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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 4 July 2013
International Development
Palestinians
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the Palestinian Authority's payment of salaries to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. [163329]
Lynne Featherstone: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 31 January. 2013 Official Report, column 943-44W and 18 March 2013, Official Report, column 428-429W.
Serco
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department currently spends on contracts with Serco; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [162940]
Mr Duncan: The following table provides details of departmental expenditure with Serco since 2008.
| Amount (£) | |
Treasury
Average Earnings
Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent comparative estimate he has made of the rate of increase of average earnings and the consumer price index. [163211]
Sajid Javid: In the three months to April 2013 total average weekly earnings increased by 1.3% on the year, and CPI inflation increased by 2.4% over the year to April. However, the best way to deal with today's cost-of-living challenges is to have paid employment. In 2012 the number of people employed in the UK increased faster than most of the UK's major competitors, including the US, France, Germany, Japan and the euro area as a whole. As a result, real household disposable income rose by 1.4% in 2012.
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British Overseas Territories
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Overseas Territories comply with the standards of beneficial ownership agreed at the June 2013 G8 Summit; and if he will make a statement. [163209]
Mr Gauke: International standards on the disclosure of company ownership already exist and are set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The Overseas Territories are held to account through regular assessments against these standards.
On 15 June 2013, the Overseas Territories committed to produce action plans on beneficial ownership, setting out the concrete steps they will take to ensure greater clarity about who really owns, controls, and benefits from companies and legal arrangements in their jurisdictions.
The Government will continue to work in partnership with the Overseas Territories to help them take the necessary steps to produce and implement their action plans. This will help ensure they are prepared for the next round of FATF assessments, which begin in 2014.
Business: Government Assistance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to support small businesses. [162869]
Mr Gauke: At Budget, the Government announced a new £2,000 Employment Allowance for small business and charities that from April 2014 will reduce their employer national insurance bills. Up to 1.25 million businesses will benefit with around one third of all employers taken out of paying employer NICs altogether.
In January the annual investment allowance was increased ten-fold from £25,000 to £250,000 for two years. This provides a valuable cash flow benefit that will directly help around 90,000 businesses, and is likely to be of most help to small and medium-sized businesses.
Further, the Bank of England's Funding for Lending Scheme is encouraging more lending to the UK economy, including providing strong incentives to banks to boost lending to small businesses. The Government are also creating a Business Bank to support the development of diverse finance markets and bring together the management of existing schemes into a single, commercially-minded institution.
Business: Loans
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 12-month lending growth to all small and medium-sized enterprises, as defined by the series which appears in Chart B from the April 2012 edition of the Bank of England's Trends in Lending publication was in each month from January 2009. [162336]
Greg Clark:
The 12-month growth in lending to SMEs was published in the Bank of England's April 2012 Trends in Lending publication and is available on its website, for each month from September 2009 to
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February 2012. These data are no longer published. However, the Bank's Money and Credit publication provides more recent data on lending to SMEs.
Published data show that the rate of contraction of net lending to SMEs has slowed down, while gross lending to SMEs increased since August 2012 when the Funding for Lending Scheme was announced. The extensions made to the Funding for Lending scheme in April 2013 focus on strengthening incentives to lend to SMEs.
Connaught Asset Management
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations HM Revenue and Customs plans to make into the Connaught Asset Management Limited over alleged fraudulent activity; and what investigations his Department has already made on this matter. [162992]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is legally prohibited from discussing the tax affairs of identifiable businesses.
Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenues Customs Act 2005 imposes a duty of confidentiality upon officers of HMRC which means they are unable to disclose information which relates to functions of HMRC. This includes any specific action taken in response to information provided.
Devolution
Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library any concordats which his Department or the public bodies for which he is responsible have with the devolved Administrations. [163157]
Danny Alexander: The Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements, agreed in September 2012, set out principles which underlie the relationship between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These documents are available in the Library.
The Treasury in addition has agreed bilateral concordats for handling of procedural, practical or policy matters with counterparts in the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Copies of the documents are already in the Library.
We will check whether public bodies have concordats with the devolved Administrations and these, or links to them, will be placed in the House Library in due course.
Interest Rate Swap Transactions
Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs lost within businesses adversely affected by the sale of interest rate swap products; and if he will make a statement; [163367]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of businesses adversely affected by the sale of interest rate swap products; and if he will make a statement. [163368]
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Greg Clark: The Financial Conduct Authority's review into the mis-selling of interest rate hedging products is now underway and will cover around 40,000 cases.
The banks have agreed to prioritise the cases of those businesses facing financial difficulty and to stop the payments on these products for such businesses.
The chief executive officer's of each of the banks participating in the review have personally committed that, except in exceptional circumstances such as, for example, where this is necessary to preserve value in the customer's business, they will not foreclose on or adversely vary existing lending facilities, without obtaining the customer's prior consent.
Public Expenditure
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a statement of funding policy for the devolved administrations including comparability factors following his spending review statement of 26 June 2013. [163292]
Danny Alexander: As set out in the spending round document, full details of the comparability factors used in determining allocations can be found in the Statement of Funding Policy published in 2010.
Public Sector: Redundancy Pay
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to the public purse is of (a) voluntary redundancies in the public sector, (b) compulsory redundancies in that sector and (c) redundancies in that sector brought about by employment contract changes since May 2010. [163305]
Danny Alexander: The Treasury does not hold this information.
Tiuta
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations HM Revenue and Customs plans to make into Tiuta plc and its subsidiaries over alleged fraudulent activity; and what investigations his Department has already made on this matter. [162991]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is legally prohibited from discussing the tax affairs of identifiable businesses.
Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenues Customs Act 2005 imposes a duty of confidentiality upon officers of HMRC which means they are unable to disclose information which relates to functions of HMRC. This includes any specific action taken in response to information provided.
VAT: Public Sector
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent assessment he has made of the potential use of VAT avoidance schemes in the public sector; and if he will make a statement; [163225]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the number of NHS trusts in England receiving professional advice on reducing their VAT liability; what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [163226]
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Mr Gauke: The Government keep the tax system under review. HMRC will robustly challenge tax avoidance schemes and artificial arrangements that are designed to reduce the tax liability.
There is no information available in relation to the number of NHS trusts in England receiving professional advice on reducing their VAT liability.
HM Treasury Ministers are regularly in contact with Ministers from other Departments in relation to tax issues.
Transport
A27
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which stretches of the A27 running through West Sussex are categorised as (a) severe congestion, (b) regular congestion, (c) moderate congestion and (d) occasional congestion according to his Department's forecasts up to 2040. [163325]
Stephen Hammond: The Government's recently published document 'Investing in Britain's future':
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investing-in-britains-future
included a map of England's Strategic Road Network and a forecast of the potential congestion by 2040. This map was produced using outputs of the Department for Transport's National Transport Model (NTM).
The NTM is designed to forecast long-term trends in traffic, congestion and emissions at a high level across the country. Despite the NTM performing well at this high level, less confidence can be given to forecasts on specific stretches of road. Robust traffic and congestion forecasts at a detailed level would require specific local area modelling. In addition there is uncertainty around future levels of traffic and congestion due to future growth in population and the economy. However, a magnified version of the map that shows the NTM's projected congestion in the morning peak along the A27 in West Sussex in 2040 has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Report by HM Treasury, Investing in Britain's Future, published June 2013, Cm 8669, what the level and estimated completion date of improvements to the A27 running between Southwick Tunnel and West Worthing will be. [163326]
Stephen Hammond: It is not possible to provide the information requested as the details of potential schemes on the A27 in this location are yet to be determined.
As part of this Government's commitment to future infrastructure investment it set out that it would identify and fund solutions to a number of the most notorious and longstanding road hotspots, initially through feasibility studies, that would look at problems and solutions in a number of locations. These locations included the A27 corridor on the south coast, which would include the area around Worthing.
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Working with the relevant stakeholders, the Department and the Highways Agency will define the detailed scope and finalise the timings of these specific studies. The study outputs will inform the nature and scope of future enhancements on the route.
Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [162640]
Norman Baker: The average cost of processing the payment of an invoice for the Department for Transport and its six executive agencies during the last financial year, 2012-13, is £6.55.
In determining the average cost of processing an invoice, the cost is calculated by taking the direct costs of the staff involved, and dividing it by the total number of invoices paid.
The average proportion of invoices settled electronically and by cheque for the Department is:
Electronic: 89.7%
Cheque: 10.3%
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the (a) frequency, (b) regularity and (c) speed of passenger rail services on the North East Coast mainline of the (i) construction of and (ii) introduction of rail services on High Speed 2. [163048]
Mr Simon Burns: HS2 Ltd has undertaken a high level study into the implications of running on the east coast mainline between Church Fenton and Newcastle. At this stage, we do not anticipate that construction of HS2 will affect the frequency, regularity or speed of services on the ECML although there could be some localised impacts around the link to the classic network at Church Fenton.
On introduction of the rail services on HS2, there are not likely to be any impacts on the speed of passenger services between Church Fenton and Newcastle, albeit that services which run on the high speed network south of here will benefit with significant journey time reductions to London and Birmingham as well as the intermediate stations in the east midlands and South Yorkshire.
By providing new capacity for long distance interurban services, HS2 offers opportunities to improve frequency and regularity of services to Newcastle from London and Birmingham from capacity released on the classic network.
Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on external lawyers' fees in the last year for which figures are available. [162520]
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Norman Baker: The information requested, for the financial year 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013, can be found in the table below. These figures have been extracted from the Department's central finance systems and those of its Executive Agencies, where that information has been held in an appropriate format and where it has been possible to identify fees for legal consultancy and services separately from other costs. These fees do not include services provided by other government or public bodies, for example the Treasury Solicitors Department.
Further information, other than that described above, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Budgetary responsibility for legal consultancy is largely delegated to policy teams which are individually responsible for expenditure.
| £ | ||
| DfT Central | Agencies | |
By way of comparison for the financial year 2009/10, the table below shows expenditure recorded for external legal consultancy and services for the central Department and Executive Agencies, taken from data published for the 2009/10 Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey.
| £ | ||
| DfT Central | Agencies | |
M54: M6 Toll
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what resources his Department has committed to the development of the M54 to M6 toll link road; [162898]
(2) when he will be able to publish draft route options for the M54 to M6 toll link road. [162900]
Stephen Hammond: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury's statement of 27 June 2013, Official Report, columns 465-73, “Investing in Britain's Future”, committed to funding the M54 to M6 Toll Link Road subject to finalising options and agreement being reached on developer contributions.
The Highways Agency will progress this and the other schemes committed to in the statement and will make its plans known in due course.
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with the M6 toll road operator on the development of a link road to the M54. [162899]
Stephen Hammond: In recent months meetings have been held between the Department and Midland Expressway Ltd (“MEL”) to discuss the M6 Toll. The contribution from MEL to the M54 link has been part of these discussions although there has been no change to the position agreed in 2006.
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Following the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's statement of 27 June 2013, Official Report, commons 465-73, “Investing in Britain's Future”, which committed to funding the M54 to M6 Toll Link Road subject to finalising options and agreement on developer contributions, the Highways Agency will progress this and the other schemes committed to in the June statement and will make its plans known in due course.
Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department. [162694]
Norman Baker: Suppliers of mobile telephones and data services to Department for Transport and its six Executive Agencies are shown below:
| Agency | Mobile telephone providers | Mobile data providers |
Network Rail
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) the Office of Rail Regulation and (b) Network Rail regarding the alliance formed between employees of Network Rail, Laing O'Rourke, VolkerRail and Atkins to carry out work on rail infrastructure in Staffordshire; how many Network Rail employees are working under this arrangement; and what steps partners in such alliances are legally required to undertake to (i) license and (ii) register these models of working. [162882]
Mr Simon Burns: In close consultation with the Office of Rail Regulation, Network Rail introduced the concept of ‘alliancing' in 2011, to find innovative and cost effective ways to successfully deliver the Stafford Area Improvements Programme. Network Rail then actively engaged with the supply chain to develop the concept.
Formed from Network Rail (both as client and delivery agent), VolkerRail, Laing O'Rourke and Atkins, all parties are co-located in an integrated team, with all taking an equal share of the risk and the reward. The alliance is also actively incentivised to continually review and revise its costs, working towards further efficiencies. The commitment to partnership working is reflected in the staffing, with an even split of representatives from the four partners across the core team of circa 80. To enable all four parties to operate as an alliance, a distinct legal organisation was created
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with all necessary approvals in place and compliant within the existing statutory and regulatory framework.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of how partners in the alliance formed between Network Rail, Laing O'Rourke, VolkerRail and Atkins intend to achieve projected savings from Network Rail's budget for the Stafford Area Improvement Programme. [162883]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government support the principle of partnership-working between Network Rail and its delivery partners to secure key projects and outcomes more efficiently than would otherwise be possible. The Staffordshire Alliance is one element of the rail industry's commitment to partnership working to reduce the costs and meet the challenges set out by the McNulty report. By working towards a single, collaborative contract based around shared values and behaviours, the Alliance has been able to achieve significant savings when compared with traditional methods of contracting. Through direct engagement with the supply chain, from tender through to contract award; initial savings of circa 10% against a budget of £255million have been made.
Now post contract award, the alliance through an ongoing programme of innovation and cost control is looking to deliver further savings across the lifecycle of the Stafford Area Improvements Programme. This process is closely scrutinised by Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). The ORR has actively approved the use of alliances and has made them part of its funding proposals for Network Rail from 2014 to 2019.
Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months. [162658]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport and five of its Executive Agencies has spent £76,108 on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months.
This compares to an equivalent spend of £267,642 in the 2009-10 financial year. The Driving Standards Agency could only provide the figure at disproportionate cost.
Railways
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on railway extensions on woodlands and the environment. [163131]
Mr Simon Burns: Railway extensions, whether promoted by the Government, Network Rail or others, must meet the appropriate legal requirements under the environmental impact assessment regulations. Where an environmental impact assessment is required this will include an assessment of the railway on the environment, including woodlands.
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Rescue Services: Belfast
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2013, Official Report, column 161W, on rescue services: Belfast, whether watch managers at MRCC Belfast were consulted on the decision to alter the risk-assessed staffing level at MRCC Belfast. [163293]
Stephen Hammond: Decisions about risk assessed staffing levels are matters for rescue centre and coastal safety managers. As part of that process, discussions routinely involve watch managers, including those at MRCC Belfast.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2013, Official Report, column 161W, on rescue services: Belfast, what the current risk-assessed staffing level at MRCC Belfast is; and what the risk assessed staffing level prior to 11 March 2013 was. [163294]
Stephen Hammond: The current suggested risk assessed level (high season) for MRCC Belfast is six watch-keepers for weekdays and weekend days and nights, and five for weekday nights. Prior to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's internal meeting on the 11 March 2013, the forecast risk assessed level for the new combined area during the high season was seven watch-keepers for weekdays and weekend days and nights, and five for weekday nights. The high season figures were developed before the transfer of operations for wider area working across MRCC Clyde, MRCC Stornoway and Belfast, and reviewed in light of experience and completion of the technical improvements.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2013, Official Report, column 161W, on rescue services: Belfast, what criteria were used to determine the alteration of the risk-assessed staffing level at MRCC Belfast. [163295]
Stephen Hammond: The criteria used were consistent with the current risk assessment process that was introduced in 2006 using historic incident data relating to time and type of incident. This provides a suggested watch keeping complement.
Roads: Construction
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) length of scheme, (b) total estimated cost, (c) contribution set aside from the Government, (d) expected contribution from local government, (e) expected contribution from the private sector and (f) expected contribution from tolling is of each road scheme announced in the Infrastructure Review. [163215]
Stephen Hammond: It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested.
The Government set out their commitment to future infrastructure investment in the Command Paper ‘Investing in Britain's future’ in June 2013. In terms of our national road network, Government have set out plans to treble today's levels of investment in major projects by the end of the decade. Tables A.3, A.4 and
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A.5 in Annex A of the Command Paper sets out the full pipeline of road projects that this investment will cover.
We need to finalise the details for some of the scheme options and to determine the delivery programme for the schemes announced. As part of devising the delivery programme, decisions will be made on the specific levels of funding on a scheme by scheme basis.
Shipping: Conditions of Employment
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) shipping companies and (b) maritime crewing agencies have been issued with Maritime Labour Convention compliance certification by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to date. [163248]
Stephen Hammond: 226 ships operated by 52 companies have undergone inspections by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to date, for verification of compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Upon UK ratification of the MLC these vessels will immediately be issued with Maritime Labour Certificates.
27 recruitment and placement agencies have undergone inspections for verification of compliance with Standard A1.4.5 of the MLC and will be issued with Certificates of Compliance on UK ratification.
Shipping: Crew
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, column 593W, on shipping: crew, if he will take steps to ensure that indicative projections of UK seafarer (a) officer and (b) rating numbers appear in the 2013 edition of his Department's annual UK seafarer statistics. [163190]
Stephen Hammond: Indicative projections of seafarer numbers were not published in the UK seafarer statistics 2012 due to an ongoing methodological review of the projections. Depending on the outcome of that review, we plan to publish projections of seafarer numbers in the annual UK seafarer statistics for 2013.
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Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, column 593W, on shipping: crew, for what reasons data on indicative projections of seafarer numbers did not appear in the 2012 edition of his Department's annual UK seafarer statistics; and for what reasons indicative projections of the number of UK seafarers based on current recruitment and retention rates in the industry were not contained in that document. [163191]
Stephen Hammond: Indicative projections of seafarer numbers were not published in the UK seafarer statistics 2012 due to an ongoing methodological review of the projections. The methodological review will assess whether the assumptions used to project seafarer numbers, based upon past recruitment and retention rates are robust. Projections of seafarer numbers are not National Statistics.
Shipping: Qualifications
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average annual course fees are for deck and engine officer qualifications. [163579]
Stephen Hammond: This information is not held centrally. Nautical colleges make a commercial decision on the fees they charge for deck and engineering qualifications. A list of approved nautical colleges can be found on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/workingatsea/mcga-trainingandcert/ds-stc-usefulcontacts/ds-stc-externalorgs-colleges.htm
Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [162590]
Norman Baker: The following table shows the information requested for the Department for Transport, including its six executive agencies:
| 2012 | 2013 | |||||||||||
| Grade | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May |
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Staff
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [162622]
Norman Baker: The information requested can be found in the following tables:
| (a) Recruitment agency fees in each of the last 12 months | |
| £ | |
| (1 )Total figure includes an annual training spend by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). There is no monthly breakdown available for their data. | |
The Department for Transport has strict controls for the process of filling its vacancies, and the use of recruitment agencies. Recruitment agencies are used only in the recruitment of senior civil service appointments or for highly specialist roles, where the Department finds it hard to attract quality candidates.
The Department did not spend any money on outplacement agency fees for displaced staff or redundant staff in each of the last 12 months.
| (c) Staff training in each of the last 12 months | |
| £ | |
| (1)Total figure includes an annual training spend by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). There is no monthly breakdown available for their data. | |
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The Department is committed to investing in its staff and ensuring people have the skills they need to perform their job effectively. We actively encourage staff to take five days training a year through initiatives including the civil service's Campaign for Learning programme.
Consideration is also given as to whether the intended aims of training and development can be delivered by different means such as workplace meetings or electronically. All training is delivered in accordance with Cabinet Office Learning and Development controls.
Tolls
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what his policy is on the tolling of existing roads; [163213]
(2) what criteria have been used to assess whether existing roads being enhanced should be tolled for future use. [163221]
Stephen Hammond: The Government have made a clear commitment not to toll existing road capacity and this has not changed. We have always said we would look at schemes which would fund significant new capacity through tolling. There will be cases where the combination of the significant expense of the scheme and the distribution of the benefits means that it is fair that users meet some of the costs of the scheme, rather than general taxpayers. This would be in very limited circumstances where schemes deliver new roads or transform an existing road into an entirely new route beyond all recognition and there is a strong economic and commercial case for a contribution from tolling.
Transport: Finance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he will take to ensure that money allocated by his Department to the single local growth fund will be spent on transport. [163353]
Norman Baker: Funding for transport within the single local growth fund is not ring-fenced for transport purposes only—in line with the recommendations of Lord Heseltine's report “No Stone Unturned”.
However, we will be expecting the strategic economic plans put forward by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to reflect a balanced package of measures—including appropriate transport projects for their particular circumstances—and capital funding beyond 2015-16 is provided to enable long term planning of priority transport investments in local areas.
Local Transport Bodies (LTBs) are currently drawing up prioritised list of major local transport projects to be funded, under devolved arrangements, from 2015-16. Our expectation is that, as LTB's plans should have been developed in close collaboration with LEPs, the LEP strategic economic plans should either include schemes identified in these prioritised lists or set out clearly why the LEP has taken a different view from the LTB.
Officials and Ministers from the Department for Transport will be fully involved in the assessment of the strategic economic plans that will be produced by LEPs and the associated decisions on growth deals and the award of single local growth funding.
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Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what input his Department will have into the allocation of monies from the single local growth fund; [163354]
(2) by which criteria bids for the single local growth fund will be judged; and what role his Department will play in the allocation of funding. [163355]
Norman Baker: Guidance on the growth deals that the Government will negotiate with each Local Enterprise Partnership will be published shortly. This will include a high level summary of the criteria to be used in awarding funding from the single local growth fund
Officials and Ministers from the Department for Transport are fully involved in the development of this guidance and will also participate fully in the assessment of the strategic economic plans that will be produced by Local Enterprise Partnerships and the associated decisions on growth deals and the award of single local growth funding.
Some elements of the single local growth fund, including some Local Authority Transport Majors funding, will be allocated on a formula basis.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to his Department's announcement of 27 June 2013, whether the indicative allocations from the local authority transport major projects fund to local enterprise partnerships have been superseded by those monies placed in the single local growth fund in the 2013 Spending Review. [163357]
Norman Baker: No. The Local Authority Transport Majors funding that has been included within the single local growth fund comprises 3 elements: a guaranteed minimum funding to be allocated to each Local Transport Body/Local Enterprise Partnership area on a per capita formula basis shortly—as previously planned; committed funding for schemes already approved by the Department, but to be delivered partly or wholly after 2015; and further funding to be allocated to Local Enterprise Partnerships on a competitive basis through their growth deal negotiations with Government.
Travel
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has allocated to spend on cycling and active travel in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16. [163068]
Norman Baker: The Department has allocated £177 million of funds in 2013-14 and £127 million of funds in 2014-15 to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) where 95 of the 96 LSTF projects have cycling or walking elements in them. This is on top of the £36.8 million allocated in 2013-14 to go towards improving cycle safety and infrastructure, linking communities, rolling out cycle rail and creating a cycling legacy in our Cities and National Parks, a further £25.2 million will go to this in 2014-15. Departmental funding allocations for 2015-16 are still being developed, however we are working to ensure the best result possible for cycling and walking.
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Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2012-13; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2013-14. [162676]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not record a staff vacancy rate and no rate has been assumed for Business Planning purposes for 2012 -13. However, staff turnover in the financial year 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 was 6.24% and it remains at a similar level so far in 2013-14.
The Department has strict controls to the process of filling the resulting vacancies. External recruitments are only considered for approval if they are deemed to be frontline, or other business critical e.g. for safety, in line with Cabinet Office guidance.
Wales
Serco
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department currently spends on contracts with Serco; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [162947]
Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office has not held contracts with Serco since 2008.
Social Networking
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all Twitter accounts for which officials of his Department (a) have had and (b) currently have responsibility for (i) monitoring and (ii) updating. [163561]
Mr David Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 June 2013, Official Report, column 706W.
Energy and Climate Change
Broadband: Rural Areas
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the digital communication requirements of smart meters; and what assessment he has made of the mobile and broadband communications infrastructure required in rural areas. [163386]
Gregory Barker: Officials from the Department are in regular contact with those in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to ensure co-ordination of our policies in relation to communications infrastructure for rural areas.
A competitive procurement process is under way for the communication service requirements of smart meters. A number of technologies have been proposed. Depending on the solution selected for each region, these may, or may not, make use of parts of the mobile telephony infrastructure in which investment is being supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
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Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with mobile network operators and broadband companies on the coverage of mobile signal and broadband and communication requirements of smart meters in rural areas. [163387]
Gregory Barker: Officials in the Department are conducting competitions to put in place a communications system for smart metering to reach as many households in Great Britain as possible. A number of technologies have been proposed in response to these requirements including solutions using mobile telephone networks. The technology or technologies selected for each of three regions, as well as the extent of coverage achieved, will be determined by the outcome of these competitions which is expected to be announced in the late summer.
Energy: Meters
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with energy companies on the digital communication requirements of smart meters. [163388]
Gregory Barker: The Department is working with energy suppliers and network operators to roll out smart gas and electricity meters across Great Britain by 2020. As part of this we have developed and consulted upon the communication requirements for the messaging system that will connect smart meters with the business systems of energy suppliers and network operators. These consultations have included detailed discussions with energy suppliers and network companies about their business requirements.
Offshore Industry
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to reduce emissions from the upstream oil and gas industry. [163160]
Michael Fallon: Government are determined to maximise overall economic recovery of UK oil and gas and minimise any waste of these national resources. To this end we restrict, via a formal consenting procedure, flaring and venting of gas from UK oil and gas fields, to the minimum levels that are technically possible and economically sensible. In addition onshore flaring operations require a permit from the relevant environmental agency under the Environment Agencies Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.
Renewable Energy
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department invested in (a) solar, (b) wind, (c) hydro, (d) marine, (e) biomass and (f) geothermal energy in each of the last five years. [162373]
Michael Fallon:
The Department does not record its financial support for renewable technologies in the format requested. Support for renewable generation is provided under the Renewable Obligation (RO), Feed-in Tariff
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(FITs) scheme, Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
The RO is administered by Ofgem and provides market based support for large scale deployment of renewable energy generation. Ofgem publishes an annual report outlining support provided under the RO, which can be viewed online at:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/RenewablObl/Pages/RenewablObl.aspx
Ofgem also administers the Feed-in Tariff (FITs) scheme which supports small scale low carbon generation. Details regarding the cost of the FITs scheme can be found in the FITs annual report, produced by Ofgem, which can be viewed online at:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/ad/Pages/ad.aspx
The RHPP administered by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) provides one off payments to householders to help them buy renewable heating technologies—including solar thermal panels, heat pumps and biomass boilers. Further details regarding the RHPP, including amounts paid out under the scheme, can be viewed online at:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Getting-money-back/Renewable-Heat-Premium-Payment-Phase-2
The RHI provides support for renewable heat technologies. The RHI was launched in November 2011 with a scheme for the non-domestic sector that provides payments to industry, businesses and public sector organisations. Ofgem publishes data on the amount paid under the RHI on a daily basis, which can be viewed online at:
https://rhi.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ExternalReportDetail.aspx?RP=RHIPublicReport
In addition, there are assorted grant schemes (existing and historic) that support the deployment of renewables. For example, the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, the Low Carbon Communities Challenge, the Deep Geothermal Challenge Fund, the Environmental Transformation Fund and others grants to support the development of innovative energy technologies.
Social Networking
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will list all Twitter accounts for which officials of his Department (a) have had and (b) currently have responsibility for (i) monitoring and (ii) updating. [163550]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has only ever had one Twitter account for which officials have responsibility for monitoring and updating.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rural Businesses
10. Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to help people who live and work in the countryside to grow their businesses and create rural jobs. [163124]
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Mr Heath: Stimulating economic growth is the Government's top priority. We are working to ensure rural areas contribute to and benefit from that growth. To support rural businesses and create jobs, we are investing in superfast broadband and mobile infrastructure; piloting rural growth networks to test different ways of helping rural businesses stimulate economic growth; and boosting key sectors such as tourism. We are also increasing export potential and unblocking barriers to growth by removing red tape.
Flood Defences
12. Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to improve engagement between landowners and the Environment Agency in relation to flood defences. [163126]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency is working to improve its engagement with landowners and others. It will be publishing an improved flood asset maintenance protocol in the autumn, incorporating clear principles of engagement. Where the Environment Agency is considering changing its maintenance activities, it will hold discussions with landowners and other local interests about its plans. Such discussions will help to identify opportunities for landowners to undertake maintenance activities and how these can best be supported.
Pollinators
14. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made on developing an holistic strategy on pollinators. [163130]
Mr Heath: DEFRA delivers a wide range of policies and initiatives that protect bees and other pollinators. However, we recognise the need for an integrated and holistic approach to tackle the pressures on pollinators. That is why the Secretary of State has asked for an urgent review of policy and evidence to be carried out, culminating in a National Pollinator Strategy and a renewal of commitments to these species by both government and non-government organisations.
Animal Welfare
Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to introduce a regulatory body to monitor the treatment of animals in addition to the provisions in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. [162873]
Mr Heath: There are already a number of areas where the welfare of animals is regulated by bodies. For example the selling of pet animals, the breeding and selling of dogs and the boarding of cats and dogs are all regulated by local authorities. In addition, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency safeguards the health and welfare of animals through research, surveillance and inspection and is responsible for enforcing farm welfare legislation. There are no proposals to introduce any additional regulatory body in respect of the welfare of animals.
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Dairy Products: Ireland
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland on the effects of the National Dairy Council of Ireland's new labelling programme on the ability of farmers in Northern Ireland to export their products for sale in the Republic of Ireland. [161516]
Mr Heath: Following my visit to Northern Ireland recently I drew this matter to the attention of the Secretary of State. He hopes to meet Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in the near future and will discuss with him trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Floods: Insurance
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to his Department's report on Securing the future availability and affordability of home insurance in areas of floodrisk, published on 27 June 2013, how many Band H properties in England are estimated to be within the (a) 200,000 homes at high-risk of flooding and (b) 500,000 properties to be included with the Flood Re model for flood insurance. [163042]
Richard Benyon: Properties in Council tax Band H in England represent approximately 0.6% of the total households in England and are those valued at or above £320,001, based on the estimated sale price on 1 April 1991. At current prices Band H houses may cost £900,000 or more (based on cumulative growth in Office of National Statistics average house prices since 1991).
An estimated 2,000 Band H households in the UK are thought to be at a significant level of flood risk. The Government proposes that Flood Re should target support towards lower income households. Band H households would be excluded to avoid these high value properties enjoying disproportionate benefit at the expense of lower income households.
A six week consultation seeking views on the proposed approach for flood insurance, including whether Band H properties should be excluded, is now open.
Polyisobutene
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects on fish and other wildlife of the discharge of polyisobutene from ships in early 2013. [161134]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA and its delivery bodies worked with the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and other organisations such as the RSPCA, RSPB, and the Devon and Cornwall. Wildlife Trusts, to monitor the impacts of the serious polyisobutene-related incidents, in February and April 2013 along the South Coast of England, in particular on sea bird populations.
For example, the Environment Agency carried out initial sampling and analysis of material taken from affected birds on behalf of the MCA. The aim of this work was to try to help the MCA identify what the
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likely pollutant was in the early stages of the first spill. During the second incident they undertook limited water quality sampling at a number of beaches but found no evidence that bathing water quality had been adversely affected.
While the incident is unlikely to have had significant adverse effects on the functioning of the marine ecosystem or on commercial fisheries it has caused unnecessary suffering and is highly regrettable. DEFRA is continuing to work closely with the Department for Transport and the MCA to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Prime Minister
Bilderberg Group
Mr Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he, (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (c) the Minister without Portfolio attended the recent Bilderberg conference at Watford in an official capacity; and whether any previous attendance at Bilderberg conferences has been in an official capacity. [163352]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister without Portfolio, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), on 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 25.
Food Banks
Gordon Banks: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to his oral answer of 27 February 2013, Official Report, column 306, when he will (a) respond to the petition of the hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire on food banks and (b) answer the hon. Member's subsequent email correspondence of 27 February 2013 and 12 March 2013 relating to that issue. [163627]
The Prime Minister: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 14 March 2013.
Ian Livingston
Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what Ian Livingston's intended ministerial responsibilities are; [163227]
(2) if he will publish a full declaration of Ian Livingston's interests and assets. [163228]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press notice issued by my office on 19 June which can be accessed online at
www.gov.uk
Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
On appointment to Ministerial Office, Ian Livingston will be complying with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.
Social Networking
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all Twitter accounts for which officials of No. 10 Downing Street (a) have had and (b) currently have responsibility for (i) monitoring and (ii) updating. [163558]
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The Prime Minister: Information about all official social media networks used by my office can be found on the No. 10 website.
Social media communications are handled by my office in accordance with the published moderation guidelines on the gov.uk website.
Trident
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Prime Minister when the Government intends to make the public version of the Cabinet Office review of alternatives to Trident available to Parliament. [163334]
The Prime Minister: A public version of the Trident Review will be made available to Parliament in due course.
Attorney-General
Duwayne Brooks
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service has ever been made aware that there was a possibility that undercover police officers were involved in gathering evidence used in the 1994 prosecution of Duwayne Brooks for criminal damage. [162202]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has advised that under its retention policy the original file in this case would have been destroyed, and it is not able to provide this information. However, the CPS will co-operate fully with the Operation Herne investigation referred to in the Home Secretary's statement of 24 June 2013, Official Report, column 25-27. Confirmation of the position might become possible as a result of that investigation.
Vending Machines
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Attorney-General how many vending machines in his Department's premises contain snack foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value. [163207]
The Solicitor-General: On premises controlled by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) there are three vending machines that contain snack foods. There are also an additional five vending machines that contain snack foods located in other properties occupied by the CPS, which are provided by the premises' major occupiers or landlords.
These vending machines are stocked and maintained by the companies providing the machines and while it is possible that they may be stocked with snack foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value, no central record of the contents has been kept to date.
There are no vending machines present in any of the other premises occupied by staff in the Law Officers' Departments.
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Work and Pensions
Employment and Support Allowance
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people with (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) rheumatoid arthritis and (c) multiple sclerosis placed in the work-related activity group for employment and support allowance have been reassessed to date; and how many have been found fit for work following that reassessment; [163210]
(2) how many people with (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) rheumatoid arthritis and (c) multiple sclerosis placed in the support group for employment and support allowance have been reassessed to date; and how many have been placed in the work-related activity group following that reassessment; [163212]
(3) how many people with (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) rheumatoid arthritis and (c) multiple sclerosis who have undergone more than one work capability assessment while in the work related activity group for employment and support allowance have received lower point scores when they were reassessed to date. [163165]
Mr Hoban: The Department regularly publishes official statistics on employment and support allowance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA). The latest publication was released in April 2013 and can be found here:
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https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-work-capability-assessment-april-2013
Table 6 in the spreadsheet accompanying the publication breaks down how claimants are allocated to the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG). This shows that 54% of claimants entering the WRAG after the initial WCA on their claim, did so based on the points awarded at the WCA. The remainder entered the WRAG for reasons other than points awarded at the WCA, these reasons are explained in the publication.
In response to the first question above, table 1 as follows provides information on the number of claimants who were awarded the WRAG based on points scored at the initial WCA and who were subsequently awarded fewer points at the second WCA on the same claim. Claimants who were awarded the WRAG at the second WCA based on a reason other than points scored have been excluded.
| Table 1: Number of claimants in the WRAG at the initial WCA who were awarded the WRAG at the 2nd WCA but received points—All new ESA claims starting between October 2008 and August 2012 | |
| Health Condition | Claimants awarded fewer points at 2nd WCA |
| (1 )Denotes nil or negligible | |
Table 2 as follows provides the requested data for the remaining questions above.
| Table 2: Comparison of outcomes of the initial and 2nd WCA on the same claim—All new ESA claims starting between October 2008 and August 2012 | |||
| Health condition | Claimants in WRAG after initial WCA who were then found fit for work at 2nd WCA on the same claim | Claimants in support group after initial WCA who then entered the WRAG at 2nd WCA on the same claim | Claimants having 2 or more WCAs on the same claim |
| Notes: 1. All figures relate to claims starting between October 2008 and August 2012, who have completed at least two WCAs on the same claim. 2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: The data presented above come from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, functional assessment data from Atos Healthcare. | |||
Housing Benefits: Social Rented Housing
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effect on housing benefit expenditure of the 165,000 additional affordable rent homes announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in his oral statement on 27 June 2013. [163014]
Steve Webb: No assessment is available at this point.
The Chief Secretary's announcement of 165,000 new affordable homes represents an important contribution to the increase in housing supply the country needs. The majority of these new homes will be for affordable rent, with the remainder for shared ownership. As affordable rent is up to 80% of market rent, these new homes will generate housing benefit savings for tenants who otherwise typically live in more expensive private rented accommodation.
However, as with the current programme, some of the funding for these new homes will come through conversions of social rented homes to affordable rent when they become vacant and the sale of social rented homes on the open market. This may incur some housing benefit costs and the net effect on housing benefit expenditure will only be known once we have the outcome of the competitive bidding process for the new programme.
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 25 March 2013, Official Report, column 986W, on social security benefits, what the total amount of benefit withheld from fixed jobseeker's allowance sanctions was in 2012-13. [163202]
Mr Hoban: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer of 25 March 2013, Official Report, column 986W, on social security benefits.
The table shows the total amount of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) withheld to the nearest £ million (in actual prices) as a result of fixed sanctions in each of the last four years up to 22 October 2012:
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| Benefit withheld from fixed JSA sanctions (£ million) | |
The total amount of benefit withheld as a result of benefit sanctions is interpreted here as the maximum benefit amount that claimants would have received if they had continued to be on benefit for the length of the sanction. Since some people would have flowed off benefit in the period of the sanction and that also they might have flowed off benefit had they not received a sanction, the figures calculated represent overestimates for the actual benefit that might have been withheld.
This calculation is performed for both people aged under 25 and over 25-years-old to reflect different JSA rates.
The calculation does not net the figures for hardship payments.
Additional data on jobseeker's allowance fixed sanctions have not been published.
On 22 October 2012, a revised jobseeker's allowance sanctions regime was introduced. The publication of statistics covering the new regime has been delayed to allow sufficient quality assurance.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on each passported benefit for jobseeker's allowance claimants, in each of the last three years; and how much he estimates will be spent on such benefits in each of the next three years. [163313]
Mr Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the expenditure of the following passported benefits: Housing benefit, council tax benefit, funeral payments, Sure Start maternity grants and cold weather payments. Details of expenditure can be found in the table:
| Estimated expenditure paid to passported JSA claimants in the last three years | |||
| £ million | |||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
A breakdown by individual qualifying benefit is not available for cold weather payments.
Forecasts by passported benefit are not available. However, a forecast of Housing benefit expenditure paid to all JSA claimants, including non-passported contributory JSA claimants, is available in the ‘Housing Benefit' sheet at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/195319/expenditure_tables_Budget_2013.xls.xls
Future expenditure on council tax benefit is the responsibility of local authorities.
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Notes:
The breakdown of Sure Start maternity grant and funeral payments is estimated based on the social fund computer system data.
2010-11 and 2011-12 figures are aligned to the latest published expenditure out-turn available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2013
2012-13 figures are aligned to the published Social Fund White Paper 2012-13 available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209379/DWP_Annual_Report_on_the_Social_fund.pdf
The breakdown of HB and CTB expenditure is based on a combination of statistical data and local authority subsidy returns, as outturn expenditure data are not available at this level. Expenditure in 2012-13 is estimated and is subject to change. These estimates are consistent with the latest published expenditure out-turn available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2013
The expenditure on other passported benefits is the responsibility of the individual Departments or local authorities that have the ownership of the benefit in question.
National Insurance Contributions: Self-Employed
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy that self-employed people should be able to pay voluntary class 1 national insurance contributions to ensure that they are eligible for contribution based jobseeker's allowance if they become unemployed. [163230]
Mr Hoban: HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for the policy around voluntary national insurance contributions. However, income-based jobseeker's allowance is available to self-employed people who meet the eligibility criteria. The Department administers a wide range of benefits and allowances that are available to people on low incomes. Self-employed people who meet the qualifying criteria may be entitled to housing benefit, help with council tax and NHS charges. Those working and on a low income may be entitled to working tax credit whilst those with children may be entitled to child tax credit.
Class 2 national insurance contributions provide self-employed people with protection against ill-health, bereavement and old age by providing entitlement to employment and support allowance, bereavement benefits and basic state pension and the rate of contributions they pay reflects this. There are no plans to extend this entitlement to contributory jobseeker's allowance.
Staff
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [162625]
Mr Hoban: The information is as follows:
(a) From June 2012 to May 2013 DWP spent a total of £17,445,421 on recruitment agency fees, which is primarily salaries paid to interim staff.
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| £ | |||
| Spend on recruitment agency fees (interim recruitment) | Spend on recruitment agency fees (permanent recruitment) | Total | |
| (1 )Child Maintenance Group expenditure is included from August 2012, when they joined DWP. | |||
These workers are engaged where we do not have available skilled resource in-house, mainly in specialist roles such as project management and IT.
All central recruitment is authorised only in exceptional circumstances and is subject to ministerial approval.
(b) From June 2012 to May 2013 DWP spent a total of £14,963 on outplacement fees for displaced or redundant staff.
| Spend on outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff (£) | |
(c) From June 2012 to May 2013 DWP spent a total of £9,913,741 on staff training. For clarity, this does not include any travel and subsistence or salary costs of the DWP employees attending the training.
| Spend on staff training (£) | |
| (1 )From October 2012 DWP contributed towards the cross-government learning provider Civil Service Learning. | |
State Retirement Pensions: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of self-employed people in Wales that will benefit from the introduction of the single tier state pension in 2016; [162800]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of carers in Wales that will benefit from the introduction of the single tier state pension in 2016. [162801]
Steve Webb: It is estimated that around 20,000 people in Wales reaching state pension age in 2016-17 will be eligible for a single-tier pension.
Geographical breakdowns of the impact of the single-tier reforms relative to the current state pension are not available.
However, there were around 180,000 self-employed people in Wales in 2012. Those who are paying only Class 2 national insurance contributions are not currently credited towards the state second pension, but will be treated as having a full qualifying year under the single-tier pension valuation.
Vocational Training
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether unemployed people aged between 18 and 24 enrolled on the Government's traineeship programme will be eligible to claim jobseeker's allowance for the duration of their traineeship. [163263]
Mr Hoban: There is scope for providers to design a programme that meets the core aims and elements of traineeships but also fits with benefit rules. This would enable young people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance (or the new universal credit) to continue to receive financial support while taking part in a traineeship. Colleges and providers are encouraged to work with Jobcentre Plus when designing their programmes.
Claimants will continue to be paid jobseeker's allowance/universal credit at their benefit rate, and be subject to all existing conditionality such as actively seeking and available for employment. They will also continue to attend regular face-to-face Jobcentre Plus adviser interviews for the duration of their traineeship.
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Welfare State: Reform
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 26 June 2013, Official Report, column 314, on the spending review, what process is in place to assess under-performing programmes. [163327]
Mr Hoban: The Department continually assesses, through robust and thorough evaluation, the performance of its programmes to ensure that the best possible value for money is achieved.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances a person who had been on the Work programme for two years without achieving a sustained job outcome and had been returned to Jobcentre Plus for support would be referred to the Work programme again; and if he will make a statement. [163272]
Mr Hoban: There are no current or planned future circumstances in which a Work programme completer who has not achieved a sustained outcome would be re-referred to the Work programme.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets he has set for Jobcentre Plus in supporting people who leave the Work programme without having achieved a sustained job outcome; and if he will make a statement. [163274]
Mr Hoban: Those returning from the Work programme without having achieved a job outcome will be among the hardest to help individuals. All these claimants will have support that is tailored to the needs of the individual, which will build on what they have experienced when on the Work programme, supported by our core regime. We expect advisers to work intensively with jobseeker's allowance claimants who need additional support, contacting and seeing them frequently.
We do not have any targets set for this group. We do, however, use all available measures to understand the effectiveness of support we offer.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to return to jobcentres having completed two years on the Work programme without achieving a sustained job outcome in each of the next 12 months. [163275]
Mr Hoban: Projections of people expected to take up post-Work programme support would be based on data the Department plans to release as official statistics. We are therefore unable to provide estimates in response to this PQ without compromising the integrity of the statistical release.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people who were referred on to the Work programme in June 2011 have had (a) no job start and (b) no job outcome to date; [163276]
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(2) how many people who have been in the Work programme for more than 12 months have had (a) no job start and (b) no job outcome to date. [163277]
Mr Hoban: Information on job starts from the Work programme is not available.
Information about people on the Work programme and job outcomes can be found in the latest statistical summary available through the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210226/work-programme-stats-summary-june-2013_v2_020713.pdf
Education
Adoption: North Yorkshire
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the pilot scheme for early adoption in North Yorkshire; if he will set out the criteria which have to be met before adoption within 28 days is permitted; and if he will confirm that each case will be judged on its merits and that the 28 days target will be ignored where circumstances demand. [163008]
Mr Timpson: I am not aware of a pilot scheme in North Yorkshire relating to early adoption but would happily receive information about it. The Department does not set adoption targets, but it expects local authorities to meet the timeliness thresholds set out in the adoption scorecards and the time scales set out in statutory guidance.
I support local authorities' efforts to tackle delays in the adoption system so that children for whom adoption is appropriate can be placed with their adoptive families earlier than they currently are. The paramount consideration is the child's best interests and while local authorities should not aim for speed to the detriment of children, there is clear evidence that unnecessary delay is detrimental to children and must be tackled.
Free School Meals: Yorkshire and the Humber
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire were eligible for free school meals in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each of the last 10 years. [163203]
Mr Laws: Information on the number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in state-funded nursery and primary and state-funded secondary schools in Haltemprice and Howden constituency, East Riding of Yorkshire local authority and England for 2006 to 2013 is shown in the tables.
Comparable data for earlier years are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as at January 2013 is published in the Statistical First Release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2013'(1).
(1)Note:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2013
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