Prisons: Libraries
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the annual cost of the Prison Library Service to the public purse is; [161304]
(2) how many prisoners borrowed books through the Prison Library Service in each of the last five years. [161306]
Jeremy Wright: For the financial year 2013-14 the budget allocated to running libraries in the prison service is £7.8 million.
Prison Rules (1999) and Young Offender Institution Rules (1988) place on the Secretary of State the responsibility for ensuring that each prison establishment has a library. Prison Rules state: “A Library shall be provided in every prison and subject to any directions of the Secretary of State, every prisoner shall be allowed to have library books and to exchange them”. While access by prisoners to the library is tailored to establishment
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need, it must be at least every two weeks as an absolute minimum. Where prisoners are unable to access the library, an alternative service should be provided. Library services are seen as an important part in helping prisoner's literacy levels.
In public sector prisons library services are provided under service level agreements with relevant local public library authorities. No central records are held of the total number of prisoners who borrow books and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Publications
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on subscriptions to academic journals published by (a) Reed-Elsevier, (b) Wiley-Blackwell, (c) Springer and (d) any other academic publisher in each of the last five years. [154499]
Mrs Grant: We have been reallocating resources so that more staff have access to a greater range of journals, while still reducing the overall cost of the MOJ library by 23% since 2010.
Central expenditure on academic journals for the Department is set out in the table. (We do not have the figures for 2008-09.) There may be additional expenditure by teams who require very specialised information for their own use but these costs are not captured centrally.
| £ | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
Reoffenders
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the proportion of reoffenders in UK prisons over the last 20 years; [161427]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to attempt to reduce the number of offences committed by individuals who have previously served a prison sentence. [161428]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice does not hold proven reoffending data for years prior to 2000; 2000 is the earliest year for which proven reoffending data exists for England and Wales on a comparable basis using data from the police national computer. These are available at;
www.gov.uk/government/publications/proven-re-offending--2
In recent years, reoffending rates have barely changed. Almost half of all offenders released from custody in 2010 reoffended within a year, and for prisoners sentenced to less than 12 months it is almost 60%.
On 9 May, the Ministry of Justice published “Transforming Rehabilitation: a Strategy for Reform”, which sets out the plans for transforming the way in which offenders are managed in the community in order to bring down reoffending rates. Our reforms will extend
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statutory rehabilitation to offenders sentenced to less than 12 months, open up the market to a diverse range of new rehabilitation providers, and introduce new payment incentives to focus providers relentlessly on reducing reoffending.
Sexual Offences
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 18 April 2013, Official Report, columns 566-8W, on sexual offences: police cautions, if he will break down the figures provided by the (a) age ranges, (b) gender of those concerned and (c) the category of offences in relation to the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. [155665]
Jeremy Wright: The use of cautions is at its lowest level for more than five years, as is the number of cautions issued to those who have a previous criminal record. However, the public and victims have a right to expect that people who commit serious crimes should be brought before a court. On 3 April 2013 the Ministry of Justice launched a review into the use of cautions focused on the use of cautions for serious offences and persistent offenders. Among other things, the review is examining whether there are some offences for which the use of simple cautions is generally inappropriate, the reasons why multiple cautions are given to some criminals and the difference in the use of cautions by police force areas. The review is a significant step to ensuring that cautions are used correctly, in the interests of justice, and command the confidence of the public. We will announce our plans shortly.
The decision whether to offer a caution is an operational matter for the police and in some circumstances the CPS depending on the circumstances of the offence and offender. Court will always be the right place for serious and contested cases and those involving prolific offenders. However, there will be a number of difficult cases, including those where both victim and perpetrator are children, or where victims and witnesses are reluctant to give evidence, where the police may decide that administering a caution is a preferable option to there being no record of the offence committed.
During the 12 months ending September 2012, there have only been two offenders given more than one caution for a sexual offence in England and Wales.
The following tables show the number of offenders given one or more than one caution for a sexual offence, split by age, gender and category of sexual offence (as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003) respectively in England and Wales in the 12 months ending September 2012 (the latest data available).
The figures used in the tables remain consistent with the previously asked question.
| Table 1: Number of offenders given a caution for a sexual offence, split by age range, in England and Wales, 12 months ending September 2012 | ||
| Number of cautions(1) | ||
| Age range | One caution | More than one |
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| (1) The data in Table 1 include caution occasions and the primary offence committed for each caution occasion is the one used to determine the offence type. Where an individual has more than one caution within the year, the police force of the most recent caution has been used. Note: The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police. Source: Ministry of Justice | ||
| Table 2: Number of offenders given a caution for a sexual offence, split by gender, in England and Wales, 12 months ending September 2012 | ||
| Number of cautions(1) | ||
| Gender | One caution | More than one |
| (1) The data in Table 1 include caution occasions and the primary offence committed for each caution occasion is the one used to determine the offence type. Where an individual has more than one caution within the year, the police force of the most recent caution has been used. Note: The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police. Source: Ministry of Justice | ||
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Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2013, Official Report, column 1130W, on sexual offences: victims, what specific provision his Department has made and what specific funding has been set aside within that listed to support victims of historic sex offences. [162063]
Mrs Grant: The Ministry of Justice Rape Support Fund has been providing annual Grant funding of approximately £4 million a year since 2011 to 78 independent rape support centres around the country. This funding will continue until end March 2014. The funding is not disaggregated for survivors of recent or historic rape or sexual violence, but does include approximately £500,000 per annum for the funding of the 13 new rape support centres commissioned since 2011.
Veterans
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people passing through the justice system have a background in the military. [161726]
Jeremy Wright:
As the Minister of State my right hon. and noble Friend Lord McNally said in another place on 25 June during the Report stage of the Offender Rehabilitation Bill, on the latest statistics available the number of regular veterans in prison is estimated to be 2,820. That is about 3.5% of the prison population.
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About 5,860 offenders in the community, approximately 3.4% of community offenders, had served in the regular armed forces.
The Ministry of Justice does not routinely collate or report data on offender employment history. In this case the data is drawn from two data matching exercises which the Ministry of Justice carried out with Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) in 2009. DASA published three reports resulting from these exercises on the Ministry of Defence website:
http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&pubType=3&thiscontent=550&Publish Time=13:00:00&date=2010-09-15&disText=Single% 20Report&from=listing&topDate=2010-09-l5
under the heading Veterans: Criminal Justice System.
Young Offenders Institutions
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of providing (a) breakfast, (b) lunch, (c) dinner and (d) all meals to each inmate at a young offenders institution was on Christmas Day 2012. [160333]
Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service is responsible for setting food policy for prison establishments in England and Wales. There are a number of service delivery requirements that all prisons must meet, including that all prisoners are provided with three meals a day and offered a multi-choice pre-select menu for the lunchtime or evening meal and that the menu will reflect the diverse needs of the prison population.
While guidance is provided to establishments the ultimate decision on what is provided and the cost of provision remains a local decision. As a result, the individual cost per meal will vary between establishments. For this reason it is not possible to provide the exact information requested. It is however possible to give illustrative figures based on the meals provided to one specific young offenders institution. The following costs are taken from the menu offered on Christmas Day 2012 at HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution Brinsford, Wolverhampton. Costing the most popular choice options for the day indicate the meal costs and total daily cost to be:
Breakfast: 52p
Lunch: £1.37
Evening meal: 96p
Supper pack: £1.06.
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many juveniles of secondary school age there are currently in young offenders institutions. [160348]
Jeremy Wright: At the start of May 2013, there were 301 young people of secondary school age (aged 15 and 16 years) in under-18 young offender's institutions. This accounts for 29% of the total of 1,024 young people (including 126 18-year-olds) held in under-18 young offenders institutions.
These data have been sourced from the e-Asset system which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time. Data are provisional and will be finalised when the Annual Youth Justice Statistics are published in January 2015.
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Young Offenders: Per Capita Costs
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the average young offender cost the Exchequer in the latest year for which figures are available; [161698]
(2) what the average prisoner cost the Exchequer in the latest year for which figures are available. [161699]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) do not hold or collate average costs relating to prisoners or young offenders met in full by the Exchequer. Costs, for instance relating to Health or Education, are met by other Government Departments and such details are not held by the MOJ.
However, as part of the Government's Transparency Agenda, the MOJ routinely publishes full details of average costs per prisoner and place, including average young offenders institutions (YOI's), based on actual net resource expenditure for each private and public sector prison in summary form for the whole of the prison estate in England and Wales after the end of the financial year.
The latest information available for financial year 2011-12 is published as an Addendum to the NOMS Annual Report and Accounts and available on the Department's website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics-2011-12
We plan to publish similar summary information for financial year 2012-13 on the MOJ website in October alongside the Management Information Addendum.
Copies of all previous Annual Reports and Accounts are also placed in the House Library.
Attorney-General
Legal Costs
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Attorney-General what the highest day rate paid for external legal advice by the Law Officers' Departments was since 7 May 2010. [155613]
The Solicitor-General: The majority of external legal spend incurred by TSol and AGO is on Counsel, who charge by the hour rather than the day, and it therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the highest daily rate paid without incurring a disproportionate cost. The highest recorded hourly rate paid by the AGO since 7 May 2010 was £220. For Tsol, it was £120.
The Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office do not routinely record day rates for external legal services. To ascertain the highest daily rates paid for external legal advice would require a review of each individual transaction which would incur a disproportionate cost.
The highest hourly rate incurred by the Serious Fraud Office is in relation to a current case. At the conclusion of the case the SFO will put into the public domain the total amount spent on fees paid to its external providers including legal advisers. The hourly rates paid for its
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external legal advice are commercially sensitive, however, and for that reason it would be inappropriate to disclose them.
HMCPSI has not recorded any expenditure on external legal advice since 7 May 2010.
Treasury Counsel
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General what hourly rates are paid to First Treasury Counsel. [162424]
The Solicitor-General: Two First Treasury Counsel are retained to advise and represent Government in particularly complex and sensitive matters. Their hourly rate is £220 per hour excluding VAT.
Treasury Solicitor's Department
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General what hourly rates the Treasury Solicitor's Department charges client Government departments. [162423]
The Solicitor-General: The hourly rates (excluding VAT) the Treasury Solicitor's Department charges client Government Departments are as follows:
| Grade | Hourly rate £ |
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General what hourly rate the Treasury Solicitor's Department pays to non-panel leading counsel instructed on an ad hoc basis. [162425]
The Solicitor-General: A nomination from the Attorney-General is always required before a QC (other than First Treasury Counsel) is instructed; a rate is always agreed in advance of a nomination being approved. QC rates are negotiated with the QC's clerk and usually range from between £180 and £250 per hour. In rare cases and only in very exceptional circumstances, a higher hourly rate may be agreed because of the nature of the case.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General which 10 barristers instructed by the Treasury Solicitor's Department received the largest amount in fees in the last year for which figures are available; and how much was received in each case. [162437]
The Solicitor-General: The 10 barristers (being either First Treasury Counsel, QCs or members of the Attorney-General's panel of civil counsel) receiving the largest amount in fee payments from the Treasury Solicitor's Department in 2012-13 were as follows:
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| £ | |
It should be noted that these figures do not represent the personal earnings of the individuals listed in any one year and that there are also the following qualifications:
The amount paid to barristers in one financial year is not necessarily reflective of the work carried out during that year. Payment may sometimes take place some time after the work has been done and so fees paid in one financial year may relate to an aggregate of work done over more than one year.
All the figures listed exclude VAT (individuals must pay the VAT to HM Revenue and Customs) but are inclusive of disbursements incurred such as travelling costs.
Barristers' fees cover their overheads e.g. chambers rent, staff salaries, equipment and stationery costs, professional indemnity insurance, pension contributions etc.
The hourly rates on which these figures are based will in many cases be at a substantial discount to the hourly rates charged to their commercial clients.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General how much was paid to barristers by the Treasury Solicitor's Department in the last year in which figures are available. [162444]
The Solicitor-General: This answer is provided on behalf of the Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol), Attorney-General's Office (AGO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI).
The amount paid to barristers in 2012-13 was as follows:
| £ | |
Payments by AGO and TSol relate to their own cases and do not include payments to barristers paid for by other Departments. The HMCPSI payment is for a conference with Counsel relating to an inspection.
The amount paid to barristers in one financial year is not necessarily reflective of the work carried out during that year. Payment may sometimes take place some time after the work has been done and so fees paid in one financial year may relate to an aggregate of work done over more than one year.
All the figures listed exclude VAT (individuals must pay the VAT to HM Revenue and Customs) but are inclusive of disbursements incurred such as travelling costs.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Horticulture
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing the Australian system of cost-sharing between Government and the horticultural industry for tree health and plant biosecurity measures in the UK. [161268]
Mr Heath: The approach to responsibility and cost sharing in Australia was considered by the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Task force in developing its advice on improving biosecurity. This was also one of the issues discussed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), on a recent visit to Australia.
Urgent work is already under way on the task force's recommendations for a prioritised Plant Health Risk Register and to strengthen contingency planning. An announcement on further action will be made in the coming weeks. While there were no specific recommendations made in relation to responsibility and cost sharing, developing the future approach to plant health will include consideration as to whether the sort of arrangements operating in Australia could be effective here in helping strengthen plant biosecurity.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bahrain
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on each training programme it ran in Bahrain in each year since 2008. [162532]
Alistair Burt: Through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Bilateral Programme Funds, we spent approximately £15,000 in both financial year (FY) 2008-09 and FY 2009-10. In FY 2010-11, while there was a small allocation of FCO Bilateral Programme Funds for Bahrain, none of this allocation was used for training courses. In FY 2011-12 we spent approximately £40,000 on training programmes in Bahrain, and Bahrain was included in further regional projects. For this financial year and the following two we have allocated approximately £250,000 for training programmes in Bahrain, and also included Bahrain in regional projects. Included within this total is a youth engagement project for £17,000, capacity building for a community reconciliation project up to £195,000, and a project to introduce the Ministry of Interior to UK best practice in community policing. We have spent £13,000 this financial year so far, and we expect to be funding more training programmes as we look to work with the Bahraini authorities in the fields of human rights, the judiciary, and on grass-roots reconciliation initiatives.
This money has, for example, funded human rights training for senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Human Rights, and Ministry of Social Development. It has also enabled us to share best
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practice for developing an independent monitoring and public reporting system for places of detention to prevent mistreatment and torture. The FCO also funds regional training programmes which will have included and benefited Bahrainis over the last five years.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which human rights groups the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State met during his March 2013 visit to Bahrain. [162533]
Alistair Burt: During my visit to Bahrain in March 2013 I met with representatives of the National Human Rights Institute, the Bahrain Transparency Society, and the Bahrain Human Rights Society.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK Trade and Investment officials were based in Bahrain in each year since 2008. [162534]
Alistair Burt: Our embassy in Manama has a UK Trade & Investment resource of four locally engaged staff.
Since 2008, there has been no change to this allocation.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised human rights issues directly with his Bahrain counterpart. [162535]
Alistair Burt: We frequently and consistently raise our concerns on a range of human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain. I raised specific cases with the Deputy Prime Minister HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak on 21 May. Additionally the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised UK concerns with Crown Prince HH Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa when they met on 29 May. Moreover I recently raised human rights when I visited Bahrain on 30 June.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of UK exports to Bahrain was in each of the last five years. [162710]
Alistair Burt: The value of UK exports (goods and services) to Bahrain was:
| £ million | |
Exports of goods increased in 2012 by 21.4% to £268 million. The figures for exports of services are not yet available.
Human Rights
Naomi Long:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will revise the Human Rights and Democracy programme to enable support
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of longer-term projects than the one-year cycle currently permits. [162574]
Mr Lidington: Since April the Human Rights and Democracy programme has been able to support projects of up to two years in duration. The allocation of funding ensures that that the programme retains flexibility to fund both longer term strategic projects as well as more tactical or shorter duration projects.
International Covenant On Civil and Political Rights
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the UK becoming a state party to the first optional protocol of the international covenant on civil and political rights. [162540]
Mr Lidington: The UK is committed to a strong and effective international human rights system and we are state party to a number of international human rights treaties including the international covenant on civil and political rights.
The UK Government however remain to be convinced of the added practical value to people in the UK of rights of individual petitions to the UN, considering that the UK has strong and effective laws under which individuals may seek remedies in the courts or in tribunals if they feel that their rights have been breached.
To date the UK's experience under the two optional protocols it has ratified (in 2004 to the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and in 2009 to the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities) has not provided sufficient empirical evidence to establish the practical benefits of becoming a state party to a further optional protocol.
Iraq
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he holds on British Government projects in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [162780]
Alistair Burt: The UK has funded a number of projects in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. These include training programmes for the police and women's shelter staff, and work with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to improve the protection of women's rights in legislation. We have also funded media training sessions for MPs in Erbil, and contribute to the European Union Integrated Rule of Law Mission—which aims to strengthen the rule of law and improve the justice system in Iraq. We will continue to work closely with the KRG through our Consulate General in Erbil.
Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on external lawyers' fees in the last year for which figures are available. [162516]
Mr Lidington:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and our network of diplomatic posts around the world require external legal advice on a wide range of
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issues, including both litigation (before national and international courts and tribunals) and non-contentious matters (including commercial and property matters).
The FCO has a budget for external legal consultancy, which is primarily used for payments of external legal fees for litigation before UK courts. In financial year 2012-13 expenditure from this budget totalled £2,248,416.64. Expenditure on legal fees for non-contentious matters and expenditure by diplomatic posts comes from devolved budgets. Records of these types of expenditure are not held centrally and a response covering such spending could be given only at disproportionate cost.
Military Aid
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he has commissioned from outside his Department on the transfer of lethal military support to non-state actors. [163057]
Mr Hague: As I said in my statement to Parliament on 20 May, no decision has been made on whether to supply lethal military support to the Syrian opposition. This route would only be pursued under certain conditions, namely in conjunction with other nations, in carefully controlled circumstances, in accordance with our obligations under national and international law. The British Government ensures that it acts in accordance with domestic and international law obligations. It is a long standing convention followed by successive Governments not to comment on legal advice to Ministers.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he has commissioned from within his Department on the transfer of lethal military support to non-state actors. [163059]
Mr Hague: As I said in my statement to Parliament on 20 May, no decision has been made on whether to supply lethal military support to the Syrian opposition. This route would only be pursued under certain conditions, namely in conjunction with other nations, in carefully controlled circumstances, in accordance with our obligations under national and international law. The British Government ensures that it acts in accordance with domestic and international law obligations. It is a long standing convention followed by successive Governments not to comment on legal advice to Ministers.
MITIE Group
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spends on contracts with MITIE; and how much was spent on contracts with MITIE in each year since 2008. [162465]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has held no contracts with MITIE Group since 2008. The last contract held by FCO with any part of the MITIE group lapsed in November 2008.
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Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department. [162687]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office uses Vodafone, primarily for its UK users, as supplier of mobile telephone and mobile data service. This contract was awarded after a competition under the Government Procurement Service Mobile Solutions Framework.
UK missions overseas procure mobile phones and services locally. These local contracts are awarded to suppliers that meet the required service levels and standards, and to suppliers that offer the best value for money. Unfortunately, it is not possible to obtain a list of all mobile phone suppliers used by UK missions overseas without incurring disproportionate costs.
Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months. [162651]
Mr Lidington: In the last 12 months total global spend recorded for Publications and Library and Information Services was £1.7 million, a 15% reduction from £2 million in the same period 2011-12. These amounts cover spend across over 260 UK embassies and diplomatic posts overseas, as well as all Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Departments in London. The FCO continues to seek savings including by switching from paper to electronic subscriptions where cost effective and by partnering with other Government Departments to obtain best value when purchasing these goods and services.
Religious Freedom
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a sub-group of the Human Rights Advisory Group to focus on freedom of religion and belief. [162541]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) did, in the past, have a Religious Freedom Panel but it was replaced by the Secretary of State’s Advisory Group on Human Rights in 2010. In choosing the members of the group, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), ensured that specialists on religious freedom were included as well as an appropriate balance of expertise, diversity and experience.
FCO Ministers and officials also regularly meet with experts in freedom of religion or belief and faith leaders to understand their current concerns and to examine how we can better work together to promote the universal commitment to religious freedom. We do not believe a sub-group on freedom of religion or belief would add significant value.
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Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to promote the Rabat Plan of Action within the United Nations. [162542]
Mr Lidington: The Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence has been welcomed by the UN including at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in March. We fully support its findings along with the Human Rights Council decision to look further at its conclusions and recommendations.
However our primary focus at the UN at present is to promote the practical implementation of UN HRC Resolution 16/18 and its successor resolutions, which represent an inter-governmental consensus, to ensure that tangible steps are taken to combat intolerance on the grounds of religion or belief. We also fully support HRC Resolution 16/13 and its successor resolutions on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief, and lobby to strengthen support for them.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will convene an expert group to consider the issues involved in initiating a process to consider an international convention on freedom of religion or belief. [162543]
Mr Lidington: The Government acknowledge the arguments in favour of an international convention on freedom of religion or belief, but we do not think such a convention is negotiable in the current international climate.
We believe that our resources are better targeted on practical initiatives aimed at making a difference for people who are suffering discrimination and violence because of their religion or belief. And at the international level our focus is maintaining the fragile consensus on freedom of religion or belief expressed in UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/13 and its successor resolutions, led by the EU, and our efforts to promote practical implementation of UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 on combating intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the UN to ensure that funding is provided to support a paid, full-time Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and resource their office. [162575]
Mr Lidington: We fully support the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. However UN human rights Special Rapporteurs are not full-time appointments, nor do they receive a wage. This allows the UN to draw upon a broader range of human rights expertise. Making representations in favour of a full-time paid Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief would entail a wholesale re-negotiation of the role and function of Special Rapporteurs which the Government do not think would be a profitable exercise.
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Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [162583]
Alistair Burt: The average number of days staff in each pay grade were absent from work in each of the last 12 months (financial year) is as follows:
| Grade | April 2012 | May 2012 | June 2012 | July 2012 | August 2012 | September 2012 |
| Grade | October 2012 | November 2012 | December 2012 | January 2013 | February 2013 | March 2013 |
The above figures represent only FCO UK-based staff (around 4,800) who work either in the UK or in one of our missions abroad. They do not include locally—engaged or FCO Services staff.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has robust measures in place to monitor sick absence. Our absence rate has reduced since 2008. All long-term absences are actively managed by our Health and Welfare Team, working alongside staff, their line managers, Occupational Health and Disability Support Teams. The FCO also offers staff access to an Employee Assistance programme (EAP) under a DEFRA-sponsored cross Government framework.
We report sick absence to the FCO Board and to the Cabinet Office and continue to investigate any fluctuation in absence rates. The FCO continues to have a lower annual working days lost (AWDL) figure compared to the civil service average.
The total number of working days lost through short and long-term sick absence, certified and uncertified for the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12, are published in the FCO annual departmental report (HC59). Figures for 2012-13 will be published in the very near future.
The FCO HR system records the total number of sick days a member of staff has taken for a particular period of absence against the month they have returned to work. This will occasionally produce a higher than average number of days of sickness in a particular month if a member of staff returns from a period of sickness that spans two or more months. To separate these absences out would incur disproportionate costs.
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Staff
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months. [162615]
Alistair Burt: The information is as follows:
(a) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) uses recruitment agencies to attract a wide range of applicants to ensure its work force is as diverse and highly skilled as possible. For specialist recruitment campaigns, agencies are better placed to target applicants with the most relevant skills within that sector. A competitive tendering process is run to select an agency for external recruitment campaigns. This has proven to be more cost-effective than in-house recruitment. FCO officials are currently collating the information spent by the Department on recruitment agency fees. I will write to my hon. Friend when the data are available and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
(b) The FCO has not spent any money on outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff.
(c) The amount spent on staff training in the last Financial year was:
| £ | |
Syria
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on the control of arms exports by EU Member States on the potential transfer of lethal military support to the Syrian National Coalition. [163055]
Mr Hague: The 27 May Foreign Affairs Council agreed to end the EU arms embargo on Syria and return decisions on arms provisions to member states. They also agreed a common framework for those who, in the future, may decide to supply Syria with military equipment, including clear safeguards to ensure that any such equipment would be supplied only for the protection of civilians, and in accordance with international law. The UK's position remains as set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the House on 3 June 2013, Official Report,, column 1233-4, no decision has been made to send arms to the Syrian opposition.
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Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had with representatives of the Syrian National Coalition where the issue of lethal military support has been discussed. [163056]
Mr Hague: I last met the Syrian National Coalition leadership on 22 May in Amman during a ministerial meeting of the Core Group of the Friends of the Syrian People. The National Coalition has called for the international community to provide military support to the Free Syrian Army since its formation in November 2012.
The UK position remains as set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement to the House on 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 1233-4, in that the UK has not made any decision to send arms to the Syrian National Coalition.
Turkey
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Turkish Government counterpart on the continued imprisonment without conviction of 46 Kurdish lawyers. [162426]
Mr Lidington: The British Government have not made representations to the Turkish Government on this case. It is not usual Government practice to intervene in the judicial processes of another sovereign country, but we expect Turkey to uphold legal and judicial standards that are in line with international standards. Our embassy in Ankara will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Freedom of expression and access to fair trials are fundamental rights which we expect to be upheld in democratic societies. The UK plays an integral part in delivering the EU human rights strategy in Turkey and we agreed and supported the EU's Annual Progress Report on Turkey which covers a wide range of issues, including human rights and the judiciary. We and our EU partners will continue to raise these issues with Turkey. I raised human rights with Egemen Bagis, (Turkish Minister of European Affairs) during a meeting in February.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Turkey's EU accession process can progress without a peaceful settlement of the Kurdish conflict in that country. [162432]
Mr Lidington: In 2003, when Turkey was accepted as an EU candidate, the EU Commission highlighted that Turkey needed to do more on the Kurdish issue to make progress on its EU aspirations. The UK Government agreed with this position.
We welcome the progress being made towards a peaceful settlement, including the positive moves made by the Turkish Government and Prime Minister Erdogan in starting a dialogue process with the PKK and delivering key human rights reforms. The implementation of recently adopted judicial reform packages and constitutional reform, driven in part by Turkey's EU accession process, provides the best opportunity to address the Kurdish problem and the broader human rights situation in
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Turkey. The UK will continue to support progress in these areas which remain important for Turkey's EU accession process.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the accession of Turkey to the EU. [162777]
Mr Lidington: Her Majesty's Government continue to be a strong supporter of Turkey's EU accession. The decision of the General Affairs Council on 25 June to open Chapter 22 (Regional Policy) “in principle” was constructive and welcome. The EU accession process remains a key driver for reform in Turkey. The Government believe that it is in the interests of the whole of Europe to see political, judicial and economic progress on accession continue.
Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2012-13; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2013-14. [162669]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not record a staff vacancy rate. Staff turnover rate, which monitors the pace at which staff leave the Department as a proportion of the average total number of staff in the Department, is used for workforce planning purposes, and is expressed as an annual percentage rate. The staff turnover rate for FY 2012-13 was 4.2%, excluding voluntary redundancies. We forecast a slightly higher turnover rate in FY 2013-14, as we strengthen measures to meet our planned reduction in UK-based staff headcount of 10% over the SR2010-15 period.
Yemen
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department have had with the Yemeni Minister for Expatriate Affairs; and if he will make a statement. [162771]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has had no recent discussions with Mujahed Al-Qohali, Yemeni Minister for Expatriate Affairs.
I met with Minister Al-Qohali on 24 June 2013. Minister Al-Qohali spoke about the current challenges facing Yemen and the bilateral relationship.
No other Ministers of this Department have had any recent discussions with the Yemeni Minister for Expatriate Affairs.
Treasury
EU Grants and Loans
Martin Horwood:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of loans that have been signed off for projects in the UK by the European Investment Bank (a) in total since 2009, (b) in each year since 2009,
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(c)
in total in each NUTS 1 region since 2009 and
(d)
in total in each NUTS 1 region in each year since 2009. [162436]
Greg Clark: This report is provided in the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) statistical report, available on the EIB’s website:
http://www.eib.org/index.htm
Fuels: Tax Evasion
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to visit HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials in Northern Ireland to discuss improvements in HMRC's efforts to tackle fuel laundering and related crimes; and if he will make a statement. [162506]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury and its Ministers consider potential visits to destinations across the United Kingdom on an ongoing basis.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many advisers who had previously worked at (a) British Gas, (b) EDF, (c) npower, (d) Scottish Power, (e) SSE and (f) E.ON have been engaged by his Department in each year since 2010. [160741]
Sajid Javid: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
MITIE Group
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spends on contracts with MITIE; and how much was spent on contracts with MITIE in each year since 2008. [162473]
Sajid Javid: Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award:
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
In addition, Departments publish details of spend in excess of £25,000.
HM Treasury do not currently hold any contracts with MITIE.
HM Treasury spend with MITIE since 2008, as shown in the following table:
| £(1) | |
| (1) Including VAT | |
Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department. [162695]
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Sajid Javid: HM Treasury has a single contract in place with Vodafone for the provision of mobile services.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Jack Dromey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Feltham and Heston of 12 June 2013, Official Report, columns 335-6, what mechanism will be put in place to stop people using the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme to purchase a second home; [162004]
(2) whether the mechanism to prevent people using the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme to purchase a second home will be in place on the day the scheme launches. [162005]
Sajid Javid: The intention of the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme is clear: to help first-time buyers and families moving to meet their needs. For that reason, as with the Help to Buy: equity loan, the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee will only be available for a purchaser's sole property. Lenders will need to collect a borrower declaration as part of the mortgage application. The scheme is expected to go live in January 2014.
Mr Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy that there should be a role for the private mortgage insurance industry in the Government's Help to Buy scheme; [162978]
(2) whether he has undertaken a comparative assessment of the costs of the guarantees offered under the Help to Buy scheme and schemes operating in other countries which are guaranteed by private insurance; [162979]
(3) whether he has estimated potential savings to the public purse through involving the private mortgage insurance industry in the Help to Buy scheme; [162981]
(4) what account he has taken of the views of the International Monetary Fund, the G20 and the Joint Forum of the Basel Committee on the benefits of using private mortgage insurance in relation to high loan-to-value lending; [162982]
(5) whether he has undertaken an assessment of potential conflict between state aid rules and the Help to Buy scheme due to unfair competition with the private mortgage insurance industry. [162983]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury has received a number of proposals for Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee from interested parties, including private mortgage insurers, and the Department reviews each one carefully. The Government will continue to work with industry on the guarantee as set out in the scheme design document published alongside the Budget.
When using the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme, lenders will need to pay the Government a commercial fee for each mortgage guaranteed under the scheme. This fee will be set so that the scheme is self-financing, in line with European Commission guidance, and will therefore be set on a commercial basis.
Further details on the scheme will be announced later this year.
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Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months. [162659]
Sajid Javid: During financial year 2012-13 the Department spent £50,557 on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications.
Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has met HM Revenue and Customs officials in Northern Ireland since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [162507]
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. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Governments practice to release details of all such meetings.
Serco
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department currently spends on contracts with Serco; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [162946]
Sajid Javid: Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award:
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
In addition, Departments publish details of spend in excess of £25,000.
HM Treasury do not currently hold any contracts with Serco Group plc.
HM Treasury spend with Serco Group plc since 2008:
| Financial year | £(1) |
| (1) Excluding VAT. | |
Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [162591]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury do not keep information on a monthly basis and to supply this data it would be at a disproportionate cost. We do however collate data on an annual rolling average and have attached these table as follows:
3 July 2013 : Column 670W
| HM Treasury | April 2012 to March 2013 | January 2012 to December 2012 | October 2011 to September 2012 | July 2011 to June 2012 |
| Grade | AWDL | AWDL | AWDL | AWDL |
Social Security Benefits
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people would be excluded from paying income tax if the annual personal allowance threshold were to be increased to £12,000 in 2014. [162194]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs estimates that around 2.5 million people would be taken out of income tax if the personal allowance were to be increased to £12,000 in 2014-15.
This estimate is based on the 2010-11 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2014-15 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.
The estimated cost to the Exchequer of making such a change is over £10 billion in 2014-15. This assumes that the basic rate limit is reduced by £2,000 to ensure the higher-rate threshold rises by no more than 1% each year, in line with the Government's announcement at autumn statement 2012.
Staff
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months. [162623]
Sajid Javid: The Department’s accounting system does not separately identify the recruitment agency fee element of an invoice, and this information could not be extracted within the disproportionate cost threshold.
Spending on outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and staff training in each of the last 12 months can be found in the following table:
| £ | ||
| Last 12 months to 31 May 2013 | Outplacement agency fees | Staff training |
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Total spend on learning and development in the Department has reduced over the last four financial years as follows:
| £ | |
Tax Burden: Retail Trade
Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the tax burden on high street retailers in comparison to retailers which operate wholly or partially on the internet. [162842]
Mr Gauke: The breakdown of tax receipts requested is not available. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs produces a breakdown by broad industrial sector for corporation tax, pay-as-you-earn income tax and class 1 national insurance contributions (NICs) and value added tax (VAT). The latest update is available here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics
Data are not available which distinguishes between high street retailers and those which operate partially or wholly on the internet.
UK Membership of EU
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the economic benefit of UK membership of the EU. [163093]
Greg Clark: The Government have made no such estimate.
Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2012-13; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2013-14. [162677]
Sajid Javid: The vacancy rate for HM Treasury at 31 March 2013 was 6.1% HM Treasury does not have an assumed rate for 2013-14.
VAT: Community Interest Companies
Jesse Norman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of VAT liability on community interest companies delivering social care services on behalf of public authorities; [162494]
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(2) how many community interest companies have registered for VAT in each of the last five years for which data is available. [162495]
Mr Gauke: No assessment has been made of the effect of VAT liability on community interest companies delivering social care services on behalf of public authorities.
There is no data available to identify Community Interest Company VAT registrations.
Work and Pensions
Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [162643]
Mr Hoban: The 12/13 direct processing costs (per invoice) were as follows:
1. Process invoice received electronically: £ 1.12
2. Process invoice received manually: £ 3.05.
100% of invoices received were paid electronically via direct payment.
For clarity, cheque production ceased on 31 March 2012.
Employment and Support Allowance
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who are refused employment and support allowance make a second claim within (a) six months and (b) one year. [162881]
Mr Hoban: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Employment Schemes: Young People
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the reasons are for the time taken to publish Youth Contract performance data for 18 to 24 year olds; and when he expects the first such data to be published. [163075]
Mr Hoban: Data on work experience and sector-based work academies are published as part of the regular Official Statistics available on:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/series/pre-work-programme-and-get-britain-working#publications#
The statistics that first covered the introduction of Youth Contract were published in August 2012.
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On 24 June the Department announced that the first set of experimental statistics on wage incentive payments will be published on 22 July. The Department has been working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we publish statistics that meet high-quality standards at the earliest opportunity.
Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on external lawyers' fees in the last year for which figures are available. [162521]
Mr Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions spent £3,944,070.35 on external lawyers’ fees in the 2012/13 financial year.
MITIE Group
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spends on contracts with MITIE; and how much was spent on contracts with MITIE in each year since 2008. [162475]
Mr Hoban: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20-year PFI contract with Telereal Trillium (TT) for the provision of fully serviced accommodation which they (TT) deliver through Service Partners. MITIE is one of TT's Service Providers.
As the Department does not directly contract with MITIE there is no spend information.
Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department. [162697]
Mr Hoban: DWP acquires mobile telephony and mobile data services from BT as part of a wider range of telephony and network services provided under the terms of the ICONS (Integrated Communications and Network Services) contract.
From 1 October 2010 BT subcontracted to Vodafone for the provision of mobile telephony services and they currently provide the majority of mobile telephones and mobile data services to the DWP (although Orange are also sub-contracted to provide a very small element of both where there are issues with Vodaphone network reception).
This sub-contracting arrangement is used to enable DWP to access central Government tariffs that were the subject of an agreement between Cabinet Office and Vodafone.
Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months. [162661]
Mr Hoban: In the 12 months to 31 May, the Department spent £15,404.74 on newspapers and £47,134.52 on periodicals, including trade publications.
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Public Expenditure
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 26 June 2013, Official Report, column 314, on Spending Review, in which of his Department's under-performing programmes he plans to make expenditure reductions as a consequence of the Spending Review. [163095]
Mr Hoban: The Department continually assesses the performance of programmes to ensure that the best possible value for money is received and they meet the standards required. Evaluations will be undertaken to inform the Department’s decisions on expenditure reductions.
Serco
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department currently spends on contracts with Serco; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [162948]
Mr Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions annual spend on contracts with Serco in each year since 2008/09 is shown in the following table, the 2013-14 value covers only April and May, the latest available figures.
| Supplier: Serco Group Plc | |
| Spend (£) | |
Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [162593]
Mr Hoban: In accordance with cross-Government arrangements, the Department reports sickness absence based on annual, not monthly, data. These are expressed as average working days lost (AWDL) per employee per year. Monthly data are not consistent because of seasonal variations.
The Department is committed to reducing sickness absence and has made significant improvements in recent years. We have cut absence rates for the total work force from a peak of 11.1 average days lost in March 2007 to 7.4 average working days lost overall.
The following table shows the latest average working days lost (AWDL) in each pay grade for March 2013:
| Grade | Average working days lost (AWDL) | Percentage working days lost |
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Social Security Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what restrictions apply to the use of translators in social security fraud investigations; and if he will make a statement. [163076]
Mr Hoban: The restrictions that apply to the use of translators/interpreters in social security fraud investigations are:
The translator/interpreter must be independent of both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the interviewee (and the police when the interview follows an arrest). Friends, relatives or colleagues of the interviewee cannot be used.
A translator/interpreter must be qualified to this minimum standard:
(a) A diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) in the languages where it is offered for examination, or
(b) a degree level language qualification with an interpreting component, or
(c) a pass of the Metropolitan Police Test (post 1997), or
(d) equivalent Level 4/5 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Interpreting Standards or
(e) membership of a professional body e.g. IOL or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI).
The translator/interpreter's role is confined to translating the fraud- interviewer's questions and the interviewee's answers. The translator/interpreter should not provide legal advice.
Every translator/interpreter working in the criminal justice system should be registered with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI—the National Register) or the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) Directory of British Sign Language/English Interpreters.
Translators/interpreters must be able to demonstrate language skills and an understanding of, and ability to adhere to, the role of translator/interpreter.
Social Security Benefits: Cancer
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the total level of financial support a cancer sufferer would receive over a 12 month period if they were (a) employed and (b) unemployed and claiming out of work benefits at the time when treatment rendered them unable to work. [162501]
Mr Hoban:
The Government are committed to giving cancer suffers the support they need. There are a range of benefits available to cancer patients, and support will vary dependent on individual financial circumstances. For those who continue to be employed working tax
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credit, housing benefit and disability living allowance or personal independence payments may be available. Where cancer suffers are unable to work, employment and support allowance, housing benefit and disability living allowance or personal independence payments may be available. Disability benefits are not paid because of the condition itself, but the effects it has on capability to work, and care and mobility needs.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on whether those receiving treatment for cancer and who are unable to work should be placed directly into the employment and support allowance support group after they stop receiving statutory sick pay. [162502]
Mr Hoban: As of 28 January 2013 we expanded the categories of cancer treatments under which a claimant may be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity under the Work Capability Assessment to now include individuals who are: awaiting, receiving or recovering from treatment by way of chemotherapy irrespective of route; or awaiting, receiving or recovering from radiotherapy.
The changes will make it easier for people with cancer to get the appropriate support they require through the welfare benefit system without the need for a face to face assessment and see hundreds more people placed in the employment and support allowance support group.
The process is supported by a ‘light touch’ evidence gathering process, designed to ease the process for cancer patients.
Social Security Benefits: Northern Ireland
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much it will cost to introduce mandatory language lessons for benefits claimants in Northern Ireland. [162558]
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account he took of the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland when developing his planned changes to the welfare system. [162597]
Mr Hoban: Northern Ireland is responsible for its own social security system and the Northern Ireland Assembly is currently considering a separate Northern Ireland Welfare Reform Bill. These questions should, therefore, be addressed to the Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Unemployment Benefits
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who have come off the main unemployment benefits since May 2010. [162951]
Mr Hoban: The number of people claiming the main out-of-work benefits has fallen by over 300,000 since May 2010. This covers lone parents on income support, those on incapacity benefits and unemployed people claiming jobseeker's allowance.
3 July 2013 : Column 677W
Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2012-13; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2013-14. [162679]
Mr Hoban: The Department has a reducing headcount profile and a freeze on recruitment that has been in place in the Department since May 2010. All external recruitment is authorised only in exceptional circumstances and is subject to ministerial approval. All exceptions made to the freeze are also reported to Ministers on a monthly basis.
The Department does not record a staff vacancy rate. Staff turnover rate is used as a key measure in workforce planning.
The turnover rate is used to monitor the pace at which staff leave as a proportion of the total number of staff in the Department. At a time of reducing headcount not all leavers will be replaced and hence turnover is a lesser approximation to vacancy rate than at times of relative workforce stability. Turnover is expressed as an annual percentage rate.
In May 2013 the annual departmental turnover rate for permanent staff was 4.5%. This rate excludes a small number of staff on fixed term contracts. Our current planning assumption for 2013/14 is for the rate to remain at around 4.5%.