Music: Copyright

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how composers and performers will be rewarded if fair compensation is recovered at the point of sale under proposals for a private copying exception. [167026]

Jo Swinson: The Government's proposed new private copying exception will be drafted so as to minimise any possible harm to copyright owners. It will simply permit consumers to copy content they have lawfully acquired for their own use. Most people already think they can do this, without realising it is an infringement of copyright. The exception will not allow anyone to get copies for free.

This narrow measure will minimise any possible harm to copyright owners. As such there will be no need to provide compensation to them. Copyright owners, including composers and performers, will continue to be rewarded when people buy copies of their works.

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New Businesses: Government Assistance

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve public awareness about how to access funding for new business ideas. [166993]

Michael Fallon: The Government recognise the importance of making sure businesses are aware of funding support available to them to help them start up and grow a business. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has therefore launched a significant communication campaign this summer to promote a targeted range of Government-backed finance products. The campaigns promote Start-Up Loans, the Regional Growth Fund, Enterprise Finance Guarantee and a number of tax reliefs offered to investors. Activity launched in May and runs through until the end of September.

The gov.uk website features a number of interactive tools and pages of information to help businesses find Government support easily.

Businesses can use an interactive tool to find Government support

http://gov.uk/business-finance-support-finder

The Finance Finder informs businesses of the different types of finance available to them

http://www.gov.uk/which-finance-is-right-for-your-business

And there is a guide to finance at

http://www.gov.uk/business-finance-explained

In addition, BIS is working on a major Government communications campaign for the autumn, as part of which sources of help for new business ideas, including where funding can be obtained, will be explained.

Overseas Trade: Human Rights

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what regard his Department has for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Countries of Concern List as part of its work promoting exports and trade. [167011]

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is fully engaged in the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in support of human rights issues relating to export and trade across all countries around the world, including those listed in the FCO's Countries of Concern List.

The UK Government work proactively to promote respect for human rights policies among UK companies operating overseas. The UK is committed to upholding the principles of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations Guiding Principles on business and Human Rights. We encourage all British companies to observe these international standards and we stand ready to help them with advice.

Overseas Trade: Israel

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of bilateral trade between the UK and Israel was in 2012. [166880]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 138W

Michael Fallon: Data showing the value of bilateral trade (exports and imports of goods and services) between UK and Israel in 2012 are available from Table 9.3 of the ONS's UK Balance of Payments (Pink Book) publication at the following link:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bop/united-kingdom-balance-of-payments/2013/rft-part-3--chapter-9-tables--geographical-breakdown-of-the-current-account.xls

Restaurants: Gratuities

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the restaurant industry that do not allow waiters to keep tips, but instead use this additional income to pay other business costs. [166672]

Jo Swinson: There have been no recent discussions on this subject with Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce the number of restaurants that do not allow waiters to keep tips, but instead use this additional income to pay other business costs. [166673]

Jo Swinson: Under the national minimum wage regulations tips cannot be used to make up minimum wage pay. This means that workers must receive at least the minimum wage in base pay, with any tips they receive being paid on top.

Where tips are paid to the business and collected by the employer (for example where they are added to payments by credit card), they are the property of the employer. There are no legal requirements setting out how an employer must handle such tips. Instead it is a matter for agreement between the employer and workers what proportion of these monies is distributed to workers.

Cash tips given by customers directly to a worker do not belong to the business but to the member of staff to whom they are given. Workers can agree to pool or share their cash tips, but employers cannot force members of staff to do this.

The Government have made available best practice guidance on tips on gov.uk website. This guidance recommends:

that workers should be fully informed on how tips are shared between the business and the workers;

that business should seek to reach agreement with workers on any change of policy; and

businesses clearly display their tips policy for consumers.

Royal Mail

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether in the event of the privatisation of Royal Mail every member of staff will receive the same number of shares; who will decide how many shares each staff member receives; and what criteria will be used in the decision of how many shares each member of staff receives. [166484]

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Michael Fallon: Government have announced that they will transfer 10% of the shares in Royal Mail to an employee share scheme on or around the time of IPO.

Shares will be allocated to eligible employees equally, regardless of grade or pay levels. The allocation will be pro-rated based on an employee's typical hours to differentiate between full- and part-time workers. We expect circa 150,000 Royal Mail employees will be eligible for the share scheme.

Employees can opt not to receive shares. Further details will be provided in the run up to the IPO.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria were used to select the banks included in the syndicate responsible for the floatation of Royal Mail. [166495]

Michael Fallon: The Government appointed the banks on the basis of their relevant experience and expertise; their research and distribution capabilities; and their commitment to delivering the strength and quality of investor demand required for a major IPO.

Their selection came after a highly competitive tender process and the Government focused on securing the best banks to execute an IPO in line with the Government's objectives for the sale and ultimately, to secure the best outcome and value for money for the UK taxpayer.

Science: Research

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of gross domestic product the UK spends on scientific research. [167019]

Mr Willetts: The latest figures for gross expenditure on research and development (GERD), published by ONS in March 2013, show that in 2011 research and development accounted for 1.8% of UK GDP.

Shipping: Minimum Wage

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the national minimum wage applies to non-EEA seafarers employed on a commercial passenger vessel working on routes between ports in the UK and Ireland. [166923]

Jo Swinson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 October 2012, Official Report, column 116W.

Students

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 524W, on students, how many full-time undergraduate English-domiciled students at UK higher education institutions lived (a) at home and (b) away from home whilst completing their studies in (i) 2001-02 and (ii) 2006-07. [166620]

Mr Willetts: The number of English-domiciled full-time undergraduate students studying in the UK by term-time living arrangements is shown in the following table. The figures are collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

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Students: Debts

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how much debt on average (a) in total, (b) excluding loans relating to tuition fees and (c) excluding all loans derived from public funds a student at an institution in England and Wales had on completion of (i) a three year undergraduate degree course, (ii) a two year foundation degree course and (iii) a one year postgraduate degree course in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [166245]

(2) what estimate he has made of the average debt (a) in total, (b) excluding loans relating to tuition fees and (c) excluding all loans derived from public funds likely to accrue to a student at an institution in England and Wales completing (i) a three year undergraduate degree course, (ii) a two year foundation degree course and (iii) a one year postgraduate degree course in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [166246]

Mr Willetts: The Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2011-12, published on 27June 2013, is a sample survey of 3,900 undergraduate higher education students attending 96 higher education institutions (including the Open university) and further education colleges in England and Wales.

The survey provides estimates of the overall financial position of students, including the amounts borrowed from different sources.

In 2011-12, full-time undergraduate student borrowing was predominantly made up of student loans, which accounted for 88% of all borrowing. Commercial credit made up 5% and overdrafts 6% (and “other” 1%). Further breakdowns of this information, including estimates of borrowing among final year students, are available in the published report at the following link (see Table A6.16):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/student-income-and-expenditure-survey-2011-to-2012

Estimates of average total graduate borrowing on completion of higher education for the next 10 years are not available.

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the average interest rate on debt relating to loans (a) derived from public funding and (b) provided by the private sector taken out by a student at an institution in England and

2 Sep 2013 : Column 141W

Wales completing (i) a three year undergraduate degree course, (ii) a two year foundation degree course and (iii) a one year postgraduate degree course was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [166247]

(2) what estimate he has made of the average interest rate on debt relating to loans (a) derived from public funding and (b) provided by the private sector taken out by a student at an institution in England and Wales completing (i) a three year undergraduate degree course, (ii) a two year foundation degree course and (iii) a one year postgraduate degree course in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [166248]

Mr Willetts: The interest rate charged on student loans in each of the last five years can be found on the Student Loans Company (SLC) website. The rate on this type of income contingent loan is set by using the March retail prices index (RPI) figure, and applying that rate of interest for 12 months commencing 1 September until 31 August. However, there is a mandatory low interest cap, which means that the interest rate must be adjusted if the base rate plus 1% across a specified group of banks is lower than RPI.

http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid =93,6678642&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

For new scheme loans available to new students from September 2012, the rate is also set by reference to the March RPI figure but with an additional 3% added to the rate for those studying and up until the April after leaving their course. The interest rate charged to borrowers once they become liable to repay will be dependent on their income. The rate of interest charged on these loans is also set out in detail on the SLC website here:

http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid =93,6678755&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

The rates of interest detailed above will apply to students on both a three year undergraduate degree course and a two year foundation degree course. Postgraduate degree students are not eligible for publicly funded loans.

Estimates of the average interest rate on publicly funded student loans for the next 10 years are not available.

Students are a heterogeneous group and the private sector is likely to assess each individual before deciding whether to offer them a loan and what interest rate to charge. We are unable to provide information on the average interest rate on debt relating to loans provided by the private sector.

Students: Finance

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to review the current level of (a) tuition fees and (b) student maintenance support; and if he will make a statement. [166566]

Mr Willetts: This is the first year of the Government's higher education (HE) reforms, and we are monitoring the impact of the new system closely.

Decisions on tuition fee caps and the support for living costs are taken on an annual basis. In determining the amounts of support provided, the Government

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balance the need for a sustainable HE system with the impact on students and the overall affordability for Government.

The support package for academic year 2014-15 was announced in a written ministerial statement on 11 March 2013, Official Report, columns 1-2WS. We have also announced, as part of the spending review, that the maintenance grant for academic year 2015-16 will be maintained at 2014-15 levels. The remainder of the package for 2015-16—maximum tuition fees and loans, loans for living costs, dependants grants and disabled students allowances—will be announced in the new year.

More broadly, I have asked HEFCE to monitor the overall impact of the HE reforms on students and institutions. HEFCE published its first report in March 2013, and will update this analysis in spring 2014.

Students: Health

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what his future plans are for support for (a) students aged 16 to 24 with cancer and (b) students aged 16 to 24 with serious and complex long-term health conditions in further and higher education; [165997]

(2) what support his Department provides to (a) students aged 16 to 24 with cancer and (b) students aged 16 to 24 with serious and complex long-term health conditions to help access and maintain further and higher education opportunities. [165999]

Matthew Hancock: Further education colleges and higher education institutions (HEIs) have the same duties under the Equality Act 2010 to support disabled students. Additional funding is provided to help them meet the needs of students with disabilities, and this includes those with cancer and serious and complex long-term health conditions to enable them to participate fully in education and training opportunities. As autonomous institutions, further education colleges and HEIs have the flexibility to determine how they provide such support in individual cases and according to local needs.

A comprehensive package of financial support for students with disabilities studying in higher education is provided by the institution they attend and individually through disabled students' allowances (DSAs). DSAs are provided to help students in higher education with the extra costs they may incur because of a disability, including a long-term health condition. Spend on DSAs has increased steadily in recent years.

In 2010/11 spend on English students in receipt of full-time DSAs was £109.2 million (on 47,400 students). DSAs play a vital role in supporting disabled students to achieve their potential and the Government have already announced increased levels of support that students will be able to access in the next two academic years.

In further education, the Government provide funding to help providers meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and disabilities through the Skills Funding Agency and the Education Funding Agency. The two agencies have published a joint statement on funding for LLDD learners for 2013/14 on the website at:

http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/SFA/FINALMarch_2013_ EFA_and_SFA_LLDD_Position_statement_2.pdf

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Some students aged 16 up to 25 with cancer or with serious and complex long-term health conditions have learning difficulties or disabilities which call for special educational provision. The Children and Families Bill currently being considered by Parliament will extend new rights and protections to young people in further education comparable to those in schools. This includes the right to request an assessment for a new Educational Health and Care (EHC) Plan which will replace the current system of learning difficulty assessments.

The plan would specify their special educational needs, the outcomes they want to achieve, the special educational provision and any health care and social care they reasonably require. Young people will also have a right to state a preference for where they study, and will be able to appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal if they are unsatisfied with their provision.

Work Experience

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses have been convicted of hiring unpaid interns in (a) 2013 to date, (b) 2012, (c) 2011 and (d) 2010. [166677]

Jo Swinson: From 2010 to 2013 there have been two prosecutions for minimum wage offences.

The term “intern” is not defined in legislation and entitlement to the minimum wage depends on whether or not an individual performing work experience of this nature is a worker for minimum wage purposes. In 2012-13 HMRC identified £3.9 million in arrears of wages for over 26,000 workers—a figure which includes individuals taken on as unpaid interns but who were actually workers under national minimum wage law.

This Government are clear: exploitation of interns is unacceptable and we do not hesitate to act where we find that employment law has been broken and someone who is entitled to the minimum wage has not been paid it.

Anyone who thinks they have not been paid the minimum wage that they might be entitled to should call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline directly on 0800 917 368:

https://www.gov.uk/pay-and-work-rights-helpline

for free, confidential advice and to make a complaint.

In 2012-13 HMRC identified £3.9 million in arrears of wages for over 26,000 workers.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many questions answered by his Department included fewer than four pages of statistics in the Official Report for the last month. [166694]

Jo Swinson: Of the 235 written parliamentary questions answered by the Department in the last month before the 2013 summer recess, 120 contained statistical data of less than four pages. Seven of the other 115 questions contained a reference to a statistical source. None of the 235 answers provided statistical data of four pages or more.

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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many answers by his Department to the last 100 parliamentary questions asked involving tables of statistics fewer than four pages in length were (a) printed in full and (b) provided via a link to a website. [166852]

Jo Swinson: Records show that of the last 100 written parliamentary questions answered by the Department during the period 9-18 July 2013, a total of 17 provided tables which were printed in full in the Official Report. A further four answers contained links to statistical information in the public domain; one referred to the Economic and Social Research Council website and the other three to the United Kingdom Trade and Investment website.

Treasury

Banks: EU Action

Mr Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what ex-post levies will be raised on the financial sector in support of the EU single resolution mechanism; and if he will make a statement. [166975]

Greg Clark: Under the Commission's proposal for a single resolution mechanism and single bank resolution fund, firms established in participating member states will provide ex-post contributions where the fund is not sufficient to cover losses, costs or other expenses incurred. These contributions will be allocated between firms in accordance with the rules for ex-ante contributions. The Government have announced that the UK will not participate in the single resolution mechanism.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families receiving the current child care vouchers scheme which will not be eligible for the new tax free childcare scheme in 2015 due to their children being over the age of five. [166995]

Sajid Javid: Information on the numbers of families affected by the new scheme for tax-free child care will not be available until the consultation launched on 5 August is complete and the policy details have been fully defined.

The new scheme will be available for children up to the age of 12 when fully implemented, and any parents in receipt of child care vouchers at the start of the new scheme will continue to benefit from the relief whether or not they are eligible for the new scheme.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projections his Department has made of the cost of the overheads associated with the new tax free child care scheme. [166998]

Sajid Javid: No projection will be available until the tax free child care system has been designed and developed.

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Economic and Monetary Union

Mr Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is towards the development of the social dimension of economic and monetary union; and if he will make a statement. [166955]

Greg Clark: Discussions on the possible development of the social dimension of EMU are at an early stage. The Government are clear that the UK will not participate in measures for closer euro area integration, but will engage fully in negotiations on any future specific proposals so as to protect our national interests, in particular on the single market.

Mr Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the European Commission's proposals to establish a joint Eurozone Society Security Fund with payments linked to adherence to policy targets; and if he will make a statement. [166976]

Greg Clark: As yet, there are no specific proposals for a joint Eurozone Social Security Fund with payments linked to adherence to policy targets. However, the Government are clear that the UK will not participate in measures for closer euro area integration, but will engage fully in negotiations on any future specific proposals so as to protect our national interests, in particular on the single market.

Mr Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his policy is on participating in projected solidarity mechanisms under future Eurozone arrangements; and if he will make a statement; [166990]

(2) whether he plans to opt into EU contracts for competitiveness and growth. [166991]

Greg Clark: There are as yet no specific proposals for EU contracts for competitiveness and growth, nor for new solidarity mechanisms for the Eurozone. However, the Government are clear that the UK will not participate in measures for closer euro area integration, but will engage fully in negotiations on any future specific proposals so as to protect our national interests, in particular on the single market.

Government Departments: Procurement

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what current projects in all Government Departments have no financial limit imposed on them by his Department. [166744]

Danny Alexander: No projects across Government have no financial limit. All projects above a Department's delegated authority require explicit Treasury approval.

Health

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals to financially incentivise food and drink businesses which endorse public health responsibility deals. [166385]

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Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to introduce financial incentives for food and drink businesses which endorse public health responsibility deals; and if he will make a statement. [167566]

Danny Alexander: Over 550 public health, voluntary, public sector and commercial organisations have signed up to play their part in improving the public's health through the public health responsibility deal, helping people to adopt a healthier diet, fostering a culture of responsible drinking, increasing physical activity levels and improving the health of their staff.

The Government have no proposals to provide specific financial incentives for responsibility deal partners.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letter dated 30 May 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms P. Atkinson, transferred from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. [166969]

Mr Gauke: I replied to the right hon. Member on 22 July 2013.

Minimum Wage

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many minimum wage compliance officers there are in HM Revenue and Customs. [166674]

Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 35W.

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many instances of non-compliance with minimum wage were identified in (a) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in each of the last five years. [166675]

Mr Gauke: HMRC does not keep statistics at constituency level. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 April 2013, Official Report, column 815W, for the number of non-compliant employers in the UK for the period requested.

The number of non-compliant employers identified in Scotland for the period requested is in the following table:

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to increase the number of minimum wage compliance officers. [166676]

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Mr Gauke: HMRC is planning an increase in the number of caseworkers at higher officer level who are available to carry out NMW compliance work.

Reservoirs

Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason agricultural reservoirs were not included within the Annual Investment Allowance scheme. [166912]

Sajid Javid: The Annual Investment Allowance covers capital expenditure on plant and machinery. The UK capital allowances system does not generally provide relief for expenditure on buildings, structures or alterations to land.

Taxation: Betting Shops

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much betting shops have paid in (a) VAT and (b) corporation tax in each year since 2003. [166666]

Sajid Javid: The information is not available. Corporation tax records and VAT returns are not broken down to the level of detail required to identify VAT and corporation tax revenue from betting shops.

VAT

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of reducing VAT to 5% on all hospitality, rooms, food and alcohol. [167052]

Mr Gauke: Based on ONS data from 2012, the revenue forgone by reducing VAT to 5% on all hospitality (which includes rooms, food and alcohol) would have an estimated cost of £11 billion to £12 billion a year to the Exchequer.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many questions answered by his Department included fewer than four pages of statistics in the Official Report for the last month. [166715]

Sajid Javid: This is a matter of public record.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that all answers provided by his Department containing tables of statistical data which would not require more than four pages in the Official Report are published in full rather than by reference to a hyperlink. [166740]

Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Leader of the House of Commons, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), on 12 February 2013, Official Report, column 649W, to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson).

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Transport

A31

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Highways Agency will take action to facilitate access by mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs to the pavements at the junctions of St Leonard's Hospital with the A31 trunk road. [166667]

Stephen Hammond: The Highways Agency has had discussions with Dorset County Council and agreed that the County Council will undertake work to the pavements at the junction of St Leonard’s Hospital with the A31 to facilitate access by mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs. The county council will prepare a scheme for delivery by March 2014 in partnership with St Leonard’s and St Ives Parish Council.

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many creditors to his Department owed more than £10,000 remained unpaid for more than (a) 30 days, (b) 45 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 75 days and (e) more than 90 days in each of the last three years. [166381]

Norman Baker: The information requested is in the table below. This covers the Department for Transport and its Executive Agencies.

Bus Services: Concessions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on concessionary bus travel for (a) pensioners and (b) disabled people in (i) Barnsley Central constituency, (ii) Barnsley, (iii) South Yorkshire and (iv) England in each year since 2004-05. [166819]

Norman Baker: The Department does not have a concessionary travel spend breakdown by Parliamentary constituency or Metropolitan Borough. In addition, total spend cannot be split into older and disabled people sub-totals.

Local Authorities who are Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) are responsible for administering concessionary travel and reimbursing bus operators. Annual TCA spend on concessionary travel can be found in table BUS0812 at the following link

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/concessionary-travel-statistics-england-2011-12-and-2012-13

Prior to 2008, TCAs received funding for concessionary travel funding through the Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) Formula Grant. This block grant was unhypothecated so it is not possible to

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identify how much funding was allocated to a local authority for a particular service such as concessionary travel.

In 2008 the statutory minimum was extended to cover England-wide travel and the Department for Transport provided local authorities with a one off payment of £31 million for the re-issue of concessionary travel passes—of which South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive received £1.078 million. The Department also provided a portion of funding through a special grant to local authorities until 31 March 2011 for the increase cost of the extension to the scheme. The Special Grant funding was:

£212 million in 2008/09

£217 million in 2009/10;

£223 million in 2010/11.

Details of the overall Special Grant allocations covering the period concerned can be found at::

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0708/hc02/0256/0256.pdf

and

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0910/hc03/0306/0306.pdf

Since April 2011 all funding for the statutory England-wide travel concession has been provided through DCLG's Formula Grant. The overall amount of Formula Grant funding available for local government from 2011/12 has been set out in the relevant Spending Reviews.

Cycling

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate of future levels of bicycle use his Department used when predicting the future spending on roads in its recently published Roads Strategy. [166558]

Stephen Hammond: The Department's recent publication ‘Action for Roads’ focuses primarily on the Strategic Road Network and all evidence suggests that cycling, unlike other vehicle types, is concentrated on minor roads. Last year 101.8 billion vehicle miles were travelled on the SRN by motor vehicles, with less then 0.1 billion vehicle miles travelled by pedal cycles.

However, cycling demand is factored into the Department's National Transport Model (NTM), which is used to produce the traffic forecasts published alongside ‘Action for Roads’.

Current assumptions on cycling trends used in the NTM are based on previous analysis carried out in 2010-11, using National Transport Survey data, and include: 5% increase in trips up to 2015, a 7.5% increase for 2025 and a 10% increase for 2035.

However, the Government are doing much to advance the traction of cycling uptake within the UK. On 12 August, the Prime Minister announced a £148 million investment in cycling between now and 2015, with £77 million of Government funding going to eight cities, £17 million going to four National Parks, and an additional £54 million of local investment.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there was in the number of miles cycled in 2012 compared with 2011 in (a) Barnsley, (b) Barnsley Central constituency, (c) South Yorkshire, (d) England

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and

(e)

the UK; and what assessment he has made of whether any such changes resulted from changes in the number of (i) people taking up cycling and (ii) trips by existing cyclists. [167008]

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport publishes estimates for Great Britain residents of the average number of miles cycled per person per year in 2011 and 2012 from the National Travel Survey. In 2011, the average number of miles cycled per person per year was 49. In 2012 the average was 53 miles.

The average distance travelled for cyclists who made at least one cycle trip during the week of their survey was 18 miles a week in 2011 and 20 miles a week in 2012.

Estimates of cycling rates for local authorities are also published by the Department for Transport from the Active People Survey (APS), In 2010/11, 10 per cent of adults in Barnsley and 10 per cent of adults in South Yorkshire cycled at least once a month. In 2011/12 the figures were 9 per cent for Barnsley and 13 per cent for South Yorkshire. The average for England was 10 per cent in both 2010/11 and 2011/12.

As with any sample surveys, results from the Active People Survey and the National Travel Survey have margins of error, and can be volatile from one year to the next. As a result, long-term trends are generally more reliable than single-year changes in survey statistics.

The Department has made no other assessment of whether these trips are by people taking up cycling, or by existing cyclists.

Driving: Young People

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the RAC Foundation's report entitled Young Driver Safety: Solutions to an Age-old Problem published in July 2013 and its conclusions on (a) a minimum learning period that contains requirements to drive in all conditions and (b) placing limitations on newly-qualified drivers. [166829]

Stephen Hammond: We intend to issue a Green Paper which will cover these issues later this year.

Ferries: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in Transport Scotland regarding his Department's policies on (a) procurement, (b) service levels, (c) passenger fares and (d) concessionary fare schemes in the ferries sector; and whether such meetings take place on a regular basis. [166924]

Stephen Hammond: The specification of subsidised ferry services in Scotland is a devolved matter. Notwithstanding that, the UK Government have overall responsibility for ensuring that the arrangements comply with EU rules on State Aids and relevant sectoral law: in this instance, maritime cabotage.

Officials in the Department for Transport and their counterparts in Transport Scotland are in regular contact on matters of mutual interest but have held no recent discussions specifically on these matters. Exchanges between officials are generally by correspondence, usually by e-mail.

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First Aid

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of staff at the Highways Agency and the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency are first aid-trained. [166863]

Stephen Hammond: 16.1% of VOSA staff and 39% of Highways Agency staff have first aid training.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been paid from the public purse to WS Atkins from contracts related to High Speed 2 since May 2010; and how much remains to be paid under uncompleted contracts. [166743]

Mr Simon Burns: From May 2010 to date, spend including VAT on WS Atkins contracts for HS2 Ltd was £28,728,796 with a further contracted spend of £6,670,562.

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence Ministers of his Department have had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on the subject of High Speed 2; and if he will publish such correspondence. [166746]

Mr Simon Burns: Ministers in the Department for Transport are in regular contact with the Scottish Government on a variety of matters; however, Ministers have not met with the Scottish Government regarding HS2. A meeting is currently being arranged between the Secretary of State for Transport and Keith Brown MSP to discuss HS2. The Department does not routinely publish ministerial correspondence.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency/#meetings

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs have been created (a) directly and (b) indirectly by High Speed 2 to date; and how many such jobs will be created in (i) phase 1 and (ii) phase 2 of the project. [166747]

Mr Simon Burns: HS2 Ltd currently directly employs the equivalent of 246 full-time members of the staff. By the end of 2013 this is expected to rise to over 500 full-time members of the staff. In addition, HS2 Ltd employs the equivalent of over 1,200 full-time contractors and a further 118 members of staff at the HS2 Ltd development partner. To date, HS2 Ltd's contractors have enabled over 800 graduate trainees and apprentices to work on the project.

We expect HS2 Phase One to directly create 9,000 jobs in construction and 1,500 permanent jobs in operations and maintenance. Up to 30,000 indirect jobs are also expected to be supported by HS2 in station redevelopment areas in Euston, Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange and Birmingham Eastside.

We expect HS2 Phase Two to directly create 10,000 jobs in construction and 1,400 permanent jobs in operations and maintenance. In addition, up to 70,000 indirect jobs will be supported around the proposed stations.

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Some regional groups foresee even higher levels of job creation. The Core Cities group predicts that HS2 will actually underpin the delivery of 400,000 jobs within the cities and 1 million in the wider urban areas. Centro estimates that, in the West Midlands alone, HS2 could support a £1.5 billion increase in economic output, an extra 22,000 jobs and an average wage increase of £300 per worker per year.

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) apprentices and (b) graduate trainees are working on High Speed 2 (HS2) in (i) his Department and (ii) HS2 Ltd. [166811]

Mr Simon Burns: The Department has no apprentices working on HS2. Among the permanent DFT staff working on HS2, a number are recent graduates gaining early career development in this area. In addition three interns appointed under the Summer Diversity Internship scheme are working during summer 2013 in the HS2 team.

HS2 Ltd is currently directly employing four apprentices and two graduate trainees, with its wider contractor base having already given over 800 graduate trainees and apprentices experience of working on HS2.

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) feasibility study and (b) any value management studies for HS2 Ltd's option 8 design for Euston station. [166814]

Mr Simon Burns: On 12 July 2013 my Department released a HS2 Ltd board paper which summarised the feasibility work on option 8 design for Euston station, in response to a Freedom of Information request. This can be accessed at:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/159811/response/408426/attach/3/130711%200FOI%20F1%20FINAL.doc

The design of Euston station was included in a recent design refinement consultation which closed on 11 July. Government are now considering the response to this consultation before deciding on whether to proceed with the proposed revision to the design of Euston station.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the current timetable is for the Essex Thameside franchise; and whether the tender process will include a commitment that all rolling stock will be of equal or better quality than at present. [166873]

Mr Simon Burns: The competition to award the Essex Thameside franchise is in progress as per the schedule announced by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), on 26 March 2013, Official Report, columns 95-98WS. An Invitation to Tender (ITT) was issued to bidders in July with the new franchise start date planned for September 2014. The Department expects to specify minimum requirements for rolling stock on the Essex Thameside franchise and maintain existing levels of performance and customer satisfaction.

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Railway Signals

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the role of signalling in achieving efficiencies in the rail sector. [166812]

Mr Simon Burns: The Department supports Network Rail's deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which will be progressively rolled out across their network. The Department's High Level Output Statement for Network Rail's Control Period for 2014-19 confirms our support for the efficiencies ERTMS will bring.

In addition I am aware that Network Rail's operational strategy will rationalise signalling controls across its network, and that this will bring substantial additional efficiencies to signalling. The delivery of this strategy will be overseen by the independent regulator for rail, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the recent steps taken by Network Rail to reduce delays caused by signal failures. [166813]

Norman Baker: Ministers regularly meet Network Rail and other industry bodies to discuss trends and issues concerning rail performance. While there are currently concerns about the reliability of some elements of the infrastructure, particularly on long-distance routes, the Department is not aware of a systematic problem relating to signal failures. Detailed ongoing assessment of Network Rail's performance and infrastructure management is a matter for the Office of Rail Regulation.

Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assets he has designated for search and rescue under section 2.5 of Annex 12 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation; and where each is located. [166772]

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport can call upon a range of assets currently designated for search and rescue under 2.5 of Annex 12 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. These assets are set out in the following table:

The Department can also call upon commercially operated fixed wing aircraft based at Inverness and East Midlands Airports and a military C-130 Hercules to support long range SAR operations.

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Roads

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the new motorists' champion will provide a strong voice for non-motorised road users. [166559]

Stephen Hammond: As set out in “Action for Roads: a network for the 21st century”, published on 16 July, the Department is currently looking at options for establishing a motorists’ champion. The champion would provide a strong voice for all road users, hold the new strategic highways company to account and encourage the best performance and value for road users.

Severn River Crossing

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the life expectancy is of the original Severn Bridge. [166362]

Stephen Hammond: There is no specific life expectancy for the Severn Bridge. The bridge is regularly inspected, monitored and maintained by a dedicated team with the aim of keeping the condition of the structure in a steady state.

Justice

Alternatives to Prosecution

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many out-of-court disposals for young people have been issued by type of disposal in each year from 2010 to date. [165777]

Jeremy Wright: The number of out-of-court disposals issued to juveniles (aged 10 to 17 years), by disposal type, in England and Wales, in each year from 2010 to 2012 (latest available), can be viewed in the table.

The number of out-of-court disposals issued to juveniles (aged 10 to 17 years) fell by 42% between 2010 and 2012.

Please note, the out-of-court disposal data in the table include cautions, penalty notice for disorders (PND) and cannabis warnings. However, cannabis warnings are only available for adults.

Apprentices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) 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; [165878]

(2) what strategies he has to create apprenticeships in his Department; and what plans he has to promote such strategies. [165896]

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Mrs Grant: Under this Government, the number of apprenticeship opportunities in the Ministry of Justice has increased by 62%.

From 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2013, my Department offered a total of 2,587 apprenticeship qualifications to the existing work force. The breakdown between years is shown in the table.

Information available on the ages of apprentices for 2012-13 is set out in the table. These age range data are aligned with Skills Funding Agency rules. For the period before April 2012, different ages, groups and funding rules applied. Therefore the information for the period 2010 to April 2012 is not centrally available and would require analysis of individual staff records, and incur disproportionate costs.

The Ministry of Justice continues to work closely with the National Apprenticeship Service to maximise opportunities to support the use of apprenticeships within the Department.

Internal processes for recruitment have been changed so that apprenticeships are an option to fill vacancies.

The Ministry of Justice currently has one recruited apprentice with a further 11 due to start in September 2013 as part of the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme.

The Ministry of Justice continues to encourage suppliers to recruit apprentices. Where relevant, a paragraph has been included in contracts requesting contractors to take all reasonable steps to ensure that up to 5% of all employees or staff working on the contract must be on an apprenticeship programme.

Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [162637]

Mrs Grant: The processing of payments of supplier invoices within the MOJ is undertaken by an in-house shared services organisation and an external supplier through a commercially negotiated contract for finance services. The two organisations calculate the average

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costs in different ways and so the resultant average costs are not directly comparable against each other.

The data requested are shown in the table for the month of May 2013:

Bribery Act 2010

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department plans to review the Bribery Act 2010; and if he will make a statement. [159104]

Damian Green: The Government are not reviewing the Act itself but as part of the Government's continuing implementation of the Bribery Act, the Ministry of Justice in association with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is working to ensure small and medium-sized enterprises fully understand how the Act and the guidance relate to their business.

Care Proceedings

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the care proceedings pilot at York County Court whereby proceedings are to be completed within 26 weeks; whether extraneous factors will be taken into account to allow for a delay where appropriate; what the national average length of time taken is for care proceedings; and if he will make a statement. [164292]

Jeremy Wright: The pilot in question is a national one to implement a revised Public Law Outline (PLO) for care, supervision and other Part 4 proceedings. This is a key strand of the reforms to the family justice system and supports the introduction of a 26-week time limit in care and supervision proceedings. The lime limit is included in the Children and Families Bill, currently before Parliament, and the revised PLO will inform the necessary secondary legislation implementing the time limit.

Piloting the revised PLO will assist key agencies in their preparations for the introduction of the primary legislation. Progress in implementing the revised PLO and its impact on court proceedings will be evaluated.

The pilot is permissive in nature and areas can implement the new approach in a phased way from 1 July 2013, depending on local readiness. There is an expectation that all areas will implement the revised PLO by 7 October 2013.

The York Local Family Justice Board has decided to implement the revised PLO from 1 July. It has also been selected to be one of the eight areas that will be evaluated during the pilot phase.

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The starting point for the court should always be that the proceedings should be disposed of without delay, and in any event within 26 weeks. However, the court will have the discretion to extend the case beyond the 26-week time limit if it is considered that it is necessary to resolve the proceedings justly. The Family Procedure Rules Committee (FPRC) has been invited to consider whether it should make rules that the court should have regard to when deciding whether to grant an extension.

The time taken for the disposal of a care or supervision order in January to March 2013 was an average of 42.2 weeks, down from 45.1 weeks in the previous quarter and down from 53.9 weeks in the same quarter in 2012. This is a reduction on the national average of 55 weeks when the Family Justice Review reported in November 2011. The average duration for care and supervision proceedings for York County Council in January to March 2013 was 25.6 weeks, down from 45.2 weeks in the same period in 2012.

Coroners

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions bodies of the deceased were not released by the coroner within 28 days of death in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [161363]

Mrs Grant: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual statistics on the work of coroners in England and Wales, including the time taken by coroners to issue disposal certificates, where the death occurred in England and Wales. The data are collected in three time-bands:

‘One week or less’ (from the date the death was reported to the coroner);

‘Over one week and up to one month’, and

‘Over one calendar month’

Data are recorded separately for cases where an inquest was opened, and for those where no inquest was held.

In 2012, there were 384 cases where the disposal certificates were issued over one calendar month from the date the death was reported to the coroner (where no inquest was held). This comprised less than half of 1% of all non-inquest cases, and the percentage has remained stable over the last three years.

There were also 1,197 cases where disposal certificates were issued over one calendar month from the date the death was reported to the coroner (where an inquest was opened); this was less than 4% of the total. This percentage has also been stable over the last three years.

Information held by MoJ in relation to coroners is published at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints his Department received about each local coroner in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [161364]

Mrs Grant: The information is as follows:

1. The Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC) considers complaints about the personal conduct or behaviour of coroners, but not deputy or assistant coroners who are employed by the appropriate local authority. The OJC is unable to release, or does not hold the information

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requested. While any disciplinary action taken against a coroner as a result of a complaint to the OJC is published on its website, it does not disclose information on complaints that are not upheld. Release of this information for each coroner district could lead to the identification of the coroner concerned and would be a breach of the Data Protection Act and the statutory duty of confidentiality under section 139 of the Constitutional Reform Act.

2. The OJC does publish, in its annual reports, the total number of complaints made against coroners. The figures for the last three financial years are included in the following table:

Courts: Closures

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many courts have been closed in each year since 1997; and how much these closures realised in (a) capital receipts and (b) revenue savings. [166022]

Mrs Grant: The information is as follows.

Number of court closures

Table A shows details of the court closures within Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (including magistrates courts, county courts and Crown courts) since 1997.

Up until 1 April 2005 magistrates courts were the responsibility of locally managed magistrates courts committees that were not required by statute to inform the Department of any magistrates courts closures that were not subject to an appeal under section 56 (3) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 (now repealed).

In December 2010, Ministers announced the closure of 142 magistrates and county courts in England and Wales under the Court Estate Reform Programme (CHRP). To date 137 courts have closed, comprising 89 magistrates courts and 48 county courts.

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Revenue Savings

Prior to 2005 locally managed magistrates courts committees were responsible for managing magistrates courts and were not required by statute to inform the Department of any magistrates courts closures. We therefore do not have these figures for revenue savings for this period. Between 2005 and 2010 there were 25 courts closed outside of the Court Estate Reform Programme. These were delivered as part of new build schemes or implemented through business as usual and the Department is unable to obtain revenue savings without incurring disproportionate costs.

As of 30 June 2013 the net revenue savings under CERP totalled £19.34 million. As of 6 August 2013 a total of 40 buildings have been sold so far attracting disposal receipts of £17.16 million. The total cumulative gross benefits are expected to be £99.2 million over the SR10 period. This consists of resource savings, including reduced property costs and pay bill savings resulting from court closures of £60.6 million, and gross capital proceeds of £38.6 million from the sale of buildings.

Capital receipts

Table B includes buildings disposed by HMCTS precursor agencies HM Courts Service (from 2005) and Courts Service (from 1997 to 2005), but excludes disposal receipts received by locally managed magistrates courts committees and various tribunal agencies. The table details receipts received by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service for disposal of operational and administrative buildings since 1997 through both court closures and other surplus courthouses delivered through new build or co-location schemes. Not all closed courts will generate capital receipts. A number of courts were retained for other uses, those that are on the market, or leasehold properties where the lease will have ended or been surrendered.

Courts: Crimes of Violence

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of violence were recorded in (a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012. [164576]

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Mrs Grant: The number of violent incidents reported in magistrates courts and Crown courts are as follows:

My Department takes the security of all court users seriously and it is the policy of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that all security incidents are reported and investigated. All incidents involving violence are reported to the police for further investigation. The figures provided comprise reported incidents from the reporting years April to March and resulting in actual violence and include incidents between and against parties, court users and court staff and contractors. These figures do not include incidents of verbal abuse or verbal threats as they do not fall within the remit of the request.

Courts: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of crime and witnesses were supported by the Witness Service at (a) York Crown court and (b) York magistrates court in each year since 2004-05. [163894]

Mrs Grant: The Ministry of Justice does not routinely collect these data. Victim support holds these data only from 2009-10 to 2012-13.

As part of its Grant in Aid to victim support, the Ministry of Justice requires the provision of a court based witness service. Victim support provides support to all witnesses who wish to receive it when attending court.

The figures correlate with a decrease in the business of the magistrates court.

Curfews

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offences have been committed by those on home detention curfews since 2008. [165191]

Jeremy Wright: Data on the criminal histories of offenders currently on Home Detention Curfews (HDC) are not held centrally in the same database and to answer this question in full would require a matching process between two different databases which due to its size and complexity will incur disproportionate cost.

Dangerous Dogs

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many dog owners have (a) been ordered to muzzle their dog, (b) received a custodial sentence for possession of a prohibited dog, (c) received a community

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sentence for possession of an out of control dog and

(d)

been banned from keeping a dog in each region of England in each of the last five years. [165305]

Jeremy Wright: The number of offenders sentenced at all courts to immediate custody for possession of a prohibited dog, in England by region from 2008 to 2012 (latest available), can be viewed in Table 1.

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The number of offenders sentenced at all courts to a community sentence for offences relating to out of control dogs, in England by region from 2008 to 2012 (latest available), can be viewed in Table 2.

Information on dog owners ordered to muzzle their dog, or where a ban from keeping a dog is part of an offender’s sentence, is not collated centrally. This information may be held on court files, which could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

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Devolution

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library any concordats which his Department or the public bodies for which he is responsible have with the devolved Administrations. [163155]

Mrs Grant: The Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements, agreed in September 2012, set out principles which underlie the relationship between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These documents are available in the Library.

A concordat existed between the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Scottish Government. The Ministry of Justice does not have any concordats with the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although we are in the process of negotiating a concordat with the Welsh Government.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has a bilateral agreement with the Scottish Government. The National Archives has a concordat with the Welsh Government. The Information Commissioner has a bilateral agreement with the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland. The Law Commission has a bilateral agreement with the Welsh Government. I will arrange for these documents to be placed in the Library of the House. This answer assumes that service level agreements fall outside the scope of the question.

Domestic Violence

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many incidents of violence involving members of families of defendants were recorded in magistrates courts in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [164514]

(2) how many incidents of violence there were in magistrates courts that involved the family of defendants in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [164935]

(3) how many incidents of violence there were in Crown courts that involved the family of defendants in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [164936]

Mrs Grant: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not maintain records detailing whether an incident of violence has involved the family of the defendant for the period detailed above.

I refer the right hon. Member to the response given to his PQ 164576.

Driving under Influence: Drugs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people have been convicted of driving under the influence of illegal substances in the UK in each of the last five years; [161434]

(2) how many people have been convicted of driving under the influence of illegal substances in the London Borough of Havering in each of the last five years. [161435]

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Jeremy Wright: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for driving under the influence of illegal substances in the England and Wales in each of the last five years can be viewed in table 1.

Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Government and the Department of Justice Northern Ireland.

Havering has merged with Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham to form North East London from 1 January 2012. The information provided in table 2 shows the number of defendants found guilty at magistrates courts for driving under the influence of illegal substances in the Havering local justice area for each year between 2008 and 2011, and in the North East London local justice area in the year 2012 (latest data available).

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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to introduce tougher sentences for those caught driving under the influence of illegal substances. [161436]

Jeremy Wright: The Crime and Courts Act 2013 created the offence of driving with a specified controlled drug in the body above a specified limit. The existing offence of driving whilst impaired through drugs (section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) is difficult to enforce due to the need to show that the driver was impaired and the impairment was due to a drug. The maximum penalty for the new drug driving offence is the same as that for the current drug driving offence (and drink driving): this remains at six months imprisonment, a fine of £5,000 and disqualification. However, this offence is designed to increase the likelihood of conviction of those who drive under the influence of drugs, thereby enabling the court to punish these drivers. Where culpable

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poor driving is involved, and death or injury is caused, a range of more serious offences may be charged, with long terms of imprisonment available.