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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 10 July 2013
Transport
Driving Instruction
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new drivers in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England took the Pass Plus training course in each of the last five years; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Pass Plus in preventing accidents among new drivers; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage drivers to take Pass Plus after their driving tests. [164057]
Stephen Hammond: The following table shows the total volume of Pass Plus certificates issued by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in the last five years; we do not hold data on Pass Plus certificates issued specifically in Barnsley central constituency, South Yorkshire or England.
| Number of certificates issued | |
A report by the Association of British Insurers, published in 2006, showed that drivers who participated in the Pass Plus scheme had a marginally lower accident rate than drivers who did not. We continue to explore with the insurance industry options for improving market confidence so that we can maximise the incentives and take-up of post-test training initiatives. The Department will publish a Green Paper later this year looking at a range of options for ensuring young drivers stay safe on the roads.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methodology was used to estimate the cost of the High Speed 2 project; and if he will make a statement. [164032]
Mr Simon Burns: HS2 Ltd has appointed leading engineering consultancies to prepare estimates using a range of conventional techniques. The estimates are subject to a number of assurance processes including peer and independent review. Additionally, risks associated with the project are identified and assessed to inform an appropriate level of contingency.
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Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefits to North West Wales as a result of High Speed 2. [164356]
Mr Simon Burns: No specific assessment has been made of the direct benefits to North West Wales. However passengers will benefit from High Speed 2 via the interchange at Crewe and connection to West Coast Mainline. The Government's ambition is for a truly national network that is expected to deliver around £2 of benefits for every £1 spent.
Railways
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with organisations involved in the recent completion of high speed rail projects in (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Spain. [164031]
Mr Simon Burns: In November last year, the Secretary of State for Transport met with SNCF, France's state-owned railway company that operates France's national rail services including the Train á Grande Vitesse (TGV)—France's high-speed rail network.
Officials are also continuously considering if there are any valuable lessons from other high speed rail projects that the UK could possibly use in the development of their HS2 plans.
Railways: Finance
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what payments First Transpennine Express made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments First Transpennine Express received from the public purse in each of those years; [164374]
(2) what payments London Midland made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments London Midland received from the public purse in each of those years; [164375]
(3) what payments First Scotrail made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments First Scotrail received from the public purse in each of those years; [164376]
(4) what payments Arriva Trains Wales made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments Arriva Trains Wales received from the public purse in each of those years; [164377]
(5) pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 431W, on South West Trains, what payments South West Trains made to the Exchequer in each financial year betwen 2004-05 and 2009-09; and what payments South West Trains received from the public purse in each of those years. [164386]
Norman Baker: Information on the net annual payments between Government and Train Operating Companies is published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) on their data portal. This is available on the ORR's website at:
http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk
Figures for First Scotrail and Arriva Trains Wales are supplied by the Scottish Government and the Welsh
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Assembly Government respectively as those bodies are responsible for the management and funding on those franchises.
Transport: West Sussex
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for future investment in the (a) West Sussex and (b) Mid Sussex transport network. [164342]
Norman Baker: As part of the recent 2013 spending round announcement Government set out plans for a significant package of investment in transport. This included a commitment to provide almost £6 billion for local highways maintenance which will be available to local highway authorities in England, including West Sussex county council over the period from 2015-16 to 2020-21. In addition funding of £458 million per annum was also confirmed to support small scale transport improvements through the integrated transport block from 2015-16 to 2020-21 of which £200 million per annum will be top sliced and put into the Local Growth Fund.
The 2013 spending round announcement also included a commitment to fund improvements to the A27 at Chichester and to develop and fund managed motorway proposals on the M23 between junctions 8 and 10 near Gatwick, subject to value for money and deliverability.
In addition, Government undertook to identify and fund solutions to a number of the most notorious and longstanding road hotspots. This involves taking forward a range of feasibility studies to look at the problems, including looking at the A27 corridor on the south coast including at Arundel and Worthing.
This is alongside improvements that are planned at the A27 Ford Roundabout at Arundel, a scheme that was successful in the recent Highway Agency Pinch Point fund.
With regards rail, a £53 million enhancement scheme at Gatwick Airport Station will deliver two new platforms and operational improvements by the end of 2013.
The Government has also recently announced plans to devolve funding for local major transport schemes from 2015-16. The Coast to Capital Local Transport Body, which includes representatives from West Sussex County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), will shortly publish their prioritised list of local major transport schemes. West Sussex will also have the opportunity, as part of the LEP, to bid for further funding for transport through the Local Growth Fund.
Transport funding is not allocated directly to Shire district authorities such as Mid Sussex.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
China
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps (a) his Department and (b) UK Trade and Investment are taking to promote UK exports to, and attract inward investment from, China. [163863]
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Mr Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) are working hard to promote UK exports and attract inward investment. There has been a significant increase in the resource allocated to China, expanding our ability to promote UK prosperity through an increase of 63 staff and more project funding.
UKTI works closely with its partner the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) to support companies looking to export to China. This includes organising trade fairs and missions, and by sharing market insights. UKTI also identify lucrative projects for UK business via the High Value Opportunities (HVO) Programme and promote the UK via the GREAT campaign, showcasing what the UK has to offer China.
UKTI also works hard to promote the UK as a location for inward investment, including through a dedicated team in China. UKTI provide market information, location guidance and practical help to Chinese companies wanting to invest in the UK.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how additional funding allocated by his Department to work in China is being spent. [163865]
Mr Swire: In November 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs agreed to invest an additional £4 million per annum in the China network to deliver a significant increase in our presence, aimed at increasing our reach, engagement, understanding and influence in China. This uplift is being spent on more staff who have been accommodated via a small reconfiguration of our existing office estate.
Over financial year 2012-13, the China network spent almost £300,000 on additional programme activity. This funded 29 projects across China, supporting our objectives in areas including low carbon development, judicial reform, civil society, policing, economic reform, crisis management, and promoting the UK through activities alongside the GREAT campaign. A further £300,000 has been allocated for 2013-14.
A second programme of investment to upgrade our estate across China is now in the initial stages of planning, aimed at creating a modern, efficient and fit for purpose estate.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what programme of events will be taking place between China and the UK in the next 12 months. [163866]
Mr Swire: Given the priorities we share, we expect there to be a busy programme of visits to and from China over the next year. We have over 40 regular dialogues with China at both ministerial and official level, covering a range of issues from the economy to human rights, including a summit between Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier and an economic and financial dialogue led by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his counterpart in the State Council. We also anticipate the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will hold his annual strategic dialogue with State Councillor Yang later this year.
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Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what positive results have resulted from the UK-China strategic dialogue in recent months. [163999]
Mr Swire: The last Strategic Dialogue, held in September 2011 with State Councillor Dai Bingguo, agreed three priority areas for international co-operation: climate change; development; and counter proliferation. We have achieved positive results in each of these areas.
In the area of climate change our projects are helping China reduce the energy intensity of its economy and encourage the transition to cleaner energy sources. A recent example of such a project has been our collaboration to help the Chinese Government develop a version of the UK 2050 Energy Pathways Calculator.
Development co-operation with China has been advanced by the Department for International Development's Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Government. The MoU has helped advance joint work in countries such as Uganda and Malawi, and sectors such as health, agriculture and disaster risk reduction.
On counter proliferation, China has agreed to host the next meeting of the P5 to discuss disarmament, and is leading development of the P5 glossary of key nuclear terms, which the P5 intend to submit to the 2015 NPT Review Conference. China played a constructive role during negotiation of the Arms Trade Treaty, and is now considering signing. FCO officials regularly discuss a range of other non-proliferation issues with Chinese counterparts.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on steps taken by the new leadership in the Chinese government to tackle vested interests. [164001]
Mr Swire: The new leadership has made clear that it recognises the need to tackle corruption and improve governance in China. It has also expressed a desire to reform regulatory regimes and corporate governance structures, especially in the state owned sector. We welcome this and are willing to share British expertise where appropriate. We continue to encourage China to promote freedom of expression, strengthen the rule of law and strengthen civil society to tackle the roots of corruption.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Chinese Government and (b) others on tackling dangerous climate change through co-operation between China and the UK. [164058]
Mr Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Energy and Climate Change regularly discuss climate change with China. These discussions principally take place with the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission and its associated agencies, but we also regularly speak to a range of other Chinese departments and Government bodies.
Our engagement with China on climate change is underpinned by project work, including recent collaboration to help the Chinese Government develop a version of the UK 2050 Energy Pathways Calculator. These projects
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are intended to help China reduce the energy intensity of its economy and encourage the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Collaboration between the UK and China on climate change is also regularly discussed in a wide range of bilateral and multilateral fora. In particular, we are actively encouraging the EU and other European countries to maintain and increase their own engagement with China on climate change and energy issues.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chinese Government to encourage its involvement in the international energy governance process. [164059]
Mr Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change regularly discuss international energy governance with China. Principally these discussions take place between our embassy in Beijing and the Chinese National Energy Administration and through a joint UK-China study into options for improving international energy governance. This FCO-funded study is helping China to consider options for stronger governance, including closer co-operation with the International Energy Agency.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the UK's work with China in reducing global poverty. [164060]
Mr Swire: The Department for International Development has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Government—the first international development agency to do so. The MoU has helped advance joint work in countries such as Uganda and Malawi, and sectors such as health, agriculture and disaster risk reduction.
Diplomatic Service: Private Education
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on the payment of private school fees for personnel (a) by country and (b) in total in each year since 2010. [164061]
Alistair Burt: Members of the diplomatic service must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world at any time during their career, sometimes at very short notice. Those who are parents are legally obliged to ensure that their children receive a full-time education. Most parents prefer to take their children with them abroad, but in some countries we do not permit staff to take their children either for health or security reasons. Where staff cannot or choose not to take their children overseas, we contribute towards the costs of boarding school education in the UK for children up to the age of 18, provided that officers meet specific eligibility criteria. This enables the children to have stability and continuity of education, which is particularly important for secondary school age children. We provide financial support to all diplomatic staff, irrespective of grade, who serve overseas, to help enable them to meet this requirement.
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We expect children who accompany their parents on postings overseas to use free state schooling if it is available locally and suitable. If suitable English-language schooling is not available free of charge locally, but is available at fee-charging schools, we pay fees to enable children to receive the education they would be entitled to in the UK.
The costs to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) for children of FCO staff attending school in the UK, and for schooling overseas for children at posts with their parents, was as follows:
| £ | |||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
The CEA figures from 2011-12 are not directly comparable with earlier years. Costs vary year on year according to the numbers and ages of children at school, and the location of staff claimants. Additionally the FCO has changed the way it records its management information so that other partners in Government are now included in the overall figures.
The breakdown for the costs of schooling at posts overseas is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.
Hong Kong
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the rights stated in the joint declaration between China and the UK regarding Hong Kong are being upheld. [164000]
Mr Swire: Since July 1997, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has reported to Parliament at six-monthly intervals on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong. These reports are available on the FCO website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/six-monthly-reports-on-hong-kong
In the most recent report, covering the period July to December 2012, we consider that, in general, “One Country, Two Systems” continues to work well in practice and that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Joint Declaration continue to be upheld.
Iran
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the right of Iran to enrich uranium under the terms of the non-proliferation treaty. [164437]
Alistair Burt: The non-proliferation treaty (NPT) does not refer specifically to a right to enrich. Article IV.1 of the NPT says
"Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of the Treaty.”
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However, the international community has lost confidence that Iran's nuclear programme is wholly for peaceful purposes. Iran has a long history of non-compliance with its safeguards obligations and continues to not fully co-operate with ¦the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including on questions it has about activities Iran has carried out relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device. Furthermore, the size and shape of Iran's nuclear programme has no credible civilian explanation.
For this reason the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has required Iran to suspend
“all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities”
“work on all heavy water-related projects”
in successive legally binding resolutions. We continue to call on Iran to meet its international obligations under these UNSC resolutions.
Kidnapping
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the G8 policy paper on the threat posed by kidnapping for ransom by terrorists and the preventive steps the international community can take, published on 18 June 2013, (a) whether the Government have had discussions with interested parties about the freeing of convicted terrorists from prisons in West African states as part of hostage-release packages and (b) what steps he plans to take to encourage travel and insurance companies and other private sector parties to adopt similar guidelines and good practice for preventing and responding to terrorist kidnaps; and if he will make a statement. [163832]
Alistair Burt: The British Government have a long-standing policy of not making or facilitating substantive concessions to hostage-takers. This means the Government will not pay ransoms, exchange prisoners or change Government policy.
We continue to press the international community to follow the UK's lead in not making any concessions to terrorists, at the UN and elsewhere. As the hon. Member notes, the Government recently used their G8 presidency to prioritise this issue and secured a significant G8 commitment unequivocally to reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists. We hope other countries, and businesses and the non-governmental sector in those countries, will follow the G8's lead.
It is already illegal to pay ransoms to terrorists under international and UK law. The British Government regularly engage with the travel industry, journalists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and businesses to ensure that they are taking steps to mitigate against kidnapping of their staff and are clear about how the Government can assist in any response. This includes meetings by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds), with the travel industry on the Sahel region last November and I met with the extractive industry representatives following the tragic attack in In Amenas, Algeria in January.
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Languages
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many London-based staff in his Department have (a) been offered and (b) taken up training in the Mandarin language. [164067]
Alistair Burt: The information is as follows:
(a) This Government are committed to strengthening language skills across the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). As part of our commitment to Diplomatic Excellence, all FCO staff are offered opportunities to learn languages, including Mandarin. Staff appointed to 'speaker slots' are offered full time language training to ensure they achieve the necessary levels of language skills to best deliver HMG's priorities overseas. In addition, e-learning opportunities are available to all staff, and those in London can also apply to join lunchtime and after work classes in Mandarin and a range of other priority languages. To help support this commitment the FCO will open a new Language Centre later this summer.
(b) In the past 12 months, 31 staff have undergone full-time Mandarin language training in preparation for their postings to the region. This includes 20 staff currently in full-time language training either in the UK or overseas. In addition, 40 staff are undertaking part-time developmental language training in Mandarin and 59 more are using our e-learning package to learn Mandarin.
Sahel
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution China has made to peace and security in the Sahel region in recent months. [163997]
Mr Swire: China makes an important contribution to security in Africa, including the Sahel, through its support for the Africa Union and its contributions to peacekeeping missions. We welcome China's announcement in June that it will contribute up to 400 personnel to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.
South China Sea
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether territorial disputes in the South China Sea would have an adverse effect on British exports to the region. [164168]
Mr Swire: The South China Sea is an important shipping route for British and world trade. We estimate that around £40 billion of the UK's total trade in goods passes through annually. We judge that the territorial disputes can be managed without any adverse effect on British exports to the region, provided all the parties to the disputes seek peaceful solutions in accordance with international law and ensure that the freedom of navigation is maintained. This is what we have called for.
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Sudan
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Darfur Initiative in Sudan. [164149]
Mark Simmonds: We believe the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) can play an important role in resolving the conflict in Darfur, and re-committed our support for it at the Darfur Donors' conference in Qatar in April this year. However, implementation is significantly behind schedule and Darfuris have yet to see tangible improvements to their lives. We continue to press the Government of Sudan and the Darfur Regional Authority to implement the DDPD without delay, so that Darfuris see the change they so desperately need.
Sudan and South Sudan
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's officials have been based in UK Trade and Investment in Sudan and South Sudan in each of the last six years. [164150]
Mark Simmonds: From 2008-11, there was one locally-employed member of staff working for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) covering commercial relations for the whole of Sudan and based in the British embassy in Khartoum. Following the independence of South Sudan, UKTI retained the officer in Khartoum until March 2013. Over the period in question, there have been no Juba-based UKTI officials.
Syria
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Syrian Opposition forces about religious toleration, non-sectarianism and the protection of the rights of the Christian minority in Syria. [163761]
Alistair Burt: We are extremely concerned by the rising sectarian tensions in Syria which the actions of the Assad regime are continuing to exacerbate. The regime's actions undermine the stability and security of Syria and thereby endanger all Syria's citizens, including Christians and other religious minorities. As for the Opposition the UK Special Representative to the Opposition, Jon Wilks, is in regular contact with the Syrian National Coalition to stress the need for them to respect fully and protect the rights of all communities, including ethnic and religious minorities. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has personally reinforced these messages to the National Coalition leadership, most recently in Amman on 20 May.
On 20 April the National Coalition published a compact with the international community and the Syrian people in which it confirmed the importance it places on: the inclusion of all Syrians; the rejection of terrorism and extremist groups; and efforts to develop a clear plan for transition. These important steps have enabled many countries to expand their assistance to the opposition. We will continue to raise these crucial issues with the National Coalition on a regular basis, and to emphasise the important that must be attached to them.
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UN Mission in Darfur
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on future UK involvement with UNAMID. [164151]
Mark Simmonds: As acknowledged by the UN Secretary General in his report of 10 April to the UN Security Council, UNAMID could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. Last year's United Nations review of uniformed personnel highlighted the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlined a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources to better meet the mission's mandate. A review of civilian personal is ongoing, and initial recommendations are emerging. We are supportive of both reviews' findings and are encouraging timely implementation of their recommendations.
The restrictions on movement imposed by the Government of Sudan remain a significant challenge to the mission's ability to fulfil its mandate, an issue we raise regularly in Security Council consultations as well as with the Government of Sudan. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians remains with the Government of Sudan.
The UK will continue to support UNAMID—including through considering how we might assist troop-contributing countries to prepare better to carry out the mission’s protection-of-civilians mandate. We hope that the forthcoming renewal of UNAMID's mandate will also see international partners recommit their support to the mission.
Officials have discussed the effectiveness of the mission on a number of occasions over the past few months with the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous, the Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the incoming Force Commander.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on the future of UNAMID in Sudan. [164208]
Mark Simmonds: As acknowledged by the UN Secretary General in his report of 10 April to the UN Security Council, UNAMID could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. Last year's United Nations review of uniformed personnel highlighted the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlined a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources to better meet the mission's mandate. A review of civilian personal is ongoing, and initial recommendations are emerging. We are supportive of both reviews' findings and are encouraging timely implementation of their recommendations.
The restrictions on movement imposed by the Government of Sudan remain a significant challenge to the mission's ability to fulfil its mandate, an issue we raise regularly in Security Council consultations as well as with the Government of Sudan. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians remains with the Government of Sudan.
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The UK will continue to support UNAMID, including through considering how we might assist troop-contributing countries to prepare better to carry out the mission's protection-of-civilians mandate. We hope that the forthcoming renewal of UNAMID's mandate will also see international partners recommit their support to the mission.
Officials have discussed the effectiveness of the mission on a number of occasions over the past few months with the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous, the Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the incoming Force Commander.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the work of UNAMID in Sudan. [164210]
Mark Simmonds: As acknowledged by the UN Secretary General in his report of 10 April to the UN Security Council, UNAMID could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. Last year's United Nations review of uniformed personnel highlighted the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlined a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources to better meet the mission's mandate. A review of civilian personal is ongoing, and initial recommendations are emerging. We are supportive of both reviews' findings and are encouraging timely implementation of their recommendations.
The restrictions on movement imposed by the Government of Sudan remain a significant challenge to the mission's ability to fulfil its mandate, an issue we raise regularly in Security Council consultations as well as with the Government of Sudan. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians remains with the Government of Sudan.
The UK will continue to support UNAMID, including through considering how we might assist troop-contributing countries to prepare better to carry out the mission's protection-of-civilians mandate. We hope that the forthcoming renewal of UNAMID's mandate will also see international partners recommit their support to the mission.
Officials have discussed the effectiveness of the mission on a number of occasions over the past few months with the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous, the Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the incoming Force Commander.
World Trade Organisation
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on whether World Trade Organisation rules hinder prohibitions or other measures preventing child labour. [163942]
Mr Lidington: None. The Government have no current plans to review the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements, which are based on the core principle of non-discrimination and are fit for purpose in terms of regulating international trade. The International Labour Organisation is the correct forum to deal with labour standards and regularly collaborates with the WTO.
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Incentives to tackle child labour are built into the trade agreements, of which the UK is part, through sustainable development clauses, and in the conditions attached to the trade preferences that we provide to developing countries. As an incentive, additional trade preferences are provided to countries that sign up to, and effectively implement, good governance and human rights conventions. However, adopting trade restrictions in the case of a developing country could have the potential to hurt some of the poorest people in the country and set back development.
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of any respects in which World Trade Organisation rules hinder (a) prohibitions against and (b) other measures preventing child labour. [163992]
Mr Lidington: None. The Government have no current plans to review the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements which are based on the core principle of non-discrimination and are fit for purpose in terms of regulating international trade. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the correct forum to deal with labour standards and regularly collaborates with the WTO.
Incentives to tackle child labour are built into the trade agreements the UK is part of through sustainable development clauses, and in the conditions attached to the trade preferences we provide to developing countries. As an incentive, additional trade preferences are provided to countries which sign up to and effectively implement good governance and human rights conventions. However, adopting trade restrictions in the case of a developing country could have the potential to hurt some of the poorest people in the country and set back development.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol. [164126]
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol. [164323]
Mr Jeremy Browne [holding answer 9 July 2013]: The public consultation on the Government's alcohol strategy closed on 6 February 2013. We will publish our response in due course.
Homicide
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been victims of domestic homicide in each police force area in each of the last five years. [164427]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The information requested is given in the table.
The available information relates to crimes recorded on the Homicide Index in England and Wales from 2007-08 to 2011-12.
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| Table 1: Female victims of domestic homicide(1) recorded by the police, by police force area, 2007-08 to 2011-12 | |||||
| Police force area | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| (1) Homicides where the victim's relationship to principal suspect is ‘spouse, cohabiting partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, ex-spouse/ex-cohabiting partner/ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, adulterous relationship, lover's spouse or emotional rival’. Note: As at 1 November 2012; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. | |||||
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Human Trafficking
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions (a) she and (b) the Minister for Immigration has had with (i) the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and (ii) the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs in the Scottish Government on human trafficking in the UK. [158725]
Mr Harper: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office website and can be found on the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inter-departmental-ministerial-group-on-human-trafficking-minutes
Immigration: Northern Ireland
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people suspected of immigration breaches have been detained at (a) airports and (b) sea ports in Northern Ireland in each year since 2007. [162551]
Mr Harper: Detailed records about our in-country immigration work that targets domestic routes to and from Northern Ireland's air and sea ports are available from financial year (April to March) 2010-11 when responsibility for this work transferred to immigration officers in Northern Ireland. Over the last three years 740 immigration offenders were detected using these routes:
At the airports: 82 offenders were detected during 2012-13—compared with 83 in 2011-12 and 132 in 2010-11.
At the seaports: 122 offenders were detected at the sea ports during 2012-13—compared with 242 in 2011-12 and 79 in 2010-11.
At the border: The seaports are domestic routes and therefore not subject to international border controls. At Northern Ireland airports, Border Force Immigration Officers have issued 296 refusals to enter the UK since 2009 when detailed records were introduced. So far this year 25 passengers have been refused entry to the UK—compared with 69 in 2012, 40 in 2011, 72 in 2010 and 90 in 2009.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Warley can expect to receive a reply from her Department to his letter of 8 April 2013 to the UK Border Agency regarding the case of Mr Yudon Singh. [161815]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 10 July 2013.
Police: Recordings
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions the police may legally tape record a meeting between a solicitor and their client without seeking prior consent from both parties. [163161]
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James Brokenshire: It would not be legal for the police to record a meeting between a detainee and their legal representative except under certain, very limited, circumstances, as set out in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. These include matters relating to national security or the protection of public safety where the use of covert surveillance is likely to yield intelligence necessary to counter a serious threat. This would need to be authorised by a chief constable and would require the approval of a surveillance commissioner.
UK Border Agency
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the UK were made redundant and subsequently rehired in each of the last three years. [156163]
Mr Harper: The UK Border Agency has not re-employed any staff made redundant.
Some staff who left under voluntary exit terms have been re-employed both directly and indirectly on various types of contract to meet specific business needs. 61 of these staff currently remain employed (as detailed in the table):
| Contract type | Total |
Of those given such contracts the regional breakdown is as follows:
| Staff taking voluntary exit, rehired by year(1) | ||||
| Area | 2011(2) | 2012 | 2013 | Of which: Still on post on 28 May 2013 |
| (1) Figures given are for UK Border Agency and exclude Border Force. (2) Fiscal years 18 April to 31 March 2011 etc. Note: We do not release work force numbers of between 1 and 3 to avoid identifying individuals. Totals for this range are shown as 3. | ||||
Youth Work
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [164082]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office has provided funding for a range of early intervention programmes targeting young people. These have included the Ending Gang and Youth Violence Programme, Positive Futures and funding for local youth crime and substance misuse prevention services. Funding for these programmes totalled £19,313,000 in 2010-11; £27,813,000 in 2011-12 and £33,713,000 in 2012-13.
Alongside Home Office funding for specific intervention programmes, local authorities also provide funding for youth services.
Defence
Afghanistan
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the UK has spent on construction and maintenance of Camp Bastion in each financial year since 2002. [164097]
Dr Murrison [holding answer 8 July 2013]:Camp Bastion was constructed in 2006, so information prior to this date, does not exist. Nor is it possible to identify all Bastion construction and operation and maintenance costs, since 2006, as a number of the relevant contracts covered all of our larger bases. These costs are therefore accounted for collectively for all bases in Afghanistan and are as follows:
| Financial year | Costs (£ million) |
Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2013, Official Report, column 495W, on armed forces: sexual offences, what sanctions against a perpetrator are available to a commanding officer following the conclusion of an investigation of a sexual offence listed in schedule 2 to the Armed Forces Act 2006 which they have undertaken; and if he will make a statement. [161388]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence takes the issue of sexual offences in the armed forces very seriously and this is reflected in the policy dealing with those offences that are listed in schedule 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2006. A commanding officer has a legal duty to ensure that the service police are informed of any offence or suspected offence listed under schedule 2. The service police will undertake the investigation which, on its conclusion, will be referred to the Director Service Prosecutions (DSP). If the DSP decides to bring a prosecution this will result in a court martial.
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Armed Forces: Wales
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving members of the (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army have asked for voluntary early release, at each base located in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [163828]
Mr Francois: The information is not held in the format requested. However, statistics on the number of Army personnel who have applied for redundancy under Tranche 3 will be available shortly. Information on the armed forces redundancy programme is published by Defence Statistics and is available from their website at:
http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&pubType=0&thiscontent=5100&PublishTime =09:30:00&date=2010-08-24&disText=Tranche2&from= listing&topDate=2012-08-24
The information published is not broken down by location. I will write to the hon. Member with the breakdown by local authority.
Service personnel who applied for redundancy under Tranches 1 and 2 have already left the Department.
The selection of an individual for redundancy cannot be assumed to imply that the post they occupy on the date of notification is no longer required and as such the geographical distribution of redundancy notices is not a valid basis for assumptions about the future distribution of military posts.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civilians and (b) serving military personnel are employed by the (i) Royal Air Force, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Army in Wales; where they are located; and if he will make a statement. [163831]
Mr Francois: The following table details the number of employed civilians and serving armed forces personnel by service and local authority who were located in Wales as at 1 April 2013.
| Place of work by local authority | Civilian personnel | Naval service personnel | Army personnel | Royal Air Force personnel |
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| Notes: 1. ‘—’ = zero or rounded to zero 2. Where rounding has been used, totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in ‘5’ have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 3. Civilian figures are based on full-time equivalents and include trading funds, but exclude Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel. 4. Figures for UK regular armed forces (including trained and untrained personnel) and therefore exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists. 5. Naval service personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. 6. Royal Air Force other ranks serving in the South Atlantic are shown against the location containing their home base. | ||||
Defence Vetting Agency
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed by the Defence Vetting Agency in (a) York and (b) total at 1 April in each year since it was created. [164143]
Mr Francois: The figures in the following table represent people employed by the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting for 2012 and 2013 and its predecessor the Defence Vetting Agency until 2011. (Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10).
| Staff based in York | Overall total | |
Defence: Procurement
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which financial year will act as the baseline from which the annual real terms one per cent increase in defence equipment spending will be calculated; [164441]
(2) whether equipment support will be subject to an annual real terms 1% increase after 2015. [164443]
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Mr Dunne: As the 2013 spending round set out, the baseline year for the annual one per cent increase in equipment spending, which includes both procurement and support spending, is financial year 2015-16, with the increase continuing each year thereafter. This is because the baseline year needs to take account of the new efficiencies identified in the spending round 2013, which have been factored in to our plans before calculating the 1% increase.
Government Communications Headquarters: Morwenstow
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what agency and individual those working at CSO Morwenstow are accountable. [163748]
Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Those working at Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Bude, previously known as the Composite Signals Organisation Station Morwenstow, are accountable to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) US army, (b) US air force, (c) US navy and US marines, (d) NSA personnel, (e) US contractors, (f) British contractors, (g) British Army, (h) British Air Force, (i) British Navy and (j) Ministry of Defence personnel work at CSO Morwenstow. [163750]
Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
There are approximately 200 people working at Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Bude (previously known as the Composite Signals Organisation Station Morwenstow). It is long standing Government policy not to provide a detailed breakdown of staffing at GCHQ sites.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on negotiating a reduction in rent at RAF St. Athan for 71 (IR) Squadron; and if he will make a statement. [163830]
Mr Francois: There have been no discussions with the Welsh Government over negotiating a reduction in rent at RAF St. Athan for 71 (IR) Squadron.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed relocation of 71 (IR) Squadron from RAF St. Athan to RAF Wittering on his Department's footprint in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [163833]
Dr Murrison: The Defence Estate Rationalisation written ministerial statement of 25 March 2013, Official Report, columns 65-68WS, confirmed that No. 71(IR) Squadron will relocate from St Athan to RAF Wittering.
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No. 71(IR) Squadron has 47 service personnel who will relocate to RAF Wittering. The squadron also has 27 civilian posts and, subject to a period of trade union consultation, those who are of a mobile grade will be given the opportunity to transfer with the squadron to RAF Wittering, while the remainder will be provided with every assistance to find alternative employment either in the MOD or with other Government Departments in the vicinity.
However, the Army Basing Plan announcement of 5 March 2013 confirmed that a significant defence presence would remain in Wales with 14 Signal Regiment relocating to St Athan from Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy in addition to our wider footprint in Wales.
Reserve Forces
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of his proposed reforms to the Army reservist system. [164033]
Mr Francois: Reserves make an essential contribution to national security. In future, their contribution to our Defence capability will increase as they become an integrated part of the whole force required for almost all operations, both at home and abroad. We have allocated an additional £1.8 billion to deliver the tri-Service Future Reserves 2020 capability.
Mr Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of new reservists recruited from regular service personnel previously made redundant. [164410]
Mr Francois: The most recent information available is for 1 April 2013. At that date, of the UK Regular and Gurkha personnel (both trained and untrained) who have left the services since September 2011 under the current UK Armed Forces Redundancy Programme, 140 were members of the Volunteer Reserve forces.
Transforming the Territorial Army into a capable, integrated Army Reserve enhances the opportunities for ex-regulars to contribute their collective training experience. There is a comprehensive information campaign to ensure all service leavers, not just redundees, are aware of the opportunities and benefits of joining the reserves, including a commitment bonus worth £5,000, paid over four years.
Staff
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [162612]
Mr Francois: External civilian recruitment to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for grades below the senior civil service (SCS) is carried out by Defence Business Services. Where external recruitment for SCS level posts is required, recruitment agencies may be asked to carry out an initial search for suitable candidates. In financial year (FY) 2012-13 the MOD spent £272,483 on recruitment agency fees in connection with SCS level recruitment.
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MOD support to staff that are leaving on redundancy or voluntary release includes access to the outplacement service (MODOPS). MODOPS is a contractor-operated service which helps staff to find work outside the civil service, giving guidance on subjects including job-searching, CV writing, interview preparation and financial planning. Expenditure through MODOPS in FY 2012-13 was some £207,570, which is a reduction of approximately 17% on expenditure in FY 2011-12.
The Defence Academy is the primary provider of training and education to civilian personnel, both through courses run on-site, and through the provision of e-learning, including the running of Defence e-learning centres. Specialist and functional training is also procured from a range of external suppliers. Some training is delivered locally, usually by civilian or military staff for whom training is not a full-time responsibility, but the costs of locally delivered training are not separately identified and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of total expenditure on staff training in FY 2012-13 are not held centrally. However, the Defence Academy outturn for FY 2012-13 was £125.4 million.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ash Dieback Disease
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the Chalara Control Plan has made on (a) reducing the rate of spread and (b) developing resistance to the disease in the native UK ash tree population; and what management guidance his Department has offered to land owners with trees showing signs of the fungus. [163739]
Mr Heath: The Government are pursuing a collaborative and largely voluntary approach to slowing the spread of Chalara in England, by encouraging landowners to remove recently planted, infected trees which could increase the rate of spread. The Forestry Commission has published guidance to support the Chalara Management Plan and its recommendations. This includes cost effective options for removal, disposal and replanting, as well as management of infected trees and general woodland management. Further guidance may be developed or revised as the management plan develops.
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara#managing%20infected%20trees
Since the end of April, landowners in some parts of England have been able to apply for grants under the England Woodland Grant scheme (EWGS), to support the removal of young, infected ash trees. Landowners throughout England have been able to apply for grants under EWGS to enable them to plant other trees in areas where they would once have planted ash.
Alongside this we are supporting a £2.4 million research programme to identify potential treatments and genetic resistance. Work on the resistance trials started in May. The Forestry Commission is running large-scale field trials and is planting 250,000 young ash trees in infected areas to screen for possible sources of resistance. We have also commissioned research to investigate genetic resistance in a laboratory setting. The Food and Environment Research Agency is currently trialling 14 treatments that could help slow the spread of Chalara.
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Biodiversity
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent specifically for the benefit of biodiversity on the public forest estate in each year since 2004-05. [163872]
Mr Heath: While all sustainable forest management can benefit biodiversity, the Forestry Commission has spent the money shown in the following table specifically for the benefit of biodiversity on the public forest estate:
| Financial year | Spend on public forest estate (£) |
Environment Protection
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what amount his Department spent and on what projects under the Addressing environmental risk and emergencies programme identified in his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 in each of the last three years; and what the projected spend under that programme is for each (a) scheme and (b) individual project in each of the next three years; [164389]
(2) what amount his Department spent and on what projects under the Sustainable consumption and production programme identified in his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 in each of the last three years; and what the projected spend under that programme is for each (a) scheme and (b) individual project in each of the next three years; [164390]
(3) which programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under the championing sustainable development programme in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years. [164447]
Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July, Official Report, column 828W.
A table detailing the breakdown of the priorities by programme has been placed in the House Library.
Flood Control
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made in trends in breaches of flood defences over the last 15 years. [164146]
Richard Benyon:
Environment Agency managed flood defence assets include walls, embankments, demountable barriers, bridge abutments, gates and quays, semi-natural
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structures such as dunes and beaches, pumping stations, bridges, weirs, sluices, outfalls and conveyance maintenance on 39,000 km of channels and culverts.
There have been 12 recorded breaches over the last 15 years, primarily associated with large scale flood events in 2007 and 2012, making it difficult to determine any trends.
The vast majority of flood defences in England have performed as expected during floods and protected many thousands of homes.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) maintenance of flood defences and (b) new capital expenditure on flood defences in each year since 1997; and how much such spending is planned in each of the next 10 years. [164246]
Richard Benyon: The tables show the level of funding provided by DEFRA for flood defences since 1997. Prior to 2004 the majority of funding was provided by local government.
Where possible the amount of DEFRA funding provided for revenue (including the maintenance of flood defences) and capital expenditure (building new flood defences) has been identified.
The tables also include the forecast spend on revenue up to 2015-16 and the capital figures up to 2020-21, as announced in the 26 June spending review.
| DEFRA Funding for flood defences | |
| £ million | |
| £ million | |||
| Revenue including maintenance | Capital | Total | |
| Forecast spend | |||
| £ million | |||
| Revenue including maintenance | Capital (rising with inflation from 2015-16) | Total | |
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| Note: DEFRA figures. | |||
Floods: Insurance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects his negotiations on flood insurance with the insurance industry to be concluded; and if he will make a statement. [164277]
Richard Benyon: On 27 June 2013 the Government announced a headline agreement with the insurance industry to guarantee affordable flood insurance for households in high-risk areas.
There are still a number of details to work through. We will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure people have access to flood insurance in the long-term. Once we have finalised our approach, legislation will need to be passed by Parliament and state aid clearance obtained from the European Commission.
Noise: Pollution Control
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in his Department are engaged in the promotion of measures to reduce noise; and if he will make a statement. [164036]
Richard Benyon: The equivalent of 6.2 full-time officials are currently engaged in the implementation of the Government's policy on environmental, neighbour and neighbourhood noise.
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to promote the Noise Strategy since May 2007; and if he will make a statement. [164038]
Richard Benyon: The Government's strategic aims for noise are set out in the Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE). This seeks to promote good health and a good quality of life through the effective management of noise in the context of Government policy on sustainable development.
The NPSE has been widely promoted and is now reflected in many other policies such as the National Planning Policy Framework, the National Policy Statements that support Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, and the Aviation Policy Framework. Its aims are also embedded in the transport Noise Action Plans, which seek to encourage appropriate action to manage noise at the local level. The NPSE is available online at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69533/pb13750-noise-policy.pdf
and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
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Phytophthora Ramorum
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effect on forests of the spread of phytophthora ramorum in the larch tree population; what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of phytophthora ramorum; and what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Welsh Government on this issue. [163741]
Mr Heath: Since the first finding in larch in 2009, Phytophthora ramorum has been found in large areas of larch forest in parts of the UK. This year substantial new areas have been found to be infected, notably in the previously infected regions of south Wales and south-west Scotland.
The potential for further spread is being assessed through an ongoing modelling project and given favourable conditions for the development of the disease, spread is likely. A five-year programme to reduce levels of the disease to epidemiologically insignificant levels began in 2009, prior to the finding in larch. Actions under the programme include removal of plant species which are most effective in spreading the organism; surveillance of horticultural and forestry production; research; and raising public awareness about the organism and plant health risks more widely. The five year programme covers England and Wales, and officials are in regular contact about its implementation. The programme has recently been reviewed to inform decisions on future action against Phytophthora ramorum in the broader context of DEFRA's plant health programme.
No ministerial discussions with Welsh colleagues have taken place about Phytophthora ramorum.
Plastic Bags
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the first-year results of the plastic bag levy in Wales and come to a decision on introducing a levy on single-use plastic bags in England. [163974]
Richard Benyon: We remain determined to tackle the blight caused by discarded plastic bags. We are continuing to monitor progress of the charging scheme in Wales; data from the first year of the charge will be available this summer. The scheme in Northern Ireland started in April and the outcome of the Scottish consultation on a charge has now been announced. We are considering the results of all these schemes so that we can make a fully informed decision.
Primates: Pets
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the keeping of primates as pets. [164555]
Mr Heath: Anyone compromising the welfare of a primate or causing it any unnecessary suffering in the way it is being kept, is breaching the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and therefore already committing an offence. The Government therefore have no proposals to ban the keeping of primates as pets.
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Recycling: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of waste collected in City of York was recycled in each year since 2008-09; and what funding his Department provided to City of York council to increase recycling rates in each of those years. [163873]
Richard Benyon: The proportion of waste collected by City of York council that was recycled for the years 2008-09 to 2011-12 is shown in the following table:
| Financial year | Percentage recycled |
The statistics include waste that was composted and items that were reused.
DEFRA has not provided funding to City of York council to increase recycling in the years specified.
Rural Areas: Broadband
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the rollout of broadband in rural areas. [164811]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs meets regularly with his counterpart at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to discuss roll-out of the £530 million rural broadband programme. We are determined to deliver this quickly to provide 90% of premises with superfast broadband at 24 megabits a second, and elsewhere with standard broadband of at least two megabits a second. Future discussions will also focus on the £250 million additional broadband funding announced as part of the spending review.
Sky Lanterns
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to introduce a total ban on the sale of Chinese lanterns. [163598]
Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
I refer the hon. Member for Llanelli to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Derby North (Chris Williamson), on 4 July 2013, Official Report, column 775W.
Vending Machines
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vending machines in his Department's premises contain snack foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value. [163524]
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Richard Benyon [holding answer 5 July 2013]: The premises occupied by core DEFRA do not have vending machines.
Youth Work
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164079]
Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA does not have a central budget for youth work. It would be of disproportionate cost to identify if youth work was allocated funding by specific policy projects.