinatal/index.html
A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons library.
Misuse of Drugs Ministerial Group
Diana Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times Ministers of his Office have attended the inter-ministerial group on drugs since May 2010. [161577]
Mr Maude: In line with the practice of previous administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.
Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department. [162681]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Cabinet Office has a single contract in place with Vodafone for the provision of mobile services.
Public Sector: Charitable Donations
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many public sector employees used payroll giving in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [161607]
Mr Hurd: This Government is committed to increasing payroll giving, as evidenced by the recent consultation on payroll giving and our continued support of the Payroll Giving Awards.
However, we do not hold data broken down by sector and therefore cannot say what proportion of donors are public sector employees.
We recognise that more can be done to encourage payroll giving in the public sector, both the civil service and more widely. The Behavioural Insights team in Cabinet Office has recently published results of trials in this area and we are considering the best way to take this work forward. This can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/203286/BlT_Charitable_Giving_Paper.pdf
Retail Trade: Barnsley
Michael Dugher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Barnsley East constituency are employed in the retail sector. [162141]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people in Barnsley East constituency are employed in the retail sector. [162141]
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Annual employment estimates are available from the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES). The number of people in Barnsley East constituency employed in the retail sector is 2,000, rounded to the nearest 100.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
RSPCA
Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what discussions his Department has had about the RSPCA's charitable status since May 2010; [161554]
(2) what representations he made to the RSPCA after paragraph 96 of the Adult Court Bench Book was amended in 2010. [161613]
Mr Hurd: None. The Charity Commission, as the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, has responsibility for determining matters of charitable status and for the supervision of charities.
Shipbuilding: Glasgow
John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people in Glasgow North West constituency are classified as working in the shipbuilding industry in (i) 1997, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2013. [162271]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people in Glasgow North West constituency are classified as working in the shipbuilding industry in (i) 1997, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2013. [162271]
Due to the small number of business workplaces contributing to ONS's local employment statistics, I am unable to provide estimates for this industry, as they are potentially disclosive for this level of geography.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Arts
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, (b) the British Council, (c) UK Trade and Investment and (d) arts and cultural organisations and creative businesses on promoting British arts and creative industries abroad. [162487]
Mr Swire:
The promotion of British arts and our creative industries abroad is integral to the Government's growth agenda. I discuss this, and other related matters regularly with ministerial colleagues. I represent the
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the GREAT Britain campaign Programme Board, which is chaired by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), and includes UKTI, VisitBritain and the British Council. The board meets quarterly to discuss the campaign's progress towards meeting its targets of growth in trade, tourism, education and inward investment.
Bahrain
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his Bahraini counterparts on ensuring that Mr Mahdi Abu Dheeb has access to appropriate medical treatment and physiotherapy while he remains detained in prison in that country. [162253]
Alistair Burt: I raised this case with the Deputy Prime HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak on 21 May. We frequently and consistently raise our concerns on a range of human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain. We expect the authorities to meet all of its human rights obligations by ensuring its citizens can exercise the universal human rights to which they are entitled. This includes the medical welfare of prisoners.
British Overseas Territories
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have visited a British Overseas Territory in an official capacity since May 2010. [162027]
Mark Simmonds: Since May 2010, four FCO Ministers —Mark Simmonds, David Lidington, Henry Bellingham and Jeremy Browne—have made a total of 14 visits to British overseas territories.
Although we do not hold centrally records of all visits by officials we estimate approximately 90 officials have visited (in some cases multiple times) a British overseas territory. This includes visits by administrative and technical staff.
Burma
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Burmese counterpart to encourage a safe and voluntary return process for displaced Rohingya Muslims in Burma. [161715]
Mr Swire: The Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), visited Burma between 17 and 20 June 2013, including Rakhine State. In meetings with the Deputy Minister for Border Affairs, Rakhine State's Chief Minister, and with local authorities, he called for a comprehensive and transparent plan for the safe and voluntary return or resettlement of all peoples displaced by the violence in Rakhine.
The British Government continue to make clear to the Burmese Government at all levels the need for accountability, respect for human rights and urgent humanitarian action in Rakhine. The Minister of State raised these points, and also pressed the Burmese
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Government to ensure that all people in Rakhine have equal access to health care and education; freedom of movement and livelihood opportunities. We also raise these issues in regular discussions with the UN, as I did with Baroness Amos, UN Under- Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, on 28 May 2013.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of the reintroduction of the Burmese directive placing a two-child limit on Rohingya couples in the townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1979 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989; and what representations he has made to his Burmese counterparts on this issue. [161716]
Mr Swire: We do not support a two-child policy applying to any community in Burma: such a policy contravenes international human rights standards, including UN treaties to which the Burmese Government have signed up. We have welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi's statement that any enforcement of a two-child policy would be discriminatory and not in line with the upholding of human rights in Burma.
During his visit to Burma on 14 June, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, raised our concerns with the Government in Naypyidaw. Subsequently, the Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), raised concerns about the two-child policy during his visit to Rakhine State from 19-20 June and again with Ministers in Naypyidaw, including the Minister for Health. We will continue to raise this matter with the Burmese Government at all appropriate opportunities, along with our other concerns in Rakhine State.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Burmese counterpart to ensure that security forces in Burma provide adequate protection to all ethnic communities including the Rohingya community. [161730]
Mr Swire: The Chief of Defence Staff visited Burma from 2-4 June, where he met with Burma's President, the Commander in Chief, lead negotiators in the peace process, and ethnic leaders. He reiterated our commitment to supporting Burma's democratic transition and the need for military reform, and discussed UK support for the wider peace process, including security sector reform. A focus of our defence engagement in Burma will be on adherence to the core principles of democratic accountability and human rights.
We remain extremely concerned by the violence directed against Muslim communities in parts of Burma. The Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), visited Burma between 17 and 20 June and urged the Government to ensure that those responsible for acts of violence in Rakhine State are held accountable.
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Along with the EU, in response to a request from the Government and Aung San Suu Kyi, we are reviewing what steps we might take to assist with police reform in Burma.
Eritrea
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in conjunction with the UN to tackle the kidnapping of Eritrean citizens in North Africa. [162282]
Mark Simmonds: We are concerned about reports of kidnapping and human trafficking of Eritreans in North Africa. We work closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) via their offices in the region.
We have pressed the Eritrean Government to cooperate fully with the UNHCR and to facilitate access to the border areas.
We are providing funding in Sudan to UNHCR through the Common Humanitarian Fund to support awareness raising and victim protection activities.
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Eritrea about the kidnapping in North Africa of Eritrean citizens who have relatives in the UK who have received ransom demands on their behalf. [162528]
Mark Simmonds: In April 2013 the Africa director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raised our concerns over reports of kidnapping and people trafficking of Eritrean citizens from neighbouring countries with the Eritrean Presidential Adviser. In the same month our ambassador in Asmara discussed how to tackle the problem during the Article 8 dialogue between the EU and the Eritrean authorities. We have urged the Government of Eritrea to co-operate fully with the UNHCR, which is conducting victim protection and awareness-raising activities, as well as to address the underlying reasons for flight from the country.
Gibraltar: Spain
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken following the discharge of shots by a Guardia Civil vessel in Gibraltarian waters; and if he will make a statement. [162772]
Mr Lidington: We have protested formally to Spain in the strongest terms following reports by the Royal Gibraltar Police that Spanish Guardia Civil illegally pursued a jet ski in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on 23 June and fired non-lethal shots. I spoke directly to Spanish Minister Inigo Mendez de Vigo on 25 June and our charge d'affaires in Madrid was sent in to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reiterate the formal protest. The Prime Minister raised the incident with the Spanish Prime Minister on 28 June. We have made clear that the discharge of a weapon in Gibraltar is completely unacceptable. We are urgently seeking a full explanation from Spain.
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Greece: Macedonia
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between Macedonia and Greece in respect of the naming issue. [162178]
Mr Lidington: The name dispute between Macedonia and Greece is a bilateral issue. The UK is keen to see an early resolution, acceptable to both sides, and we therefore continue to encourage both to engage constructively in negotiations, under the auspices of the UN envoy Matthew Nimetz.
Hezbollah
Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to encourage the EU to add Hezbollah to its proscribed list of terrorist organisations. [161880]
Alistair Burt: The Government continue to believe that the appropriate response to Hezbollah's Military Wing for their terrorist activities in recent years, including in Bulgaria and Cyprus in 2012, is EU designation as a terrorist organisation, in line with our national proscription of Hezbollah's military wing. Ministerial colleagues, senior officials and I continue to have the necessary discussions with our EU counterparts to achieve this aim.
India
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the UK is advocating that India as a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty should be admitted to the Nuclear Suppliers Group; and if he will (a) place in the Library and (b) post on his Department's website the paper recently presented on behalf of the UK to the annual meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in Prague. [161511]
Alistair Burt: The UK has long been a strong supporter of India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The Prime Minister reiterated the UK's support during his visit to India this year through a joint statement issued with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 19 February 2013. That statement noted that the leaders
“agreed to work actively together to achieve India's ambitions to join the major export control regimes”,
including the NSG. India shares our commitment to non-proliferation principles, has a good record of not proliferating to other states, and has a burgeoning civil nuclear industry; we believe that the global non-proliferation architecture would be strengthened by India's accession to the NSG at the earliest appropriate moment. The paper the UK submitted to the 2013 NSG Plenary in June was submitted under the Group's rule of confidentiality; it will therefore not be placed in the Library or posted on the Department's website.
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Israel
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, OfficialReport, column 745, on Israel: children in detention, if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Israeli Attorney-General. [162177]
Alistair Burt: On 20 June, I met with Israeli Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was accompanied by a senior delegation, including Deputy Attorney-General Shai Nitzan and the Israeli ambassador to London. We discussed a range of issues including the treatment of children in detention, the use of live fire in the Gaza buffer zone and in dealing with non-violent protests and demolition of Palestinian property.
On the question of child detainees we discussed the recommendations in Baroness Scotland's report. I welcomed steps that Israel has taken of late to reduce the gap between provisions for Israeli and Palestinian children including: raising the age of majority to 18; reducing the time period by which an arrested minor must be brought before a judge formalising the right of a parent/guardian to be present in court; and introducing a special court for minors.
We also discussed the need for further progress. In particular, building on the report's recommendations, we believe it is important to ensure: systematic use of audio-visual recording when questioning children; an end to solitary confinement for children; and notification of arrest in Arabic to parents/guardians so that they can support children in the legal process.
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make immediate representations to the government of Israel over their decision to set in motion the Prawer Plan for the removal of 40,000 Bedouin people from their ancestral homeland; [162732]
(2) if he will discuss with his EU counterparts making a co-ordinated approach to the Government of Israel over its decision to set in motion the Prawer Plan for the removal of 40,000 Bedouin people from their ancestral homeland; [162733]
(3) if he will request that the US Government should make immediate representations to the Government of Israel over their decision to set in motion the Prawer Plan for the removal of 40,000 Bedouin people from their ancestral homeland. [162735]
Alistair Burt: We continue to follow closely Israeli Government plans with respect to Bedouin land claims and unrecognised villages in the Negev. We remain concerned by the possible relocation of thousands of Bedouin. I discussed the proposed legislation with Members of the Knesset when I visited Israel earlier this month. Officials at the British embassy in Tel Aviv are in regular contact with Bedouin leaders and activists, and our ambassador has discussed the proposed legislation with relevant Ministers and parliamentarians. The embassy has also discussed this issue with EU and other partners in Tel Aviv.
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Nigeria
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences of the recent violence in Nigeria for stability in the region. [161873]
Mark Simmonds: We are gravely concerned by the ongoing violence perpetrated by extremists in north-east Nigeria. We are closely monitoring the security situation and the potential cross-border impact on Nigeria's neighbours. Our assessment is reflected in our travel advice. The British Government will continue to work with the Nigerian Government, and our international partners, to encourage long-term peace, security and development within Nigeria and the region.
North Africa
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to provide support to UK residents whose relatives are the victims of kidnapping in North Africa. [162283]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports British Nationals if they are kidnapped overseas. As part of this we will offer a range of support to their family in the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not offer support to non-British nationals overseas. Where their families are resident in the UK and concerned about criminal activity they should report this in the first instance to the police.
Occupied Territories
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with EU member states on the labelling of produce from Israeli settlements. [162174]
Alistair Burt: The British Government understands the concerns of people who do not wish to purchase goods exported from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). It was in order to enable consumers to make a more fully informed decision concerning the products they buy that, in December 2009, the UK introduced voluntary guidelines to enable produce from Israeli settlements in the OPTs to be specifically labelled as such.
The issue of settlement produce is a subject of active discussion with our EU partners. In April, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), wrote to relevant UK ministries and enforcement bodies underlining the importance of correctly applying the law with respect to the labelling of products originating beyond Israel's pre-1967 borders. The Secretary of State has also written to EU High Representative Baroness Ashton, along with other EU Foreign Ministers, to welcome her commitment to work with fellow Commissioners to prepare EU-wide guidelines on the labelling of settlement produce. There are currently no plans, however, for EU or domestic legislation to ban the import of settlement products.
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Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council
Sir Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce the date of the current year's meeting of the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council. [161928]
Mark Simmonds: We are organising the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council for 26 to 27 November 2013. It will be held in London. I am in touch with the leaders of the overseas territories about an agenda for this Council that will take forward our programme of co-operation.
Pakistan
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Prime Minister will discuss with his Pakistani counterpart the need for caution and the potential for instability and unrest in the region if a trial for treason against his military ruler predecessor takes place. [162193]
Alistair Burt: This is an internal matter for Pakistan.
Palestinians
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Israeli Government about salaries paid to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons by the Palestinian Authority. [161564]
Alistair Burt: The Palestinian Authority (PA) makes payments to meet the living expenses of prisoners in Israeli jails at the request of the Israeli authorities. These payments are managed by an Israeli company. Separately, the PA makes social assistance payments to families of prisoners.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Elkin raised the issue of payments to prisoners with British officials in Tel Aviv on 28 May 2013, expressing concern as to whether payments are higher for prisoners serving longer sentences.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Palestinian Authority about salaries paid to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. [161565]
Alistair Burt: The Department for International Development continues to have regular discussions with the Palestinian Authority (PA) on this issue, and encourage the PA to ensure that payments to Palestinian prisoners and their families are transparent, needs-based and affordable.
The Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan) discussed this issue with the Palestinian Minister of Prisoners during his visit to the UK on 21 June 2013. Mr Duncan welcomed a letter from the Minister for Prisoners providing further information on the payments and making clear that they were not intended to reward terrorism.
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The canteen payments to prisoners were made at the request of the Israeli authorities and managed by an Israeli company.
Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people from addresses in Scotland were registered with the LOCATE service prior to the service closing in May 2013. [162745]
Mark Simmonds: The LOCATE system did not hold this information as a registrant's home address was not a mandatory field. Instead it asked for the overseas address where the British national was visiting or resident.
Sierra Leone
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of bilateral relations with Sierra Leone since November 2012. [161819]
Mark Simmonds: Britain's bilateral relationship with Sierra Leone is strong. Britain has historically played a key role in bringing stability to the country and we continue to engage with the Government of Sierra Leone politically, commercially, militarily and through development aid. Our high commission in Freetown has good links with all parts of the Sierra Leonean Government. Commercially, there are a number of large UK investments in the Sierra Leonean mining and energy sectors. Militarily, the transition from the UK-led International Military Assistance Training Team to the International Security Advisory Team will continue to provide training to the Sierra Leone armed and police forces and mentoring at senior levels of government. Britain is the largest bilateral aid donor to Sierra Leone, giving approximately £445 million over the past 10 years.
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the security situation in Kailahun province, Sierra Leone. [161820]
Mark Simmonds: We closely monitor the security situation across Sierra Leone to ensure that our travel advice is accurate and up to date. That travel advice reflects our current assessment there remain some minimal security risks in Sierra Leone.
The UK Government, along with their international partners, work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure a stable and secure environment. Britain is also contributing to a programme of security sector reform through the International Security Advisory Team, which includes training Sierra Leone's armed forces and border security.
Somalia
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the African Union Forces fighting al-Shabab and other terrorist groups in Somalia following the recent attack on the UN office in Mogadishu. [161718]
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Mark Simmonds: I reiterate the comments of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in condemning this attack against the heart of the UN's operations in Somalia, in which 15 people were killed. My thoughts are with the victims and their families, friends and colleagues. The UN is leading efforts to provide political and practical support to Somalia and the Somali people, including life-saving humanitarian assistance. To murder staff working for the UN is utterly indefensible.
Britain strongly supports the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and we applaud their efforts, to support Somalia's national security forces and local Somali guards in bringing this incident under control so quickly and with such professionalism. AMISOM's contribution in Somalia is vital. We continue to support them through: UK pre-deployment training; UK contributions to the EU who provide funding for AMISOM troop stipends; UK contributions to the UN who cover AMISOM's logistical support needs; and a bilateral contribution of £16 million in 2012-13 to AMISOM's trust fund. We were pleased to see AMISOM's mandate renewed in the UN Security Council in March and will continue to support their work following this attack.
South East Asia
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his counterparts in (a) Malaysia and (b) Singapore on the environmental and health risks posed by recent forest fires in the region. [162192]
Mr Swire: I discussed the impact of pollution from fires in Indonesia in my meetings with Ministers in Kuala Lumpur on 26 June and with Singapore's Second Minister for Foreign Affairs the following day.
Sudan and Egypt
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the amount paid out by UK residents to kidnappers in Sudan and Egypt. [162284]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports of UK residents being asked to pay ransoms following the kidnap of Eritrean nationals but do not have specific details. We are unable to provide an estimate of the amount paid.
Syria
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Prime Minister's speech of 14 June 2013 at No. 10 Downing street, if he will publish in full the evidential basis for the Prime Minister's statement that the Syrian Government have used chemical weapons against Syrian people. [161616]
Alistair Burt: We have physiological samples from inside Syria which have been tested at Porton Down and which have tested positive for sarin. We believe that chemical weapons have been used by the Assad Regime. However, the process of gathering more information is ongoing and we have been working with others to obtain more and better evidence.
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Where we own important evidence or information ourselves, such as the samples received and analysed by UK officials, we have briefed the UN investigation team, shared the information with international partners, and made appropriate details public. We will look at further information and consider whether it is possible to do so again. However, we cannot publish details regarding samples or specific incidents where to do so could put our sources of information at risk.
The Prime Minister has tasked the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee to give the National Security Council frequently updated assessments of the information we and our allies have.
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of discussions on Syria at the recent G8 Conference, in Northern Ireland. [161973]
Alistair Burt: The Prime Minister gave a statement on the G8 summit to the House of Commons on 19 June 2013, where he set out the key points agreed on the crisis in Syria, including:
the importance of a political solution based on a vision for a united, inclusive and democratic country;
the urgent need for additional humanitarian relief, in response to the UN appeal, to which the G8 collectively allocated $ 1.5 billion;
the expulsion or eradication of terrorist groups and their supporters in the country;
the holding to account those responsible for the use of chemical weapons; and
assistance for UN efforts in the transition phase of a post-conflict Syria.
Turkey
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan on the Turkish Government's response to the protests in Gezi Park, Taksim Square and elsewhere; and what assessment he has made of whether that Government's response is in accordance with Turkey's human rights commitments under international law. [162297]
Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, discussed the protests with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister on 11 June as part of a broader discussion and encouraged a peaceful resolution. I made the same points to the Turkish EU Affairs Minister, Egemen Bagis on 13 June.
It is important the police act proportionately in response to the protests. The Turkish authorities have accepted that some police tactics have been heavy handed. The right to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights, and we urge Turkey to respond proportionately to all expressions of protest in line with its ECMR obligations and other international human rights commitments.
Western Sahara
Mr Mark Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with (a) the Moroccan ambassador and (b) MINURSO
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the beating of Mariam Burhimi and Lamat Zeghman while covering a peaceful street protest in occupied El Aaiún, Western Sahara. [162227]
Alistair Burt: We follow events in Western Sahara closely. We raise human rights issues relating to Western Sahara regularly with the Moroccan authorities, including at senior level in Rabat and during the embassy's regular visits to Western Sahara itself.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Business: ICT
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what help his Department is providing to small businesses to receive training in IT skills. [161919]
Michael Fallon: The information economy strategy, published on 14 June 2013, contains a number of actions to improve digital skills. Following work by the Department, industry will launch this autumn a programme to help provide small businesses with the skills to successfully transact online. The programme aims to reach 1.6 million businesses over the next five years.
Business: Loans
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what days and at which locations roadshows on the Business Bank programme for prospective applicants have been (a) held to date and (b) scheduled for future dates; and how many such roadshows have been attended by Ministers. [162242]
Michael Fallon: Roadshows for the Business Bank’s £300 million investment programme were held in London, Edinburgh and Manchester on 26 April, 2 May and 7 May respectively, following the programme’s launch on 10 April. The purpose of the information sessions was to give prospective applicants the opportunity to ask policy officials detailed questions about the application process. There was therefore no reason for ministerial attendance.
Further information, slides from the sessions, and questions and answers are available online at:
https://www.gov.uk/investment-programme-to-encourage-lending-to-smes
We will consider running other sessions in UK locations if there is sufficient demand.
Comet Group
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has received a report from the Insolvency Service report into Comet. [162240]
Jo Swinson:
The Insolvency Service's investigation into Comet is still under way. The Insolvency Service aims to complete the vast majority of this type of inquiry within six months, and had hoped to do so in this case too. However, this is a particularly large and
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complex case involving a company which had a turnover of over £1 billion, and it is important to ensure that the depth and thoroughness of the inquiry is not impeded by imposing time limits.
Community Interest Companies
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many community interest companies were created in (a) the West Midlands, (b) the East Midlands, (c) London, (d) Wales, (e) South East England, (f) East England, (g) South West England, (h) North East England, (i) North West England, (j) Scotland and (k) Northern Ireland in 2012. [161748]
Michael Fallon: Companies House is able to provide figures on the number of new community interest companies it registered in 2012 by post code area. As post code areas cross regional and national boundaries the following figures must be considered approximations. Scotland and Northern Ireland are separate registries, with their own registrars, and the figures for these areas are accurate.
| Region | Number |
Conditions of Employment
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials are currently working on his Department’s investigation of zero-hours contracts. [162294]
Jo Swinson: A team of three officials within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are spending part of their time researching how zero-hours contracts are being used by businesses. They are speaking informally to a variety of stakeholders, including industry bodies representing sectors where they are in use and also trade unions to gather information.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects his Department’s investigation of zero-hours contracts to be complete; and if he will publish any subsequent report. [162295]
Jo Swinson: Officials are currently speaking informally to a variety of stakeholders, including trade unions and industry bodies representing sectors where zero-hours contracts to gather information. They will report their findings to me after summer recess.
We will consider next steps when we better understand the issues for both businesses and people engaged on these contracts.
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Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he will issue a call for evidence and initiate a consultation process as part of his Department’s investigation into zero-hours contracts; and by what other means organisations and interested parties can submit evidence as part of his Department’s investigation. [162296]
Jo Swinson: There are no plans to issue a call for evidence or consultation at this stage. Officials within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently researching how zero-hours contracts are being used by businesses.
They are currently speaking informally to a variety of stakeholders, including industry bodies representing sectors where they are in use and also trade unions to gather information. If organisations have information they feel is relevant to the work that is currently under way, they should contact the Labour Market Directorate in BIS.
Construction: Industry
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to assist small and medium-sized construction companies. [161918]
Michael Fallon: Government have committed to ensure that 25% of all Government procurement should be from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Further, Government and the construction industry will launch Construction 2025—an industrial strategy for construction—on Tuesday 2 July. A vibrant SME sector is essential to the future of the construction industry. That industrial strategy will therefore contain a number steps to assist small and medium-sized construction companies.
Digital Technology: Innovation
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage innovation in the field of 3D printing. [162180]
Michael Fallon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti) on 13 June 2013, Official Report, columns 437-8W.
Empty Property: Coastal Areas
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the retail vacancy rate was in each of the principal seaside towns in each of the last 30 years. [161845]
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Michael Fallon: BIS does not hold data on retail vacancy rates.
Enterprise Capital Funds
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2013, Official Report, column 1184W, on enterprise capital funds, what proportion of funds allocated under enterprise capital funds to date have been drawn down; and how many investments have been drawn down in full. [162243]
Michael Fallon: Of the total investor commitment of £396 million across 12 enterprise capital funds, £183 million has been invested in over 150 companies to date. Eight funds have recently reached the end of their investment periods. Four funds are open for new investments. Of the £200 million the Government committed to enterprise capital funds in the spending review 2010, £50 million has been committed to funds, with total investor commitment to those new funds of over £100 million.
Enterprise Zones: Broadband
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with the (i) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and his officials, (ii) Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and his officials and (iii) external stakeholders on the provision of superfast broadband in enterprise zones. [162241]
Michael Fallon: BIS officials and I have been involved in discussions about the provision of broadband in enterprise zones with DCLG and DCMS, as part of national progress updates. Officials from BIS Local have also been engaged in conversations with DCLG, DCMS and external stakeholders about provision in specific zones.
Flood Control
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what joint projects his Department has participated in with businesses developing new flood protection technologies in each of the last three years; and in which regions such projects have been conducted. [161808]
Mr Willetts: The Technology Strategy Board, a BIS sponsored body, has supported a number of projects in the area of flood protection and flood-related technologies in the last three years, as follows:
| Company | Region | Grant (£) | Project |
|
Sewage treatment technologies in respect of toxins and contaminants from flood water | |||
|
3D terrain generation images for use in, for example, disaster relief (eg flooding) |
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Foreign Workers
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of jobs being moved out of the UK. [162077]
Michael Fallon: The Government have taken decisive action to protect the economy in this period of global uncertainty.
The Government consider they can best help increase UK employment by developing the conditions that will ensure balanced, sustainable growth. This involves establishing a dynamic business environment, driven by open and competitive markets. This is at the heart of the Government's Plan for Growth.
The current employment level is 29.7 million, which is above the pre-recession peak and 434,000 higher than a year earlier.
In addition, last year there were 1,434 inward investment projects in the UK, which created or safeguarded 94,500 jobs.
Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings officials in his Department have had with outside agencies to discuss the approval of the planting of genetically modified crops. [161977]
Mr Willetts: Officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have had no discussions with outside agencies to discuss the approval of the planting of genetically modified crops.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) Monsanto, (b) Bayer and (c) BASF on the approval of planting of genetically modified crops. [161979]
Mr Willetts: I have not had meetings specifically to discuss this issue. However, I have many discussions with companies on various issues including GM crops. Policy on granting approval for genetically modified crops is a matter for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson).
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) Rothamsted Research, (b) The John Innes Centre and (c) the Institute of Food Research on his policy on granting approval for the planting of genetically modified crops. [161980]
Mr Willetts: I have not had a meeting specifically to discuss this issue. However, I have many discussions with scientists on various issues including GM crops. Policy on granting approval for the planting of genetically modified crops is a matter for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson).
Green Investment Bank
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) timetable and (b) deadlines have been set for the completion of due diligence processes for funds already committed under the Green Investment Bank. [162273]
Michael Fallon: Due diligence on projects is completed before the Green Investment Bank finalises and announces commitments.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the funds allocated to each project supported by the Green Investment Bank have been drawn down to date; and when each such project is expected to be fully funded. [162276]
Michael Fallon: In financial year 2012/13, the Green Investment Bank (GIB) deployed £121.5 million and has since made further deployments totalling over £50 million. The GIB has published details of the total financial commitments it has made. The specific timing of the draw down of funds is an operational matter for the parties involved in financing individual projects.
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Higher Education
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received in respect of the 11 Confucius Institutes at British universities. [162254]
Mr Willetts: I have not received any representations in respect of the 11 Confucius institutions at British universities.
Confucius institutions operate within universities, colleges and secondary schools around the world, providing funding, teachers and educational materials. They are non-profit public institutions aligned with the Chinese Government that aim to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching and facilitate cultural exchanges.
Our relationship with China is important and we continue to broaden and strengthen our ties. More Chinese students are choosing to study here than ever before and more of our schools are teaching Mandarin than ever before.
At the last UK-China education summit, held in October 2011, UK and Chinese Ministers signed the UK-China Partners in Education Action Plan which has made significant progress in strengthening higher education partnerships and promoting student mobility. In addition, the ministerial level People to People Dialogue in April 2012 highlighted the strength of the UK-China educational and cultural relationship.
We have more than 150 UK-China university partnerships. More than 100,000 Chinese students come to study at UK schools, colleges and universities. The number of students from mainland China enrolled at UK higher education institutions continues to increase, from 45,000 students in 2007/08 to nearly 79,000 in 2011/12, an increase of 74%. There are around 4,250 UK students studying in China, which is a similar proportion to the number of Chinese students in the UK.
Industrial Health and Safety
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the further round of red tape challenge announced in the 2013 Budget will include health and safety regulations. [162306]
Michael Fallon: The 2013 Budget announced that the Government will launch a second phase of red tape challenge. This will be a series of short “red tape” reviews looking at ways to reduce burdens from across the whole regulatory system in areas that are key for the economy and for growth. This includes laws, guidance, compliance, inspection and enforcement issues.
We are seeking views from businesses about key activities or areas where the regulatory system is particularly burdensome or overly complex to negotiate, and will consider suggestions for reviews across all the policy areas.
Industry
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 207W, on industry, whether he plans to publish a collaborative strategic partnership relating to chemicals. [162292]
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Michael Fallon: As part of the Government's industrial strategy and our spectrum of support for sectors, the chemicals industry is producing an industry-led strategy. The strategy will be published over the summer. Officials are working closely with the industry.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to publish a progress report on implementation of industrial strategy in 2013. [162293]
Michael Fallon: The Government, in partnership with the CBI, will hold an industrial strategy conference on 11 September 2013 at which progress developing and implementing industrial strategy will be discussed. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), will provide an update to the House through a written ministerial statement the same day.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Arts
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the contribution made by local enterprise partnerships to growth in the creative industries. [162291]
Michael Fallon: There has been no estimate of the contribution made by local enterprise partnerships specifically to growth in the creative industries. Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) have been set up to bring together businesses and local authorities to determine local economic priorities and undertake activities to drive economic growth and the creation of local jobs.
The Government fully recognise the value of the creative industries. They have a key role in growing our economy and contributing to British culture, and we are determined to work closely with partners to create the best possible environment to support business growth.
Manufacturing Industries: Job Creation
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many manufacturing jobs in (a) each constituency and (b) total have been created in the UK in each of the last five years. [161915]
Michael Fallon: The net change in the number of manufacturing jobs for the UK is given in the following table for each of the last five years.
| Net change in UK manufacturing jobs on previous year | |
| Net change (Thousand) | |
| Source: Workforce jobs, ONS | |
The net change in the number of people employed in the manufacturing industry for each parliamentary constituency in Great Britain for 2010 and 2011 will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Data are not available on a consistent basis for previous years or 2012, or for Northern Ireland in any year.
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Medicine
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) universities on future plans for departmental responsibility for funding of medical research and education. [162061]
Mr Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and I regularly meet with the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to discuss a range of policy issues including broader discussions on medical research and education.
Meetings have also been held with Universities UK and the Russell Group to discuss a range of issues including medical research and education.
In his spending review speech on 26 June 2013 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), confirmed that:
“We are not going to shift medical training and research out of that Department (BIS), because they are working well where they are.”
Members: Correspondence
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Newport East of 26 February and 24 May 2013 regarding the regulation of tobacco companies; and whether that correspondence has been forwarded to another Department. [162219]
Jo Swinson: The hon. Member's letter of 26 February 2013 was transferred to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for a reply. An e-mail advising that this action had been taken was sent to the hon. Member's office on 3 April 2013. The hon. Member's office was contacted on receipt of her further letter of 24 May 2013, reminding her that the letter had been transferred to HMRC.
New Businesses
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many new businesses were started in (a) Warwick, (b) Leamington, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England in each of the last five years. [161749]
Michael Fallon: The number of new businesses cannot be identified as there is no central register of businesses.
However, Companies House is able to provide figures on the number of new companies it registered in each of the last five years by post code area. As post code areas cross city, regional and national boundaries the following figures must be considered approximations.
| Warwick | Leamington | West Midlands | England | |
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Companies House has used the following post code areas to extract its information.
Warwick: CV34
Leamington: CV31, CV32, CV33
West Midlands: B, CV, DY, HR, LD, NP, ST, SY, TF, WR, WS, WV.
Overseas Aid
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which projects administered by his Department were UK overseas development assistance (ODA) attributable; what the total value of his Department's contribution to UK ODA was in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012; and what the value of that contribution will be in 2013. [162208]
Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not directly administered any projects that could be regarded as UK overseas development assistance (ODA) attributable. However, the Department does make direct funding to the Medical Research Council (MRC) which is ring-fenced and classed as ODA.
The MRC reported a global health (ODA) portfolio of research spend in:
2010/11: £60 million ODA relevant spend inclusive of a £10 million contribution from DFID to this total.
2011/12 financial year(1): £48 million inclusive of a DFID contribution of £12 million.
2012 calendar year(1): £47.9 million which includes a £13 million from DFID.
For 2013, BIS funding to MRC for ODA projects amounts to £31 million.
In addition, BIS makes annual contributions to both the OECD and WTO on behalf of the UK Government. While not directly classed as ODA, the funding helps contribute to the work of both international organisations in the ongoing promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries.
(1) Reporting was changed from financial to calendar year in 2012.
Postcodes: Databases
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that privatisation of the Royal Mail does not restrict access to the postcode address file for small entrepreneurs and new business start-ups. [162176]
Michael Fallon: The Government have ensured access to the Postcode Address File (PAF) through primary legislation. The Postal Services Act 2000 (as amended by the Postal Services Act 2011) specifies that PAF must be made available to anyone who wishes to use it on reasonable terms. This will apply regardless of ownership of Royal Mail.
In addition, the Government have been working closely with Royal Mail to ensure that the PAF is easily accessible and continues to support growth. On 14 June 2013 Royal Mail announced a package of measures to improve access, including a forthcoming consultation to simplify radically the licensing regime and to target support for micro-businesses and small charities. From July,
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independent
(1)micro-businesses will be able to use PAF for free for one year to develop new products and take them to market.
(1) Not associated or affiliated with any other existing Solution Provider.
Prisoners: Literacy
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve literacy and numeracy rates among prison inmates and young offenders. [162222]
Matthew Hancock: Improving literacy and numeracy rates among prisoners is an important part of helping them to secure employment on release. Evidence shows that employment is linked to reduced re-offending.
New prison education contracts for learning and skills for adult offenders in prisons in England were introduced last summer. These have a clear focus on addressing maths and English early in prisoners' sentences, with a requirement on the offender learning and skills provider to assess learning needs and, where a literacy or numeracy need is identified, to address it. English and maths teaching is delivered both as standalone activity and as an embedded element of work and vocational training. We are working with education providers to help them develop engaging and motivating courses to target resistant learners.
We have piloted intensive maths and English courses in adult prisons, based on the Army's model, particularly to address the needs of prisoners serving short sentences. Prison governors and offender learning and skills providers are now working together to consider whether this provision has a place in the delivery approaches they use locally.
The learning and skills improvement service published in December 2012 “Developing Speaking and Listening Skills: A support pack for staff working with offenders” which uses English teaching to develop prisoners' communication skills.
For young offenders in custody under the age of 18, the Ministry of Justice's (MOJ) consultation 'Transforming Youth Custody: Putting education at the heart of detention' published on 14 February 2013, sets out the Government's vision of secure colleges which puts a greater focus on education and training, including improving literacy and numeracy, to equip young people with the skills and qualifications they need to lead purposeful lives on release. The consultation closed on 30 April 2013 and the MOJ will publish a response in due course.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool South of 25 February 2013, Official Report, column 301W, on the Regional Growth Fund, (1) how independent due diligence will be provided in relation to the exceptional regional growth fund; [162337]
(2) how independent due diligence will be provided in relation to the exceptional regional growth fund; and how this will differ from due diligence processes for rounds one, two and three of the fund. [162496]
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Michael Fallon: As with an open round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), all exceptional awards are conditional on satisfactory due diligence being performed by an independent third party. Conditional offer letters set out the scope of the due diligence to be performed by the independent third party (normally a firm of accountants). Upon the completion of satisfactory due diligence a final offer letter will be agreed. However, the Industrial Development Advisory Board retains the right to review the outcomes of all due diligence in relation to the use of RGF money, and to provide Ministers with independent advice. There is no difference between due diligence for exceptional RGF and other rounds.
Science: Higher Education
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage students to take up science and engineering degrees at university. [162183]
Mr Willetts: The Government fully recognise the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) based industries to the UK economy, and of maintaining a healthy STEM pipeline. This is why we continue to sponsor a range of initiatives which aim to engage young people in STEM at various points in their educational career, including at degree level. Examples of these initiatives include the STEMNET STEM ambassador programme, the national science and engineering competition and the Big Bang Fair.
We are also working to increase the number of young people choosing to study these subjects by promoting diversity within STEM. The Government fund the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering to run a programme of work aimed at identifying and removing the barriers to entering STEM through a range of routes, including university.
We are also supporting higher level study of STEM subjects through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Subjects which are identified as strategically important or vulnerable subjects (SIVS) receive additional financial support from HEFCE to help ensure courses can be continued. A range of STEM subjects are currently classed as SIVS.
In the spending round 2013, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that he would:
maintain resource funding for science in cash terms at £4.6 billion in 2015-16;
increase capital funding in real terms from £0.6 billion in 2012-13 to £1.1 billion in 2015-16;
and set a long-term capital budget for science in the next Parliament growing in line with inflation to 2020-21.
Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months. [162576]
Jo Swinson:
The following table shows the average working days lost (AWDL) in BIS by grade, during the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013. Data are collated
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quarterly rather than by month and to produce the information in the format requested would result in disproportionate costs.
| Grade | AWDL |
The data form part of the quarterly return to Cabinet Office on absence. Further information is available on the BIS website.
http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
Students
Mr Denham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the average
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undergraduate loan was for students who lived
(a)
at home and
(b)
away from home in each of the last five years; [162749]
(2) how many undergraduate students lived (a) at home and (b) away from home whilst completing their studies in each of the last five years. [162750]
Mr Willetts: The number of English-domiciled full-time undergraduate students studying in the UK by term-time living arrangements is shown in table 1. The figures are collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Statistics on the number of undergraduate students who were paid a maintenance loan by whether they were living with their parents or away from home, and the average amount they received, are shown in table 2. The figures are collected by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
The HESA statistics refer to students enrolled at higher education institutions. The data from SLC include students at all types of higher education provider designated for student support, which includes further education colleges and alternative providers of higher education.
| Table 1: Number of full-time undergraduate enrolments by living arrangements: English-domiciled students at UK higher education institutions, academic years 2007/08 to 2011/12 | |||||
| 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
| (1) Students who report term-time accommodation as living with parent(s) or guardian. (2) Students living in own home, other rented accommodation, private-sector halls of residence or in an institution-maintained property. (3) Term-time accommodation is unknown, missing, unspecified or simply the student is not in attendance at the institution during the reported academic year. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency | |||||
| Table 2: Number of students paid maintenance loans by living arrangements(1): English domiciled students, academic years 2007/08 to 2011/12 | ||||||
| Number of students paid (thousand)(2) | Average paid (£)(3) | |||||
| Academic year | With Parents | Living away from home | Combined(4) | With Parents | Living away from home | Combined(4) |
| (1) Data refer to 31 August following each academic year. (2) Number of students paid rounded to nearest £50 and presented in thousands. (3) Average amount paid rounded to the nearest £10. (4) Students that record multiple living arrangements for the academic year. They live with parents for part of the year and away from home for the remainder of the study year. Source: Student Loans Company | ||||||
Students: Finance
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of UK students in higher education did not apply for student finance in each of the last 10 years. [162217]
Mr Willetts: Statistics on the financial support awarded and paid to applicants for student support or their higher education institution (HEI) are published by the Student Loans Company in its annual Statistical First Release (SFR) ‘Student Support For Higher Education in England’. The latest SFR was published in November 2012:
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/525907/slcsfr052012.pdf
Table 4a (ii) of the SFR provides estimates of the proportion of the maintenance loan eligible population who were paid a maintenance loan during the course of the academic year. The relative proportions that were estimated to be eligible but did not take out a maintenance loan are shown in the following table:
| Estimated percentage take-up rate/non take-up rate for the eligible maintenance loan population for English domiciled students, academic year 2001/02 to 2010/11 | |||
| Academic year | Estimated percentage take-up (%) | Estimated percentage non take-up (%) | Estimated eligible population (Thousand) |
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| Note: BIS uses data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and other sources with the closest approximation of eligibility criteria available from those sources to produce the estimated eligible population. Estimates are produced with a consistent method each year. Source: Student Loans Company | |||
Eligible populations vary for the different student support products, so an estimate of a combined take-up for student finance is not included in the SFR. The inclusion of an estimated take-up rate for tuition fee loans is planned for the 2013 publication.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely distributional effect on different quintiles of students of the policy announced in spending round 2013, Cm 8639, page 40, that maintenance grants will be maintained in cash terms in the 2015-16 academic year. [162985]
Mr Willetts: Student Loans Company statistics show that around 40% of students currently receive the maximum maintenance grant and around 15% a partial grant. Therefore, the three lowest quintiles of students by household income will be affected by the decision to keep the grant fixed in cash terms for 2015-16. The total amount of support available to these students will depend on decisions on the maintenance loan which have yet to be made.
Students: Loans
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what external advice the Government have commissioned since May 2010 on the future of the student loan book; when each such piece of advice was commissioned; which firms have provided this advice; when any such reports were passed to Ministers in his Department; what the total cost to the public purse was; and if he will place a copy of each such report in the Library. [162274]
Mr Willetts:
In September 2010, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills commissioned Rothschild to analyse potential options for the future of the income contingent repayment (ICR) student loan book. Hogan Lovells was also commissioned in September 2010 and provided legal advice on potential options. Deloitte was commissioned in January 2011 and provided accounting advice. Officials and Ministers in the Department have since continued to explore the feasibility of options for the student loan book (for loans issued up to 2012) as part of the Government's wider programme of asset
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commercialisation. Rating agencies have also provided advice in relation to potential options. The cost of the feasibility study to date has been £1.46 million.
This Department has started to prepare for a sale of this loan book, as part of the Government's asset sales programme announced on 27 June 2013.
As this policy is still in development, the 2011 report contains, and future reports will contain, commercially sensitive information that could damage the value for money Government can achieve from a sale process, and so should not be disclosed at this point.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in his oral statement of 27 June 2013, that the Government plan to sell the pre-Browne student loan book, what assessment he has made of the option of altering the terms of loan repayments for those cohorts of graduates. [162970]
Mr Willetts: The Government received proposals in 2011 from their advisers that the cap on interest rates on student loans should be removed as part of a possible sale of the loan book. The proposal was dismissed two years ago and will not be taken forward by this Government.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a full and unredacted copy of the document entitled, “Project Hero: updated views on feasibility,” which was prepared for his Department in 2011. [162971]
Mr Willetts: In 2011, Rothschild produced a report to analyse potential options for the future of the income contingent repayment (ICR) student loan book. Following further feasibility work, this Department has now started to prepare for a sale of the pre-Browne loan book, as part of the Government's asset sales programme announced on 27 June 2013.
As this policy is still in development, the 2011 report contains and future reports will contain commercially sensitive information that could damage the value for money Government can achieve from a sale process, and so should not be disclosed at this point.
Telephone Services: Fees and Charges
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) UK companies and (b) consumer groups about chargeable customer advice telephone numbers. [162314]
Jo Swinson:
Under the consumer rights directive agreed in December 2011, consumers ringing a trader about something they have purchased must not be charged more than the ‘basic’ rate for that call. Our consultation on the implementation of the directive, which ran from August to November last year, invited comments from a wide variety of organisations. We have engaged with stakeholders, including UK companies, and consumer groups, to ensure that our implementation of the basic rate requirement is as clear and fair as
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possible. We will shortly be publishing the Government response together with draft regulations, and will be welcoming comments.
Thameslink Railway Line
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Government's decision to award train manufacturing in the Thameslink contract, what assistance his Department provided to British-based manufacturers to ensure that bids relating to the contract relating to the building of trains in the UK were competitive. [162067]
Michael Fallon: The competition to supply trains and maintenance services for the Thameslink programme was designed and launched in 2008 by the previous Government and the procurement process followed strict EU procurement rules. The criteria set out in the original invitation to tender issued by the Department for Transport required all potential suppliers to be treated equally and in a non-discriminatory manner. Therefore no such assistance was provided.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Government's decision to award train manufacturing in the Thameslink contract, for what reason his Department did not insist as part of the contract agreement with Siemens, that the company manufacture all, or a significant proportion of the contract value at its facility on Tyneside; and if he will make a statement. [162439]
Michael Fallon: The competition to supply trains and maintenance services for the Thameslink programme was designed and launched in 2008 by the previous Government. Under EU procurement rules, the Department for Transport (DfT) was not permitted to include a condition requiring Siemens to utilise its Tyneside manufacturing facility to carry out all or part of the contract.
Siemens successfully applied for funding under round 3 of the regional growth fund to transform Hebburn into a site specialising in rail, and will supply components for Thameslink and other contracts. This will protect and create up to 300 jobs in the north-east.