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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 18 July 2013
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Hezbollah
Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Hezbollah involvement in Syria. [165717]
Alistair Burt: We judge that thousands of Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon are supporting the Assad regime's brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people as demonstrated in Qusayr and Homs. Any Hezbollah involvement in Syria is simply prolonging the Assad regime's brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people. The UK unequivocally condemns these actions. The consequences of overspill of the Syria crisis to neighbouring countries like Lebanon has a seriously destabilising effect on the region as a whole. This is entirely contrary to the interests of Lebanon. It is vital that further contagion is avoided at all costs and a speedy resolution to the conflict is achieved as soon as possible.
Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has stated that Hezbollah fighters are active in Syria. [165719]
Alistair Burt: The Hezbollah leadership openly acknowledge their involvement inside Syria. The UK unequivocally condemns these actions. The consequences of overspill of the Syria crisis to neighbouring countries like Lebanon has a seriously destabilising effect on the region as a whole. This is entirely contrary to the interests of Lebanon. It is vital that further contagion is avoided at all cost and a speedy resolution to the conflict is achieved as soon as possible.
Shaker Aamer
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, column 631W, on Shaker Aamer, what steps he is taking to ensure Shaker Aamer is released into UK jurisdiction as a matter of urgency and not forcibly sent to any other country upon release; what representations he has made to the new State Department envoy Clifford Sloan on this matter; what steps he has taken to follow up the Prime Minister's raising of the case with President Obama at the G8 summit; and if he will make a statement. [166061]
Alistair Burt:
Mr Aamer's case remains a high priority for the UK Government and Ministers and senior officials maintain an active dialogue with the US on this issue. Following the G8, the Prime Minister wrote to President Obama regarding Mr Aamer's case. The UK
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Government are committed to engaging with the Special Envoys for Guantanamo Bay, in the US Departments of State and Defense, as soon as possible. Any decision regarding Mr Aamer's release remains in the hands of the US Government.
Sri Lanka
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer from the Deputy Prime Minister to the right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark of 15 May 2013, Official Report, column 634, on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, what consequences the Government are considering against Sri Lanka; and under what circumstances such consequences would be invoked. [166179]
Alistair Burt: The British Government continue to raise concerns about lack of progress on post-conflict reconciliation, accountability, and the current human rights situation with the Government of Sri Lanka. We have been clear that we expect progress in both these areas and also access by media and civil society to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), as well as free, fair and peaceful Northern Provincial Council elections in September.
In attending CHOGM, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary will see the situation on the ground, speak with the Government of Sri Lanka, and draw international attention to either progress made or the lack of it.
We co-sponsored the Human Rights Council Resolution on Sri Lanka which passed with increased support in March 2013. The council will return to the issue of Sri Lanka in September and next March. If that is against the backdrop of insufficient progress on Sri Lanka's own commitments, or deterioration in the human rights situation, we will look for a strong and unified response.
Uganda
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to civil society groups, churches and media organisations (a) in Uganda and (b) internationally in relation to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill before the Ugandan Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [166234]
Mark Simmonds: Our high commission in Kampala has discussed our concerns about the Anti-Homosexuality Bill with a wide range of interlocutors, including from religious groups and the media, and works closely with Ugandan civil society groups campaigning for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights, including support for training, advocacy, and legal cases. President Museveni and I discussed the issue with civil society representatives during a visit to Uganda on 9 April. Officials have also consulted closely with UK based international non-governmental organisations on our approach.
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Uganda in relation to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill before the Ugandan Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [166235]
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Mark Simmonds: The Government are committed to ensuring that Lesbian. Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people around the world are free to live their lives in a safe and just environment. We have raised our concerns about the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill with the Ugandan Government at the highest levels. Most recently, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, raised this issue with the Foreign Minister of Uganda in May.
USA
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the existence of fraudulent websites selling fake electronic systems for travel authorization certificates to people planning to travel to the US; and what steps his Department plans to take against such sites. [166196]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of the existence of websites not endorsed by the US Government offering to help facilitate the application of the Electronic System for Travel Authorisations (ESTAs) for the US. We have advised those seeking travel to the US to be wary of such websites on the UK Government's US travel advice pages. We also provide travellers with the link to the genuine website for ESTA applications.
Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department provides services to people resident in Wales or usually resident in Wales. [166106]
Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides consular services to all British nationals when they are abroad, regardless of where they reside. This is explained in the FCO's publication, “Support for British nationals abroad: A Guide”, on
www.gov.uk
Electoral Commission Committee
Electoral Register: British Nationals Abroad
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate he has made of the total number of potential overseas nationals who are entitled to register for an overseas vote; and how many such people were registered to vote in the (a) 2005 and (b) 2010 General Elections. [164629]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has made no estimate of the total number of overseas nationals who are eligible to register to vote in elections in the United Kingdom. The dispersed nature of, and lack of data on, this potential electorate makes it very difficult to conduct surveys on this issue.
There have, however, been two relatively recent estimates of the total number of UK citizens living abroad that the Commission refers to when planning its work on overseas voters. One by the Institute for Public Policy Research, in 2006, put the number at 5.5 million and
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one by the World Bank, in 2010, estimated it to be 4.7 million
(1). Neither estimate takes eligibility, based on either age or the 15-year rule, into account.
Figures on the number of registered overseas electors are available only for December each year, when the new registers are published. The number of overseas voters before and after the last two general elections was:
December 2004: 9,672
December 2005: 18,947
December 2009: 14,901
December 2010: 32,739
(1 )The World Bank, Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLAC/Resources/Factbook2011-Ebook.pdf
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, (1) what target the Electoral Commission has to increase the number of overseas voters (a) registered and (b) voting in the next general election; [164630]
(2) what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to increase awareness of overseas electors of their entitlement to vote before the next election; and how such steps will differ from previous elections. [164631]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not set specific targets regarding the number of voters overseas that are either registered or use their vote. The Commission will, however, deliver a public awareness campaign to encourage British citizens living overseas to register to vote ahead of the European parliamentary elections in 2014 and the UK parliamentary election in 2015. The Commission's campaigns will be informed by evidence obtained from its most recent overseas voter campaign, which took place during the 2011 UK wide referendum on the parliamentary voting system, and the latest insights into communication techniques since then, particularly new ways to reach people online.
The Commission's campaigns are expected to focus on the 10 countries with the largest expatriate populations (determined by the latest ONS data) and will include activity on specific websites accessed by overseas, such as BBC.com and editorial coverage in newspapers and on radio stations with a large expatriate audience.
In addition, the Commission is working with overseas representatives from each of the political parties to identify practical ways to reach overseas electors. It has also commenced discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure they provide the support of consulates and embassies, particularly in regions with large expatriate communities.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recommendations the Electoral Commission has made to the Government to make it easier for overseas voters to register. [164632]
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Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission has recommended that the Government take appropriate steps to ensure that eligible British citizens living overseas are able to register online from the point at which the individual electoral registration digital service goes live, which is currently planned for summer 2014.
The Commission has also recommended that all electoral registration officers in Great Britain should be required to offer this method of registration, and that the service should not be provided at their discretion. The Commission will issue guidance to support electoral registration officers and their staff in implementing any changes.
Electoral Systems
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recommendations the Electoral Commission has carried out into different overseas voting systems around the world; and what conclusions have been drawn that would be applicable to the UK. [164633]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission has informed me that it has not carried out detailed work in this area nor made any specific recommendations for change. The Commission has, however, recommended changes to the current rules that will help overseas voters, including extending the timetable for elections in order to allow overseas voters more time to vote by post. This change is expected to come into effect for elections from 2014 onwards.
The Commission is aware that some other countries offer different solutions to help overseas electors participate in elections and believes a choice of voting methods is important. Any proposals to change the voting methods available to overseas electors would need to be carefully assessed before they are introduced, including to make sure that they are secure and cost effective. This assessment would include any relevant evidence available from other comparable democracies.
Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many overseas nationals are entitled to register to vote according to their current country of residence. [164634]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission has informed me that it does not hold information on the number of overseas nationals entitled to register to vote according to their current country of residence.
The total number of UK citizens registered as overseas voters at 1 December 2012 was 19,245.
Wales
Overseas Aid
Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which projects administered by the National Assembly for Wales are UK overseas development assistance (ODA) attributable; what the total value of
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the Assembly's contribution to UK ODA was in
(a)
2010,
(b)
2011 and
(c)
2012; and what the value of that contribution will be in 2013. [165942]
Mr David Jones: The total value of the Welsh Government contribution to UK ODA was:
(a) 2010: £1,040,387
(b) 2011: £1,032,284
(c) 2012: £966,000 (provisional figure).
Details of the specific projects administered by the Welsh Assembly that are overseas development assistance (ODA) attributable are available from the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government Budget for 2013-14 identifies a planned spend of £845,000 on international development.
Attorney-General
Duwayne Brooks
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether any lawyers who worked on the 1993 prosecution of Duwayne Brooks are still employed by the Crown Prosecution Service. [165156]
The Attorney-General: It has been established that some copy papers from the destroyed Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) file relating to this case were retained by the Home Office as part of the MacPherson inquiry. A copy of the papers was given to the CPS on 15 July and this indicates that two of the lawyers who worked on this prosecution of Duwayne Brooks are still employed by the CPS.
Grant Thornton
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Law Officers’ Departments have spent on contracts with Grant Thornton in each year since 2008. [165684]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.
| Expenditure with Grant Thornton by the Law Officers’ Departments | |||
| £ | |||
| TSol | CPS | SFO | |
The Attorney-General’s office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate have not incurred any expenditure with Grant Thornton during the specified period of time.
Serious Fraud Office
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he took to avoid the £15,000 unauthorised ex-gratia payment to the Serious Fraud Office’s former chief operating officer being paid out of the public purse. [166223]
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The Attorney-General: As set out in my written ministerial statement of 4 December 2012, Official Report, columns 51-52WS, and explained by David Green CB QC in his evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on 7 March 2013, the director of the Serious Fraud Office sought legal advice on the enforceability of the contracts entered into by the previous director. That advice said that the agreements the SFO had entered into were enforceable by law.
However, as recommended by the Public Accounts Committee, the director of the SFO has written to the recipients of the unauthorised ex-gratia payments to request they repay the money.
Serious Fraud Office
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether there have been any recent instances of evidence for current or past Serious Fraud Office investigations being (a) lost or (b) returned to the wrong people. [160059]
The Attorney-General: The Serious Fraud Office is currently investigating one incident of data loss relating to a closed case. I will write to the hon. Member once this investigation is complete.
Work and Pensions
Apprentices
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many apprenticeships his Department offered to people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 21 and (c) 22 to 26 years old in each year since 2010. [165882]
Mr Hoban: Since 2010 the following number of apprenticeship places have been offered in DWP:
| Placements | |
All apprentices are aged between 18 and 24 but, as there is no requirement to capture information in the required format, we are not able to provide a further breakdown on age ranges without incurring disproportionate cost.
Child Benefit
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of people claiming child benefit for children living outside the UK; and if he will make a statement. [165661]
Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
European economic area nationals with a right to reside in the UK are entitled under European law to claim child benefit in respect of their dependent children resident outside the UK.
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These rules also apply to UK nationals living elsewhere in the EEA claiming that country's equivalent of child benefit for their children resident in the UK.
The Government are reviewing the rules for this issue in line with making sure that the UK has a fair and proportional welfare system.
Employment and Support Allowance
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the outcome of the investigation undertaken by his Department into the telephone security questions asked of applicants for employment and support allowance was; [166169]
(2) when he will publish the outcome of his Department's review of the telephone security questions asked of applicants for employment and support allowance; [166171]
(3) when his Department's investigation into the effectiveness of security questions asked on the telephone of applicants for employment and support allowance (a) started and (b) concluded. [166173]
Mr Hoban: The review commenced in June 2012 and was concluded June 2013. The review concluded that the security system used by the Department for Work and Pensions did not deliver the anticipated cost savings. As a result of this, and in addition to user feedback, the decision was made to remove it and revert to the previous system, where contact centre agents perform security checks manually. Managers will regularly quality check a sample of calls to ensure that security procedures are followed correctly.
As the review of the telephone security questions was internal, the Department for Work and Pensions will not be publishing a report.
Flexible Support Fund
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria was used to allocate money to local authorities under the Support Fund. [166540]
Steve Webb: The money was allocated based on the percentage of spend of the discretionary Social Fund budget in a local authority area between April 2011 and September 2011. That was the most up-to-date information the Government had on Social Fund spend by local authority area at the time of allocation.
Housing Benefit: Gwynedd
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of need for discretionary housing payment in Gwynedd as a result of the under-occupancy penalty. [166616]
Steve Webb: The allocation of funding for discretionary housing payments for all local authorities was agreed following consultation with local authority associations. The distribution formula is intended, as far as possible, to target resources according to need within each individual authority.
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Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in private rented accommodation are in receipt of housing benefit. [166130]
Steve Webb: The information requested for the number of housing benefit recipients who are living in private rented accommodation, can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm
Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the full cost to the Exchequer of reinstating the under-occupancy penalty in fiscal year 2015-16. [164543]
Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
Table 2.2 of Budget 2013 shows that the removal of the spare room subsidy in housing benefit from working-age tenants in the social rented sector is expected to save £465 million in 2015-16.
It is not the Government's policy to reinstate the spare room subsidy.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Scotland
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of a seven day wait before jobseekers can claim jobseeker's allowance on (a) poverty levels, (b) child poverty levels, (c) food poverty levels and (d) temporary poverty levels in Scotland. [166224]
Mr Hoban: No such assessments have been made. The increase of waiting days to seven will have a single effect at the start of a person's entitlement when final wages will often be available.
Pensions: Fraud
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-UK-based companies are currently being investigated by the Pensions Regulator for the misappropriation of UK pension funds; and if he will make a statement. [166165]
Steve Webb: The existence of the anti-avoidance powers acts as a strong deterrent and enables the Pensions Regulator to ensure the best outcome for schemes and members without invoking those powers. Consequently, it has not found it necessary to use its powers on a widespread basis.
Decisions on whether to use its anti-avoidance powers are made by the Regulator's Determinations Panel, which although legally part of the Regulator, is not involved in the investigation of cases. Once a determination has been made the outcome is then made public.
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Personal Independence Payment
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) multiple sclerosis nurse specialists and (b) other nurse specialists will (i) complete factual report forms in relation to personal independence payments and (ii) be paid to do so; and if he will make a statement. [166311]
Esther McVey: The health professionals conducting personal independence payment assessments will consider each case individually and decide whether further evidence would help inform their advice to DWP. Where they decide to gather further evidence, they will issue a factual report form to the relevant professional.
We recognise that disabled people are experts in their own lives and information provided by them will play an important part of the process. The individual is asked which professionals are best placed to provide supporting evidence on their claim. We expect evidence to come from a variety of sources, including GPs, hospital consultants, social workers and, where relevant, specialist nurses. If it is appropriate to do so, health professionals may request evidence from a multiple sclerosis nurse specialist.
The Department pays GPs for completed factual report forms. Other professionals do not receive a fee.
Redundancy
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many employees of the Health and Safety Executive resident in Scotland have been made redundant through compulsory redundancy schemes since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse of such schemes has been; [166219]
(2) how many employees of the Health and Safety Executive resident in Scotland have been made redundant through compulsory redundancy schemes since May 2010; and how much this has cost his Department. [165556]
Mr Hoban: The Health and Safety Executive has not made any of its employees resident in Scotland redundant through compulsory redundancy schemes since May 2010; and therefore there is a nil cost.
Social Security Benefits
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of single earner families with net annual earnings of £26,000 who are also in receipt of (a) child benefit, (b) tax credits and (c) housing benefit; what account he has taken of the receipt of state benefits by single earner families with such annual earnings in the (i) formulation and (ii) communication of the Government's benefits cap policy; and if he will make a statement. [166310]
Mr Hoban: These estimates are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Working households are outside of the scope of the benefit cap. Median earnings are used as the basis of the level of the benefit cap. In work benefits are not therefore included in an income calculation to set this level.
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The benefit cap will ensure that no family on benefits will receive more than a working family's average salary. It is primarily intended to act as a work incentive. That is why all households which include a member who is entitled to working tax credit are exempt from the benefit cap, as announced in the 2010 spending review.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households affected by the benefit cap in the pilot areas have moved out of London since the cap was introduced. [166322]
Mr Hoban: This information is not available.
Social Security Benefits: Greater London
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households have had their weekly income (a) reduced and (b) reduced by over £100 in (i) Croydon, (ii) Bromley, (iii) Enfield and (iv) Haringey as a result of the introduction of the benefit cap in those areas on 15 April 2013. [166312]
Mr Hoban: The benefit cap commenced phased implementation in the four named boroughs on 15 April 2013. The Department has since published ad hoc statistics that provide this breakdown to the end of May; these can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210056/Benefit_cap_FINAL.pdf
Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department provides services to people resident in Wales or usually resident in Wales. [166113]
Mr Hoban: In line with its Welsh language scheme the Department ensures that all services provided for the public in Wales are available in Welsh, and that customers are aware of this fact.
The Department has ensured that processes are in place across the various business arms to enable customers to deal with us in their preferred language, verbally or in writing, throughout their dealings with us. This applies for written, telephone, face to face and digital contact.
Welsh Language
Guto Bebb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has a current
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Welsh Language scheme; when that scheme was adopted; and whether it has been reviewed since May 2011. [166095]
Mr Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions has a Welsh language scheme which was approved by the former Welsh Language Board on 25 March 2010. Previously there were specific schemes in existence for the Employment Service, Benefits Agency, Pension Service and other constituent parts of the business.
The Department has a dedicated Welsh Language Unit to oversee the requirements of the scheme. The scheme is kept under constant review and the Department has reported annually each June to the Welsh Language Commissioner on progress against its objectives when delivering services in Wales.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which people finding jobs through the Work Programme are doing so in (a) small firms and (b) large firms; and if he will make a statement; [166320]
(2) what assessment he has made of the sectors which have proved most likely to employ jobseekers participating in the Work Programme; and if he will make a statement. [166321]
Mr Hoban: Information on job starts from the Work Programme is not available.
The Department does not hold information on the size of firm or the sector that have employed jobseekers who participated in the Work Programme.
Work Programme: Ashfield
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Ashfield constituency have found employment lasting more than six months through the Work programme since its inception; how many such people were aged under 24 years old; and how many such people had a disability. [165724]
Mr Hoban: The available information is given in the following tables:
| Number(1) of Work programme job outcomes(2) for payment groups(3) 1, 2 and 9 by area(4), age(5) and employment duration(6); as at 31 March 2013 | ||||
| Employment duration(6) | ||||
| Area(4) | Age(5) | Total | 26 weeks up to 50 weeks | 50 weeks or over |
| Number(1) of Work programme job outcomes(2) for payment groups(3) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 by area(4), age(5) and employment duration(6); as at 31 March 2013 | |||||
| Employment duration(6) | |||||
| Area(4) | Age(5) | Total | 13 weeks up to 25 weeks | 25 weeks up to 49 weeks | 49 weeks or over |
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| Number(1) of Work programme job outcomes(2) for payment groups(3) 1, 2 and 9 by area(4), disability indicator(7) and employment duration(6); as at 31 March 2013 | ||||
| Employment duration(6) | ||||
| Area(4) | Disability indicator(7) | Total | 26 weeks up to 50 weeks | 50 weeks or over |
| Number(1 )of Work programme job outcomes(2) for payment groups(3) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 by area(4), disability indicator(7) and employment duration(6); as at 31 March 2013 | |||||
| Employment duration(6) | |||||
| Area(4) | Disability indicator(7) | Total | 13 weeks up to 25 weeks | 25 weeks up to 49 weeks | 49 weeks or over |
| Notes: 1. Figures are cumulative and are rounded to the nearest 10. "—"denotes nil or negligible. 2. Job outcomes: The Work programme IT payment system update went live in April 2012. All outcomes prior to this were recorded clerically and uploaded to the system during April and May 2012. The outcome date for these is based on the date the information was uploaded to the system. For job outcomes recorded after this, outcome dates are based on the date that payments were made to providers following pre-payment validation processes to confirm job outcomes. The manual pre-payment validation checks may take time to conduct resulting in a delay between the job outcome being claimed and the date the payment is made to providers, and hence recorded in the statistics. Validation procedures continue to improve to streamline the process as issues are identified. For further details around issues and delays to job outcome payments please see the information note available on the WP landing page https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/series/work-programme-statistics--2 3. Payment group: Payment groups are assigned by Jobcentre Plus, on the basis of a claimant's circumstances, and benefit they receive. A small number of claimants appear in an incorrect group caused by the way information is recorded on the administrative system. Payment group 9 is the JSA ex-offender day 1 mandation group and a job outcome payment can be claimed at 26 weeks. Details of the payment groups 1 -8 can be found at annex 1 of the following document: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-9.pdf 4. Parliamentary constituency: Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. Boundaries are as at the reference date. More information and a map can be found at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/beginner-s-guide/maps/index.html 5. Age: Age is fixed at the time of referral. We have provided data for those aged 18 to 24 as this is a standard age grouping. 6. Employment duration: Employment duration is defined as the number of weeks required to claim a Job outcome plus the number of weeks for which sustainment payments have been made. For example a job outcome paid for a customer in payment group 1 with one additional sustainment payment will have been in employment for 30 weeks up to 34 weeks. 7. Disability indicator: Disability is self-assessed as having a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities. 8. Job outcome payments: A job outcome payment can be claimed when: There has been a either continuous or cumulative period of employment (job outcome payment trigger point) of 13 weeks for payment groups 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and 26 weeks for payment groups 1, 2 and 9; A participant has been in employment and off benefit in each week of the period (a week is defined as a seven day period); and The job outcome is after the job start date, ie a job outcome payment can only be claimed when a participant starts a job after attachment activity has been recorded on DWP prescribed IT or clerical system. 9. Sustainment payments: Providers can only claim a sustainment payment where: A job outcome has been reported; Four continuous weeks in employment have elapsed between the job outcome payment date and the sustainment payment date, or between the previous sustainment payment date and the current sustainment payment date. A participant has been in employment and off benefit each week (a week is defined as a seven day period) in the four week period; and 15 working days have passed since the last date of the period being claimed. Following a break in employment after the 104 weeks allotted time providers will no longer be eligible to receive a sustainment payment (a break is defined as when a participant leaves employment for two days or more, even if they remain off benefit). Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS) | |||||
Energy and Climate Change
Apprentices
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many apprenticeships his Department offered to people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 21 and (c) 22 to 26 years old in each year since 2010. [165872]
Gregory Barker: DECC has had the following number of apprenticeships since 2010 to date:
(a)—five
(b)—less than five
(c)—less than five.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what strategies he has to create apprenticeships in his Department; and what plans he has to promote such strategies. [165890]
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Gregory Barker: DECC is committed to the Government's Social Mobility Strategy and we aim to offer up to 50% of our administrative officer level vacancies to apprenticeships annually. The Department was actively involved in National Apprenticeship Week 2013. DECC's apprentices worked closely with our partner developing case studies and taking part in the events. We have also engaged with Civil Service Learning on the Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme with a view to participation after the pilot.
Arctic
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent assessment he has made of (a) the area of Arctic sea ice that will remain during September 2015 and (b) the plausible date range for the earliest ice free summer in the Arctic; and if he will make a statement; [165642]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of scenarios and probabilities on (a) further Arctic warming, (b) sea ice melt, (c) increasing climate extremes and reduced crop production, (d) Arctic methane emissions and (e) global sea level rise until 2100; and if he will make a statement; [165643]
(3) what recent assessment he has made of (a) the amount of solar energy that was absorbed in the Arctic ocean during 2012 and (b) the minimum cooling required to halt this level of retreat of sea ice; and if he will make a statement; [165647]
(4) what recent discussions he has had with the Natural Environment Research Council about the CryoSat-2 satellite measurements of Arctic sea ice (a) extend and (b) volume; and if he will make a statement. [165648]
Gregory Barker: The complexity and variability of the Arctic environment means that it is not possible to make predictions for a specific year several years in advance. Therefore DECC has not made an assessment of the likely area of Arctic sea ice for September 2015. However, we expect that in the long term the annual minimum extent of Arctic sea ice will continue to decline as a result of man-made global warming.
Results from most recent climate models suggest that the Arctic could be virtually ice-free for a short time in late summer as early as sometime between 2025 and 2030.
Although no recent assessment has been made of the amount of solar energy absorbed by the Arctic ocean during 2012, work is currently in progress using climate models and the most up-to-date observations to assess the energy budget of the Arctic, which will include the solar energy absorbed by the Arctic ocean.
Halting the current long-term decline in summer Arctic sea ice would require stopping the current rise in global temperatures caused by rising greenhouse gas concentrations. However, due to the thermal inertia of the oceans, Arctic sea ice would likely still decline for several years even if concentrations were stabilised.
Temperatures in the Arctic have risen more than twice as quickly as the rest of the world over the past 40 years and climate models suggest that the Arctic will continue to warm faster than the global average, at rates ranging from 0.9 to 1.5°C per decade over the rest of this century. Rising temperatures are likely to increase the risk of methane release from hydrates in the Arctic ocean and shelf seas and also from thawing permafrost,
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which would amplify global warming. There are, however, major scientific uncertainties over the potential size and risk of such methane release and DECC is working with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to improve our understanding of the potential for methane release in the Arctic.
Extreme weather events form part of natural weather variability and some, such as maximum temperatures, are likely to become more frequent, widespread and/or intense as part of a changing climate(1). Research techniques now allow us to quantify how much more likely some such events have become as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. A combination of changing average temperature, water availability and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels is already affecting crop yields(1). It is also clear that changes in extreme weather events can have serious impacts on crops, for example, through direct impacts from flooding, drought and heatwaves.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (2007) estimated a global average sea-level rise of between 0.18 and 0.59 million for the period 1980-99 to 2090-99. However, these figures do not include all the possible contributions from ice sheets.
The Science Volume of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, which will include the IPCC's latest climate and sea level projections, is due to be published in September 2013 and will provide a comprehensive assessment of these aspects of the climate system.
The Department has not had any recent discussions with the NERC about the CryoSat-2 satellite measurements of Arctic sea ice. Recently published findings(2) from these measurements are making an important contribution to the assessment of the ongoing decline in both the extent and volume of Arctic sea-ice.
Recent changes in the Arctic are another clear sign of man-made climate change and reinforce the need for a global comprehensive international agreement in 2015 to deal with the global rise in greenhouse gas emissions and avoid dangerous climate change. We are pressing hard for that to happen, and we are taking action domestically to reduce our emissions and so play our part in the global effort.
(1) IPCC. (2012). Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation. Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Geneva.
(2) Laxon et al, 2013. CryoSat-2 estimates of Arctic sea ice thickness and volume. Geophysical Research Letters DOI; 10.1002/grl.50193.
Energy Company Obligation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the minimum volume is of Energy Company Obligation that Green Deal providers are obliged to deliver in respect of individual contracts secured through the eco-brokerage. [166051]
Gregory Barker: As described in the guidance for brokerage participants, Green Deal providers who have sold a lot on brokerage can deliver between 90% and 110% of the carbon/bill savings in the contract (within the agreed three, six or 12 months) in order to receive payment:
https://www.gov.uk/energy-companies-obligation-brokerage# how-it-works
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Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2013, Official Report, column 67W, on Energy Company Obligation, for what reasons he does not intend to carry out a revised full impact assessment for the Energy Company Obligation. [166323]
Gregory Barker: The Department has no plans to revise June 2012's full impact assessment for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) for two reasons: firstly, producing an impact assessment is a lengthy and intensive process that requires robust analysis of updated evidence, which the Department cannot undertake frequently; and secondly, the Department will be publishing a consultation impact assessment for the next phase of ECO in due course, which will supersede the previous impact assessment's projections.
Fuel Poverty
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people living in private rented accomodation are living in fuel poverty. [166134]
Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is measured at the household level, rather than in terms of numbers of individuals.
Under the 10% measure of fuel poverty in 2011, the most recent year that data are available for, there were 632,000 households in private rented accommodation that were in fuel poverty. This represented 17% of all households in this group.
On 9 July, DECC announced that they would be adopting a new indicator to measure fuel poverty, based on the recommendations from Professor Hills' independent review. Statistics on fuel poverty under this measure will be published at 9.30 am on 8 August. This will include the number of households in private rented accommodation in fuel poverty.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of how much the credit checking process for Green Deal customers adds to the cost of delivering Green Deal finance. [166052]
Gregory Barker: DECC has not estimated the cost of completing credit checks for Green Deal customers as this is a commercial consideration for Green Deal providers who are offering finance. Lenders, including Green Deal providers, must lend responsibly and are required by law to check people will be able to make the repayments. It is for them to decide how best to meet this requirement and how any costs are managed.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what testing Green Deal systems were subject to before that scheme was launched in January 2013. [166313]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal systems that went live in January went through a series of end to end tests which involved both contractors responsible for providing Green Deal services and participants including energy companies and Green Deal providers.
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Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much of the £200 million of incentive money for the Green Deal has been used to carry out free Green Deal Assessments to date. [166319]
Gregory Barker: The total expenditure from the £200 million Green Deal incentives spent on Green Deal assessments is £184,102.
Hinkley Point C Power Station
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to announce the detail on the community benefit package for the new Hinkley Point C nulear power station. [165835]
Michael Fallon: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement on this subject which I made to the House on 17 July 2013, Official Report, column 105-106WS.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with Électricité de France in (i) the UK and (ii) France to discuss the strike price for nuclear power at Hinkley Point C in 2013 to date; and whether any of those meetings have involved (A) Treasury Ministers and (B) officials; what period will be allowed for Parliamentary scrutiny of the agreement once it has been completed; and whether such scrutiny will include provision to propose amendments to the agreement. [165925]
Michael Fallon: Negotiations over the Investment Contract have entailed numerous meetings with Électricité de France (EdF) and its joint venture NNB over terms, including price, some of which have involved Commercial Secretary to HM Treasury the noble Lord Deighton.
This is a commercial transaction between the Government and EdF. If a deal is to be reached, we have always been clear it must represent a fair deal that is affordable and provides clear value for money. Any contract that is agreed will be laid before Parliament and published in line with the requirements of the Energy Bill alongside summaries of reports from external expert advisors and our value for money appraisal.
Insulation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria were used to determine that hard to treat cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation would not be identified as separate measures in eco-brokerage contracts and auctions. [166049]
Gregory Barker:
Brokerage was introduced to increase transparency and liquidity of the ECO market by allowing a range of Green Deal providers, including new SME entrants, to trade with energy companies, thus helping keep cost to bill payers down. In keeping with this aim for transparency, a criterion used when designing brokerage was that it should allow for the trading of those commodities which are relevant to the legal targets set on the obligated energy companies. In the case of the carbon saving element of ECO, that obligation is expressed
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in carbon tonnes. Hard to treat cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation are not identified as separate sub-targets. Aligning commodities with the relevant obligation also gives GDPs flexibility in preparing packages of future measures for auction.
Nuclear Industry Council
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what matters were discussed and what decisions taken at the Nuclear Industry Council meeting on 10 July 2013; when full minutes of the meeting will be published on his Department's website; what invitations have been offered to interested stakeholders to attend meetings of the Council as observers; and how long he and other Ministers of his Department were in attendance at the meeting. [165924]
Michael Fallon: I can confirm that the minutes of the second UK Nuclear Industry Council (NIC) are currently being written and will shortly be published in full on:
www.gov.uk
The matters discussed were Skills, Trade and Investment, Business Capability, Cost Reduction and Public Understanding of Nuclear Energy. The decision was taken that workstreams for each of the areas above will be established.
Invitations to join as observers were issued at the time of the establishment of the NIC to the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and the Welsh Government. At the second meeting the UK Nuclear Research Councils were also represented as observers.
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and I are co-chairs of the NIC alongside Lord Hurton (Chair of the Nuclear Industry Association). Unfortunately, due to a prior engagement I was only able to attend the second half of the meeting. The Secretary of State was in attendance for the duration of the meeting.
Official Cars
Gavin Williamson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which officials in his
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Department are entitled to use a car from the Government car pool. [165347]
Gregory Barker: When the allocated car provided by the Government Car Service is not used by Ministers it can be used for the transport of other officials.
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many officials of his Department were entitled to use the Government car pool in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012. [165350]
Gregory Barker: When the allocated car provided by the Government Car service is not used by Ministers it can be used for the transport of other officials.
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many officials of his Department used Government cars in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012. [165362]
Gregory Barker: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Regulation
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the title is of each regulation his Department (a) introduced and (b) revoked in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date; and if he will make a statement. [165910]
Gregory Barker: The titles of regulations introduced by the Department in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 are listed in the following table. The final column indicates whether or not the regulations in question have been revoked. Information on the years in which these revocations were made and on regulations introduced before 2010 which have been revoked could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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|
The Planning Act 2008 (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects) (Electric Lines) Order 2013 | |||
Security
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many passes for his Department have been issued (a) to persons who are not officials of his Department and (b) to representatives of non-governmental organisations. [166284]
Gregory Barker: As at 16 July 2013, excluding visitor passes, 75 DECC issued departmental staff photo passes and 69 temporary passes were held by non-DECC officials. No DECC issued passes were held by representatives of non-governmental organisations.
Welsh Language
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has a current Welsh Language scheme; when that scheme was adopted; and whether it has been reviewed since May 2011. [166086]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change adopted its current Welsh Language Scheme in March 2012.
The scheme has not yet been reviewed but we have committed to review it within four years of its coming into effect.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how many answers by his Department to Parliamentary Questions involving tables of statistics fewer than four pages in length were (a) printed in full and (b) provided via a link to a website in the last year; [165467]
(2) what guidance his Department follows in determining whether statistics in answers to Parliamentary Questions are (a) provided in full, (b) provided via a link to a website and (c) deposited in the Library. [165486]
Gregory Barker: The Department for Energy and Climate Change endeavours to answer all parliamentary questions in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance. The full guide is available on the Cabinet Office website at:
http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work
A copy of the guidance relating to referring to websites has already been placed in the Library and the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons intends to review the Guide to Parliamentary Work later this year.
The Department's parliamentary question database does not record when answers include tables of statistics, or how these tables, are provided. The information requested in (a) and (b) in both questions and in (c) is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost.
Justice
Capita
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department currently spends on contracts with Capita; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [158470]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has spent the following amounts on contracts with Capita since the financial year 2008-09.
There is a significant increase in expenditure in the financial year 2011-12 due to the transition by the MOJ onto the Government Procurement Service CIPHER Framework for specialist contractors and interim managers and the commencement of the MOJ contract under the Framework for Language Services.
| Total departmental spend | |
| Financial year | Net amount (£) |
Clothing
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been. [155453]
Mrs Grant: The following table provides a breakdown of the number of claims for evening dress allowance and the total cost of such claims for each of the last five years.
| Hire and purchase of evening wear | ||
| Period 1 April to 31 March each year | Total number of claims | Total costs (£) |
No Ministers or senior MOJ officials have made these claims. These claims relate to a number of claims by prison officers for evening attire for a specific awards event, where the hire cost might otherwise affect their attendance.
Information on the number of officials who have made a claim for evening dress allowance is not available and the above figures may include more than one claim
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for a specific individual. Information on the number of officials who have claimed for evening dress allowance and the total cost of such claims for each of the MOJ’s NDPBs is not held centrally and would incur disproportionate cost to provide.
Civil service terms and conditions are currently being reviewed through the civil service reform programme.
Community Orders
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people aged (a) 10 to 15, (b) 16 to 18 and (c) 18 to 21 years and sentenced to community orders were sentenced to (i) unpaid work for up to 300 hours, (ii) specific activities, such as developing skills or making amends to their victim, (iii) undertaking a particular programme to help change offending behaviour, (iv) prohibition from doing particular activities, (v) adherence to a curfew, requiring the offender to be in a particular place at certain times, (vi) an exclusion requirement, prohibiting the offender from going to particular places, (vii) a residence requirement, obliging the offender to live at a particular address, (viii) mental health treatment with the offender's consent, (ix) a drug rehabilitation requirement with the offender's consent, (x) an alcohol treatment requirement with the offender's consent and (xi) supervision by the probation service in each year since May 2005; and how many (A) completed and (B) failed to complete their sentence in each such year. [164564]
Jeremy Wright: Table 1 provides information on the numbers of (a) 10 to 15, (b) 16 to 18 and (c) 18 to 21-year-olds sentenced at all courts to a community sentence, by age groups and type of community sentence, in England and Wales, 2005 to 2012. Centrally held sentencing data do not include information on the individual requirements attached to community orders.
Central data sources of starts of probation service supervision include information on the requirements attached to community orders for all offenders aged 18 and over. Offenders under the age of 18 are not subject to supervision by the probation service. Table 2 provides the number of requirements started as part of a community order by offenders aged 18-21 by type of requirement in England and Wales, 2005 to 2012. The total number of requirements started as part of a community order will be greater than the number of community order starts in any year because an offender may have one or more requirement attached to an order.
Termination rates of individual requirements are not available from centrally held probation data sources. Nationally, 66% of community orders given to offenders of all ages ran their full course or terminated early due to good progress.
The Government are committed to strengthening community sentences, so that they combine robust punishment with requirements that are effective at preventing further offending and which provide reparation to victims and communities. At a time when crime is falling we have increased the length and duration of curfews, given courts greater flexibility to impose programme and treatment requirements, and made the delivery of community payback swifter and more intensive. Provisions in the Crime and Courts Act 2013 will ensure that all community orders contain a punitive element,
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give courts new powers to electronically monitor the location of offenders, and increase the use of pre-sentence restorative justice.
General information on the completion rates of offending behaviour programmes is available within the NOMS annual report management information addendum 2011-12:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/163292/noms-annual-report-2011-12-addendum.pdf.pdf
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Tables 1 and 2 will be placed in the Library of the House.
Conditions of Employment
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 93W, on conditions of employment, how many people in his Department were employed on zero-hours contracts in each of the last three years. [164241]
Mrs Grant: The number of staff employed on zero-hours contracts in the Ministry of Justice (Ministry of Justice HQ, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, National Offender Management Service and the Office of the Public Guardian) in each of the last three financial years is set out in the following table.
| As at 1 April to 31 March each year | Total cumulative staff number |
The use of zero-hours contracts enables greater flexibility where work is irregular, thereby making more efficient use of resources to meet demand. The staff are only paid for the hours that they work.
Court of Protection
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many cases coming before the Court of Protection were later subject to judicial review in each year since May 2005; [164567]
(2) how many decisions of the Court of Protection were appealed and how many were upheld or overturned in each year since May 2005; [164566]
(3) in how many cases the Court of Protection has made an order resulting in (a) imprisonment or (b) confiscation of a defendant's possessions in each year since May 2005; [164563]
(4) how many cases of the Court of Protection were prohibited from being reported in each year since May 2005. [164562]
Mrs Grant:
The Court of Protection is a unique court dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in society. Its specialist judges are called on to make decisions in cases where there is a concern a person may not have the mental capacity to act in their own interests—for example about their property, financial affairs, healthcare
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or personal welfare. The Court of Protection is a superior court of record and takes its place with other civil, family and criminal jurisdictions, but is separate from the county court and High Court and has its own set of rules.
The Ministry of Justice is not aware of any cases in the Court of Protection that have been subject to judicial review since the court was created on 1 October 2007. At the present time, data between the Court of Protection and other courts, including the Court of Appeal are not linked, and I am therefore unable to provide information on the numbers of appealed cases and the outcomes with any degree of accuracy. We are investigating how this can be resolved.
The Court of Protection database does not hold a record of the outcomes of these appeals.
Since October 2007, the court has made an order for imprisonment in one case, which related to contempt. The court has no powers to confiscate a defendant's possessions.
The Court of Protection generally sits in private, but this is to reflect the sensitive and personal, and, in particular, the financial nature of the issues being discussed. It is also because the person who is the subject of the proceedings may become vulnerable if identified. However, the court does have a wide discretion to: authorise the publication of information about private hearings; authorise persons, including the media, to attend a private hearing; exclude persons from attending a hearing and otherwise restrict the publication of information about a hearing—the court will decide what restriction to impose on a case-by- case basis. The court does not record the detail of reporting restrictions. To research all cases where hearings have been held since October 2007 would be a disproportionate cost.
The Government agree there is a need for greater openness in the Court of Protection and that it is important to make progress so as to ensure public confidence. We acknowledge that there is a public perception and concern that the court is unjustifiably secret and this cannot be allowed to continue.
The question of how to open up the Court of Protection further and balance access with proper controls to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information which might be harmful to parties in the proceedings if released (including vulnerable children and adults) remains a difficult and controversial issue, which requires careful and serious consideration.
The President of the Court of Protection is currently considering how progress can be made through changes to rules of court, practice directions and guidance to further the public understanding of proceedings, while respecting the right to privacy of vulnerable individuals.
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many cases were considered by the Court of Protection in each year since May 2005; [164612]
(2) in how many cases the Court of Protection has made a finding of contempt of court in each year since May 2005; [164611]
(3) what the cost of representations on behalf of the state in cases coming before the Court of Protection was in each year since May 2005; [164610]
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(4) what the cost of running the Court of Protection was in each year since May 2005; [164608]
(5) what the (a) longest, (b) shortest and (c) average time was for cases coming before the Court of Protection to be heard in each year since May 2005. [164571]
Mrs Grant: The Court of Protection is a unique court dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in society. Its specialist judges are called on to make decisions in cases where there is a concern a person may not have the mental capacity to act in their own interests—for example about their property, financial affairs, healthcare or personal welfare. The Court of Protection is a superior court of record and takes its place with other civil, family and criminal jurisdictions, but is separate from the county court and High Court and has its own set of rules.
From May 2005 to October 2007, the previous Court of Protection was an office of the Supreme Court and like-for-like figures about the number of cases considered each year are therefore not available. The current Court of Protection came into being on 1 October 2007 following the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. MOJ publishes applications made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 made at the Court of Protection from 2008:
| Number of applications | |
We do not have the data linked to be able to provide accurate information on the duration of cases coming to the court in its various locations in England and Wales, since October 2007. We are currently scoping how this can be achieved.
The Ministry of Justice does not publish figures for contempt of court offences in the Court of Protection. This specific offence is more detailed than the offence group statistics published in the annual ‘Criminal Justice Statistics’ publication. To collect data on specific cases in the court would be disproportionately expensive, as it would entail researching each case that had been heard in the Court of Protection throughout England and Wales.
There are occasions where NHS trusts and local authorities are involved in Court of Protection cases. However, the Ministry of Justice does not have any information regarding the costs involved, as collecting it from each NHS trust or local authority would be disproportionately expensive.
When the current court came into being on 1 October 2007, its running costs were shared with those of the Office of the Public Guardian. I will write to the hon. Member further on this point as the information regarding the court’s costs at this time are not readily to hand. On 1 April 2009 responsibility for the court transferred to HMCTS. Running costs since that date have been:
2009-10: £3.9 million
2010-11: £5.0 million
2011-12: £4.4 million