Armed Forces: Deployment

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work and ongoing studies his Department is undertaking to examine the mental health impact of (a) deployment and (b) tours of duty that are extended beyond their original end date on (i) reservists and (ii) regular armed forces personnel; and if he will make a statement. [167306]

Mr Francois: The mental health of all military personnel, both regulars and reservists, is of high importance. We continue to commission an ongoing programme of research into the health of military personnel from the King's Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), which looks at a range of issues that may affect the mental health of all personnel, both regulars and reservists, including deployment and tour lengths. This research helps us to achieve a more scientific understanding of the impact of operations on the armed forces, and informs practice and policy in managing the health of our personnel. A considerable number of research papers have already been published, which can be accessed on the KCMHR area of the King's College London website.

A KCMHR study published in The Lancet in 2010 indicated that the numbers of repeated deployments did not translate to an increase in any of the common mental health issues measured. However, a separate KCMHR study published in 2007 showed that if a regular service person is deployed for 13 or more months in any 36 month period, then there is an increased risk of mental health disturbance. The study reported that this risk is higher following an unexpected (rather than pre-planned) extension to a tour.

Army

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army service leavers there have been in each of the last three years; and how many Army Service Leaver's Packs have been issued in each such year. [167100]

Mr Francois: Armed forces manpower outflow data are published by Defence Statistics at the following link:

http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/personnel/military/quarterly_personnel_report/2013-07-01/1_july_2013.pdf?PublishTime=09:30:00

For ease of reference published data for the number of regular Army service leavers during the last three financial years (FY) can be found in the following table:

5 Sep 2013 : Column 482W

The number of Service Leaver's Packs (SLPs) issued specifically to regular Army personnel is not held. However, data regarding the numbers issued to all regular armed forces personnel exist, and are provided in the following table. For comparative purposes, details about the total outflow of regular armed forces personnel during the same period are also provided:

Chinook Helicopters

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of operating (a) three variants and (b) a single version of the Chinook helicopter. [167570]

Mr Dunne: We do not record separately the cost associated with each mark of the Chinook helicopter. All three variants will utilise common engines, transmissions, rotor blades and largely common avionic systems. They are also supported under the same contracted arrangements and services against identified maintenance schedules. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 October 2012, Official Report, columns 663-64W, for the support and maintenance expenditure over the last three financial years for the Chinook fleet (of all marks).

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were involved in the testing of the Chinook HC.6 at Naval Air Warfare Centre Aircraft Division at Naval Air Station Patuxent River; and what the cost to the public purse was of such testing. [167590]

Mr Dunne: There were two Ministry of Defence (MOD), 16 Boeing and 10 QinetiQ personnel involved in the flight tests for a Chinook Mk6 helicopter at Naval Air Station Patuxent River between 10 April and 8 August 2013. This was part of flight testing that had been planned as an integral part of the MOD's £847 million acquisition in 2011 of the Chinook Mk6.

The cost of this flight trial was circa £5.7 million.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on adopting programmes similar to the United States Foreign Military Sales system. [167510]

Mr Dunne: I have recently commissioned a joint Ministry of Defence/Industry study to consider whether aspects of the US Foreign Military Sales system could be adopted by the UK. This study is at too early a stage to speculate on what conclusions will be drawn.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 483W

Firing Ranges: Colchester

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with (a) local residents and (b) Colchester Borough Council on proposals to erect fences at the Middlewick firing ranges, Colchester; and if he will make a statement. [167475]

Mr Francois: Local councillors were informed of the proposal to erect a fence at Middlewick ranges at a regularly held stakeholder meeting, at which it was agreed to inform local residents via a letter. These letters were sent in early August 2013.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of erecting fences at the Middlewick firing ranges, Colchester. [167476]

Mr Francois: The estimated cost of erecting the fence at Middlewick ranges is £25,000.

Hercules Aircraft

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Hercules transport aircraft will be kept in service to meet the needs of forces designed for special operations; and if he will make a statement. [167834]

Mr Robathan: We do not comment on any aspect of special forces operations.

Lost Property

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many items were lost at (a) COD Donnington and (b) COD Bicester since September 2012; and if he will make a statement; [167285]

(2) what the value of items lost at (a) COD Donnington and (b) COD Bicester was since September 2012; and if he will make a statement; [167286]

(3) if he will publish details of the auditing processes for (a) COD Donnington and (b) COD Bicester; and if he will make a statement. [Official Report, 17 October 2013, Vol. 568, c. 9MC] [167289]

Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Annual Report and Accounts includes reportable materiel losses. Culpable losses include the result of proven or suspected fraud, theft, arson or sabotage, or any other deliberate act including repairable damage caused maliciously to buildings, stores or other equipment.

Non-culpable losses include the result of accidental damage or unavoidable and/or unforeseen circumstances. Non-culpable losses can also occur where the loss of materiel could be expected in the normal course of MOD business, e.g. inventory or equipment damaged or destroyed by enemy fire or due to authorised tests or practice firings. However, unless there is evidence of culpability, losses in these circumstances are not reportable in the Annual Report and Accounts.

The total value of stock issued from Logistic Commodities and Services (LCS) Bicester and LCS Donnington for the period 1 October 2012 to 30 June

5 Sep 2013 : Column 484W

2013 was £3.8 billion. The number and value of reportable materiel losses for the same period is contained in the following tables:

The principles and processes for materiel accounting are contained within the Defence Logistic Support Chain Manual (Volume 4) which is published on the internet at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-886-volume-04-materiel-accounting

The LCS Bicester and LCS Donnington materiel and financial accounts are audited by the Defence Internal Audit Team and the National Audit Office.

In November 2012 Defence Equipment and Support began implementing the Inventory Strategic Plan to control inventory within the future Defence supply chain. This programme of work will drive the practice of high quality inventory management throughout the Department that will deliver and maintain optimised inventory across Defence.

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) at what point lost items of equipment are considered to have been stolen; and if he will make a statement; [167287]

(2) what criteria are used for determining whether lost items should be written off or considered a theft; and if he will make a statement. [167288]

Mr Dunne: It is the Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy that all losses of materiel are investigated and reported in accordance with the Defence Logistic Support Chain Manual. If stocktaking discrepancies are identified an independent reconciler initiates an investigation, the level of which is dependent on the value and stocktaking category of the item. It is during the investigation that the cause of the discrepancy will be identified and, in cases where criminal activity is suspected, the situation is to be reported to the MOD, service or civilian police as appropriate. Before approving any write-off the authorising officer must be clear about the nature of the case; the amount involved; and the circumstances in which the loss arose; and its causes, including any relevant information from police reports; and if there is any suspicion of theft, fraud, arson or sabotage. Before writing off expenditure, there must be clear evidence that all reasonable action has been taken to recover the loss and that no feasible alternative exists. All items lost as a result of theft are subsequently written-off.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 485W

In November 2012 Defence Equipment and Support began implementing the Inventory Strategic Plan to control inventory within the future Defence supply chain. This programme of work will drive the practice of high-quality inventory management throughout the Department that will deliver and maintain optimised inventory across Defence.

Middle East

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the defence implications and the impact on regional stability of the growing insurgency in the Sinai peninsula and the conflict on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip. [167721]

Dr Murrison: We continue to be concerned by the security situation in the Sinai peninsula and the conflict on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip. The Suez canal remains of critical importance for UK interests, and we are also concerned by recent reports of an attack on the canal. We are monitoring the security situation closely and raise it regularly with the Egyptian authorities.

Ministry of Defence Guard Service

Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence Guard Service staff are employed at front line command sites in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the North East and (c) the UK. [167778]

Mr Francois: The number of Ministry of Defence Guard Service staff who are employed at front line command sites as at 3 September 2013, are listed in the following table:

Navy: Military Exercises

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assets and how many personnel were involved in Exercise Cougar in each of the last five years; [167507]

(2) what the cost to the public purse was of Exercise Cougar in each of the last five years. [167508]

Mr Robathan: Cougar deployments are the annual forward deployment of core elements of Defence's Maritime Response Force Task Group (RFTG). The RFTG was established by the Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2010, which set the requirement for the Navy to generate a Very High Readiness maritime contingent capability. Cougar deployments are directed through a Whitehall process by Defence to maintain the readiness of the RFTG and deliver Maritime Security and Defence Engagement. That engagement is delivered through exercises with allies and partners to build defence relationships and promote interoperability.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 486W

Cougar 2011 was planned for HMS Albion, HMS Ocean, HMS Sutherland, RFA Cardigan Bay, RFA Mounts Bay, RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Wave Knight, elements of 40 Commando Royal Marines, 539 Assault Squadron RM, 845 Naval Air Squadron and support to take part in the deployment to the Middle East. This changed with the activation of Op Deference, Op Ellamy and Op Unified Protector in response to events in Libya; additional assets deployed as required supplementing the Cougar 2011 assets. The information requested about costs for Cougar 11 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

For Cougar 2012, HMS Bulwark, HMS Illustrious, HMS Montrose, RFA Mounts Bay, HMS Dragon, elements of 45 Commando Royal Marines, 845, 854 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons and support deployed to the Mediterranean. Other assets joined Cougar 12 for short periods while en-route to their deployment tasking. The marginal cost for port visits and marine fuel cost for Cougar 12 was £4.2 million.

The total number of personnel involved changes constantly; detailed records are not maintained and the information requested for Cougar 11 and 12 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The assets currently deployed on Cougar 2013 are HMS Bulwark, HMS Illustrious, RFA Fort Austin, RFA Mounts Bay, RFA Lyme Bay, RFA Fort Victoria, RoRo Hurst Point, elements of the Lead Royal Marine Commando Group, 43 Cdo Fleet Protection Group RM, Fleet Diving Group, and elements of Joint Helicopter Command (three Lynx Mk 7, three Sea King Mk4 and three Apache helicopter 64). Throughout the deployment it is planned that other assets will join Cougar 13 for short periods; for example, HMS Westminster and HMS Montrose sailed with Cougar en-route to their own operational tasking. As at 27 August 2013 there were approximately 2,700 personnel deployed as part of the Cougar 13 Task Group. The costs of this deployment are not yet available.

In addition to those personnel directly deployed on Cougar, the deployments are supported in the UK and around the world by civilian and military personnel in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Government Departments.

Niteworks

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual budget was of UK Niteworks in each year since 2003. [167511]

Mr Dunne: Ministry of Defence (MOD) annual expenditure on Niteworks since financial year (FY) 2008-09 is provided in the following table:

5 Sep 2013 : Column 487W

Total expenditure on Niteworks from 2003 to 2008 was £61.4 million; annual figures are no longer available prior to FY 2008-09.

The Niteworks core capability budget for FY 2013-14 is £5.8 million. Project costs will be dependent upon MOD demand.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by UK Niteworks. [167587]

Mr Dunne: As at September 2013 there are eight Crown Servants working in Niteworks; an additional post is currently vacant.

The contract also currently involves some 119 full-time equivalent (FTE) posts drawn from the Niteworks Partnership companies. This comprises a core team, around 19 FTE, and a number of project teams, around 100 FTE. The number of people employed in the core and project teams will fluctuate at any given time, depending on demand.

Parachute Regiment

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on changes in parachute training for members of the Parachute Regiment and (a) the discontinuation of annual refresher jumps for qualified parachutists and the potential effect this will have on combat-readiness, (b) the promotion of new annual intakes of recruits who (i) will and (ii) will not receive parachute training and the potential effect this will have on combat-readiness and (c) the military rationale for these changes. [167833]

Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence remains committed to ensuring that all personnel are fully trained for the roles they are required to undertake.

While there is no requirement for annual refresher jumps, all personnel in the Parachute Regiment are required to undertake one jump every two years to maintain their qualification. This policy has been in place for the past 10 years with no detrimental effect to combat readiness. There have been no changes to this.

All new recruits to the Parachute Regiment are required to undertake the basic parachute course. There have been some delays in individuals completing the basic parachute course since April 2011 but there are now initiatives in place to increase the allocation of places in order that all personnel will receive the required training. This has had no effect on the combat-readiness of the Parachute Battalions.

While current planning prioritises assets in support of operations in Afghanistan, the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010 confirmed the requirement for a parachute capability in the future.

RAF Akrotiri

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect the deployment of six Typhoon aircraft to RAF Akrotiri will have on the air bridge to Afghanistan. [167573]

5 Sep 2013 : Column 488W

Mr Robathan: The deployment of Typhoon aircraft to Akrotiri is not expected to have any impact on the Afghanistan air bridge.

RAF Northolt

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the responses received to his Department's consultation on increasing the number of civilian flights into and out of RAF Northolt; and if he will make a statement. [167737]

Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to increase commercial aviation flights at RAF Northolt within the current airspace capacity of 40 commercial movements per day, with a cap of 12,000 commercial movements per year. These civilian commercial movements will be strictly in accordance with extant arrangements. Representatives from RAF Northolt met with the Leader of London borough of Hillingdon, local councillors, and residents' associations to discuss the proposal. No other public consultation took place.

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) military flights, (b) non-commercial civil flights and (c) commercial civilian flights there were (i) into or (ii) out of RAF Northolt in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13; how many such flights are expected to take place in (1) 2013-14, (2) 2014-15 and (3) 2015-16; and if he will make a statement; [167738]

(2) how many civilian flights from RAF Northolt there were on 1 September (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013; and if he will make a statement; [167739]

(3) whether civilian flights (a) from and (b) into RAF Northolt were restricted to the hours of 0800 to 2000 in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; whether such flights will continue to be restricted in such fashion in (A) 2013-14, (B) 2014-15 and (C) 2015-16; and if he will make a statement. [167740]

Mr Dunne: RAF Northolt only record aircraft movements; take-offs and landings are not recorded separately. The movements at RAF Northolt are recorded by calendar year. One movement is either one take-off or one landing.

Military aircraft movements include those of foreign military aircraft. Civilian non-commercial aircraft include civil registered aircraft used for Royal and British Government charters, visiting Heads of State and Government officials, air ambulance and police flights. There are no caps on the numbers of military or civilian non-commercial aircraft movements.

Civilian commercial aircraft are restricted to aircraft with fewer than 30 passengers and have for the entire period requested been restricted to the hours of 0800 to 2000 and 12,000 aircraft movements per annum. These restrictions are not currently planned to change in the future years requested.

The following table provides the number of movements (take-off or landing) in each category by calendar year requested:

5 Sep 2013 : Column 489W

RAF Northolt is currently on track to accept around 8,000 civilian commercial aircraft movements in 2013. Planning assumptions are for around 10,500 civilian commercial aircraft movement slots in 2014 and up to 12,000 civilian commercial aircraft movement slots in 2015 to be made available.

The following table contains the number of movements (take-off or landing) on 1 September of each requested year. Airspace restrictions were in place on 1 September 2012 due to the Paralympics.

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisations were consulted by his Department before the decision to increase the number of civilian flights from RAF Northolt was taken; and if he will make a statement. [167741]

Mr Dunne: As the appropriate aviation regulatory authorities, the Ministry of Defence consulted with the Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services before the decision was taken to increase the revenue from commercial aviation flights at RAF Northolt.

RAF Spadeadam

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to visit RAF Spadeadam. [167478]

Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 4 September 2013]: I have no current plans to visit RAF Spadeadam.

Reserve Forces

Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the Capita Reserve Forces Recruiting Group processing contract. [167195]

Mr Francois: The Army is working in partnership with Capita to deliver the recruitment of both Regular and Army Reserve personnel. Under the 10-year contract with Capita to deliver whole-Army recruiting, annual payments will depend on the number of recruits the Army is likely to require. For the current year the Capita cost of recruiting is likely to be around £50 million. This arrangement is expected to deliver enhancements to the recruiting process as well as freeing up personnel, over time, back to the armed forces.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 490W

Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people applied to join the Reserve Army in the most recent period for which figures are available; how many of them have been processed; and what the average time taken by Capita is to process applications. [167196]

Mr Francois: The Army is operating in partnership with Capita to deliver Army recruitment. In the first quarter of recruiting year 2013-14, 3,301 applications were received to join the Army Reserve. All of the applications have been processed to some degree, resulting in some candidates being rejected, others continuing to progress through the recruitment process, and others being finally approved for enlistment.

It will take time to accurately measure the growth in Reserve Forces following the announcement of 3 July 2013, Official Report, column 932, but the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) has said the Government remain committed to keeping the House updated through the publication of both recruitment figures and trained strength figures as the Army Reserve moves forward.

Each application is processed according to individual circumstances. Factors such as medical issues and availability are likely to affect the time spent in the recruitment process. In general it is anticipated that a candidate will be able to progress from application to enlistment in about 90 days.

Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) Government Car Service, (b) private hire vehicles, (c) taxis, (d) rail, (e) aviation and (f) other means in each year of the current parliament. [157543]

Mr Francois: I apologise for the length of time it has taken to provide the hon. Member with a response to her question. I will write to the hon. Member, with the information requested shortly.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System Capability Concept Demonstrator contract; and how long he expects the programme to run. [167509]

Mr Dunne: The cost of the Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System Capability Concept Demonstrator contract is just under £2.3 million, and the project is expected to run for two years, until 2015.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the installation of software on MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicles to allow them to use inclined orbit satellites for communication and navigation. [167589]

Mr Dunne: There is no requirement to install software on the UK Reaper unmanned aircraft to enable use of inclined orbit satellites at this time.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 491W

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Hellfire missiles fired by RAF unmanned aerial vehicles hit their target in each of the last three years. [R] [167604]

Mr Robathan: I have nothing further to add to the answer the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) gave on 17 January 2013, Official Report, column 889W.

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects a decision about the Royal Navy ISTAR urgent operational requirement to be made; and what the expected in-service date is. [R] [167606]

Mr Dunne: The business case to provide a Scan Eagle capability as an urgent operational requirement was approved in March 2013 and we expect the capability to start becoming available from the end of 2013 onwards.

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cost has been of the Hermes 450 programme to date; and what the projected future costs are of that programme; [R] [167610]

(2) what the cost has been of the Watchkeeper programme to date; and what the projected future costs are of that programme. [R] [167611]

Mr Dunne: To the end of financial year (FY) 2012-13 the total spend for delivering and sustaining the Hermes 450 capability on operations was £165 million against a total financial approval of £214 million.

To the end of FY 2012-13 the total spend on the Watchkeeper programme was £831 million. The current financial approval for the Watchkeeper programme is £1.035 billion for equipment acquisition and initial in-service support.

Victoria Cross

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on commemorating the holders of the Victoria Cross awarded for actions in the First World War who were not born in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [167502]

Mr Foster: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The men who gave their lives in the Great War remain heroes forever, and this is why we recently announced a commemorative paving stone campaign to honour Victoria Cross recipients from the First World War. None of them will be forgotten in our campaign, whether they were born in the UK or not, and we are currently identifying the best way to remember those born abroad. This will be in addition to plans to commemorate these figures overseas, which are currently being finalised by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Posts.

The Government will be making further announcements in due course.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 492W

Cabinet Office

Alcoholic Drinks: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths in Birmingham were attributed to alcohol in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [167743]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated September 2013:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths in Birmingham were attributed to alcohol in (a) 2010, (b)2011 and (c) 2012. (167743)

The table provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was alcohol-related, for Birmingham metropolitan district, for death registered in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Alcohol-related deaths are reported consistently across the United Kingdom using an agreed National Statistics definition that only includes those causes regarded as being most directly due to alcohol consumption (see Box 1 below).

Alcohol-related death figures for the UK, England, Wales, and regions of England, for 1991 to 2011 are available on the ONS website at:

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-29395

Big Society Network

Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2013, Official Report, column 414W, on Big Society Network, if he will publish the letter of complaint about the Big Society Network; and if he will make a statement. [167056]

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Mr Hurd: In line with the practice of previous Administrations such correspondence is not normally disclosed.

Civil Servants: Disability

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will consider agreeing a disability leave entitlement to staff in the Civil Service who have returned to work after claiming disability benefits. [167954]

Mr Maude: The civil service should always make reasonable adjustments to minimise disadvantage people may face in the workplace because of a disability. This includes discretion for disabled employees in the management of their attendance. It is for individual Departments to determine how this is applied, but typical approaches may include allowing special leave or other paid time off for employees with a disability to have treatment or attend rehabilitation or medical appointments.

Government Departments: Procurement

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the audit of procurement contracts held by G4S and Serco will cost. [166754]

Miss Chloe Smith: The Government-wide review of contracts held by G4S and Serco commenced on 22 July 2013 and is expected to report in the autumn. Details are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-of-government-g4s-and-serco-contracts

Further information on the costs of the review will be published in due course.

Housing: Sales

Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many sales of residential properties were completed in each year since 1992. [167111]

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

HM Land Registry covers England and Wales and began collating the data requested in 1995. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own land registration departments. The following table gives the total number of house sales in England and Wales from 1995, including January to June 2013.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 494W

Internet: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Government, (b) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and (c) the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations regarding the procurement options for delivery of the assisted digital scheme in Scotland. [167385]

Mr Hurd: In line with the practice of previous Administrations, details of discussions with the Scottish Government are not normally disclosed.

As part of my Department's transparency programme, details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on the Cabinet Office website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office/series/ministers-transparency-publications

The Scottish Government are represented on the Digital Leaders Network and on the Assisted Digital Programme Board.

Public Appointments: Females

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to increase the representation of women on the boards of public bodies. [900145]

Mr Maude: This Government's aspiration is that 50% of new public appointees should be women by the end of this Parliament. The Centre for Public Appointments in the Cabinet Office is working with colleagues across Whitehall to modernise recruitment practices and to attract a more diverse field of candidates. As part of this work, I recently hosted an event to encourage more applications from women.

This is also the first year that the Government have published their own statistics on the gender diversity of public appointments. 37% of new public appointments made by Whitehall Departments in 2012-13 were women. The Government will be updating this information on a six-monthly basis.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was. [164394]

Mr Maude: After the last general election, the Government comprehensively reformed the civil service compensation scheme, ensuring significant savings for taxpayers. Where compensation payments were made,

5 Sep 2013 : Column 495W

Departments estimated costs would generally be recouped within a year. The early departure programmes should be seen in the context of a reduction in civil service employment by 78,000 FTE staff, or 16%, since March 2010. Reducing the size of the civil service and other reforms saved the taxpayer £2.2 billion in 2012-13 compared with 2009-10.

The following table sets out the number of senior civil servants who left my Department and its public bodies under voluntary exit terms during each of the last three years and the total value of their severance payments:

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made in cutting the size of severance packages for senior civil servants. [167723]

Mr Maude: In 2010 this Government made significant reforms to the civil service compensation scheme. The scheme applies to all civil servants, regardless of grade. Through our reforms the value of compensation entitlement that can be accrued has been reduced and the salary used in the calculation limited. Other changes include a reduction in the maximum amount of compensation payable per year of service and a salary underpin that protects the lower paid.

In the view of the NAO the departures under the first year of the scheme were some 40% to 50% cheaper than they would have been under the scheme we inherited.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to discuss the Fifth Report from the Energy and Climate Change Committee on Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty, HC 108, with (a) the big six energy companies, (b) smaller energy suppliers and (c) Ofgem before making his response to that report. [167669]

Michael Fallon: The Department meets with the big six energy companies, smaller energy suppliers and Ofgem regularly to discuss a range of issues.

We are considering carefully the recommendations made in the Fifth Report of this Session from the Energy and Climate Change Committee on Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty and will be responding in full by the end of September.

Energy: EU Action

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to obtain EU state aid approval for the proposed capacity market. [167244]

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Michael Fallon: The Government have taken into account EU state aid rules when designing the Capacity Market and our discussions with the Commission cover whether or not state aid may be present, and if there is state aid, whether it is permissible.

If the Government conclude that they need to make a formal notification on the Capacity Market we would expect the Commission to make a decision as soon as possible consistent with its procedural regulations. The Commission is aware of the UK's implementation timetable for Electricity Market Reform (EMR) and is working constructively with us to deliver this.

Fuel Poverty

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 20W, on energy, whether the information gathered through the Energy Saving Advice Service has been used to offer additional assistance to fuel-poor households. [167228]

Gregory Barker: The Energy Saving Advice Service (or ESAS) provides a referral service for ECO Affordable Warmth, which delivers heating and insulation measures to low income, vulnerable consumers. To date, nearly 16,000 referrals have been made to obligated energy suppliers that have agreed to offer a minimum package of assistance to these households within an agreed time frame. The support available can include a survey of the property, tariff advice, checking eligibility for the Warm Home Discount Broader Group and if appropriate a heating and insulation measure.

As we approach winter, my officials will be seeking opportunities to maximise the use of the service. Plans are already in place to promote it through existing correspondence to qualifying benefit recipients from the Department for Work and Pensions, and DECC's communications to Warm Home Discount Core Group recipients. The Big Energy Saving Network will also be encouraging vulnerable consumers to call ESAS to see if they are eligible for the support.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the potential public investment contract for Hinkley Point C Power Station whether prior to entering into negotiations with a single company, his Department first published in the EU Official Journal a notice inviting tenders or expressions of interest for such electrical generating capacity, under Article 8 of EC Directive 2009/72. [167237]

Michael Fallon: We do not consider that the potential investment contract for Hinkley Point C falls within the scope of Article 8. The investment contract, if agreed, is designed to be a market-based intervention to provide price stability for nuclear generation during the transition to a low carbon economy.

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Insulation: Housing

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made on the effect on (a) nesting birds and (b) other wildlife of changes to housing insulation introduced as part of the Green Deal. [167142]

Gregory Barker: Substantial impact assessment work was undertaken on the Green Deal but this issue was not covered.

Renewable Energy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the installation cost, excluding subsidies and levies, of a megawatt of each current type of renewable electricity generation in each year since 2002. [167486]

Michael Fallon: DECC has published levelised cost estimates of various generation technologies on the DECC website since 2010. The levelised cost of a particular generation technology is the ratio of the total costs of a generic plant to the total amount of electricity expected to be generated over the plant's lifetime (per megawatt hour). Levelised costs include installation costs, but also pre-development costs, infrastructure costs, operating costs, connection costs and carbon and fuel costs. They do not include revenues or support payments, The estimates include estimates of costs for plants starting now and in the future. All documents relating to electricity generation costs are available on the DECC website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/series/energy-generation-cost-projections

Levelised cost estimates for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, discount rate and other drivers and this means that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates. It is perhaps more appropriate to consider a range of cost estimates as pipeline projects show a large range around these central values. These are shown in Table 2 for a range around capital costs and fuel prices for projects starting in 2012 and 2013.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the total expenditure required on transmission lines and associated infrastructure needed by 2020 to ensure that the UK meets its renewable energy targets. [167488]

Michael Fallon: The Department published estimates of electricity network costs for the decade to 2020 as part of the Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan Update Impact Assessment (published in July 2013)¹. We estimate that £50 billion of investment in electricity networks may be needed for the decade to 2020, of which £23 billion would be for transmission (onshore and offshore).

¹(see para 123)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225981/emr_delivery_plan_ia.pdf

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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Biodiversity

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under his plans for a biodiversity offsetting scheme, how he plans to (a) safeguard against the loss of habitats supporting rare or threatened bee species, (b) value the social and health benefit of access to natural spaces and (c) take into account wider ecosystem services provided by natural spaces such as pollination and climate change mitigation; and if he will make a statement. [167297]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA intends to consult on the detail of a national biodiversity offsetting scheme and plans to publish a Green Paper soon. The consultation will include consideration of these issues.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) criteria and (b) methodology his Department will use to evaluate the humaneness of badger culls in pilot areas; and if he will make a statement. [167569]

Mr Heath: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham) on 12 June 2013, Official Report, columns 348-9W.

Consultants

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) he and (b) officials in his Department spent on external assistance to prepare for (i) appearances before Select Committees and (ii) contact with the media in (A) 2011-12 and (B) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164666]

Richard Benyon: Records of such spend are not held in a way that is readily available, therefore this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Dogs: Electronic Training Aids

Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent research funded by his Department into behavioural and physiological changes to dogs arising from the use of electric shock collars; and if he will make it his policy to ban such collars. [167734]

Mr Heath: Research funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into the use of remote electronic training collars on dogs concluded that while such devices had a negative effect on some dogs this was not enough to justify a ban on their use. We are working with the industry for them to develop guidance for owners and trainers advising how to use e-collars properly as well as on the manufacture of these collars in order to reduce the availability of poor quality devices.

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Energy: Conservation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress he has made on raising energy efficiency standards for electrical appliances. [167245]

Mr Heath: DEFRA has worked with the European Commission and other member states this year to agree EU-wide measures that set minimum energy performance standards for the following electrical appliances:

Water heaters and water storage tanks

Space heaters

Vacuum cleaners

Computers and laptops

Hobs/grill and cookers

Electric motors

Standby limits for products connected to a network have also been agreed.

Livestock: Transport

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many warning notices have been issued by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratory Agency for breaches of the legislation to shipments of live farm animals transported from England to continental Europe since 1 May 2013. [167696]

Mr Heath: Since 1 May 2013, a total of seven statutory notices have been served by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency for breaches of welfare during transport legislation.

Nature Conservation

Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of efforts to improve the effectiveness of habitat replacement schemes. [167144]

Richard Benyon: Habitat replacement schemes have been used in a number of circumstances, including providing compensatory measures under the Habitats and Birds Directive.

In July 2012, we established the Habitats and Wild Bird Directives Marine Evidence Group to fulfil and advise on measures for sharing data and improving the marine evidence base to support decision making in the marine environment under these directives. The Marine Evidence Group published its initial findings in 2013. It is developing proposals for improved post-consent monitoring and to assess the effectiveness of mitigation and compensation around offshore wind farm construction.

We are currently funding research on the effectiveness of habitat creation or management for bats following infrastructure development. This work is due to report in March 2015. We are also currently inviting tenders for a one year research project to review of the effectiveness of Natura 2000 site compensation measures in England, with a focus on coastal development. This work will start in October.

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Porpoises

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps he has put in place to protect harbour porpoises in UK waters; [167315]

(2) what progress he has made on the designation of Special Areas of Conservation for harbour porpoises under the Habitats Directive. [167316]

Richard Benyon: Protection for harbour porpoise is provided for under the EU habitats directive and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and through bycatch mitigation measures implemented under EU Regulation 812/2004.

The UK has already submitted a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for harbour porpoise in Northern Ireland. Work to identify other potential SACs for harbour porpoise, in accordance with obligations under the habitats directive, is continuing. An analysis of data for harbour porpoise in UK waters, with the aim of determining possible suitable sites for SAC designation, is due to report later this year.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of offshore wind farms on harbour porpoises. [167317]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA's Habitats and Birds Directives Marine Evidence Group works with industry, environmental organisations, other Government Departments and agencies to improve evidence on how marine developments affect the environment. This group has recognised the need for improved evidence on the impact of underwater noise on marine mammals, given planned large-scale offshore wind energy development in UK seas. Through the group, DEFRA recently commissioned internationally recognised experts to provide an objective assessment, based on current published literature, of the potential impacts of underwater noise from planned offshore wind energy development on harbour porpoise in the North sea. A report will be published on the GOV.UK website shortly.

The group also exchanges information on research, including a project funded by DECC, Marine Scotland, The Crown Estate and others to develop a Population Consequences of Disturbance Interim Framework for evaluation of population level impacts of the construction and operation of offshore renewables on a range of marine mammal species including harbour porpoise. The Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme, initiated by DECC, Marine Scotland and the Crown Estate, plans to include a longer-term project to improve empirical evidence on the impacts of offshore renewables on marine mammals.

Water: East of England

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the water leakage levels in the eastern region other than Essex were in each year since 2008. [167283]

Richard Benyon: Water leakage figures are not available by region or county as water companies' operating areas do not align with local authority boundaries. The

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water companies serving the eastern region are Anglian Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Thames Water, Cambridge Water and Affinity Water. Their leakage rates since 2008 have been:

Leakage Performance from 1997-2013, sourced from Ofwat (Mega litres per day (Ml/d).

Home Department

Arrest Warrants

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many UK citizens have been brought back to the UK from other EU member states under the European arrest warrant in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [160244]

(2) how many citizens of other EU member states have been returned from the UK to their home country under the European arrest warrant in each of the last three years. [160246]

Mr Harper [holding answer 17 June 2013]: I have been informed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) that the following numbers of UK citizens were returned to the UK¹ under a European arrest warrant (EAW) in each of the last three years:

The following numbers of EU citizens have been returned to their country of nationality under the EAW in each of the last three years²:

¹ This includes data for the whole of the UK.

² These figures refer only to England, Wales and Northern Ireland; data relating to surrenders from Scotland are not held centrally by SOCA.

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for the surrender of an individual under a European arrest warrant were received by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in 2012-13; and which EU member states issued the request. [162564]

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Mr Harper [holding answer 1 July 2013]: I have been informed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) that 6,263 Part 1¹ requests for surrender of an individual under a European arrest warrant were received in 2012-13. The countries where the requests came from are as follows:

¹ These figures relate to EAWs received by the UK. There is not necessarily a UK connection with all of the requests received, as not all EAWs received in the UK correspond to people actually being present in the UK.

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) people and (b) UK nationals were extradited from the UK under a European arrest warrant in 2012-13; and to which EU member states they were extradited. [162565]

Mr Harper [holding answer 1 July 2013]: I have been informed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), that there were 1,057 individuals surrendered from the UK in 2012-13. Of these, 43 were identified as British nationals. The countries which they were surrendered to can be seen in the following table:

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Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been extradited to the UK under a European arrest warrant each year since 2004; and how many such extraditions were for offences concerning (a) human trafficking, (b) child sex offences, (c) murder, (d) rape, (e) fraud, (f) grievous bodily harm, (g) robbery, (h) theft, (i) drug smuggling, (j) money laundering and (k) other offences. [162918]

Mr Harper [holding answer 8 July 2013]:I have been informed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) that due to the way data were recorded prior to 1 April 2009, it is not possible to provide details of the offences for European arrest warrants (EAW) prior to this period.

Since 1 April 2009, 507 people have been extradited to the UK from another EU member state under an EAW. A breakdown per offence is as follows:

(The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) categorise the offences as above. The category “other offences” is used for all crimes that do no fit into any other category).

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been extradited from the UK to another EU member state under a European arrest warrant each year since 2004; and how many such extraditions were for offences concerning (a) human trafficking, (b) child sex offences, (c) murder, (d) rape, (e) fraud, (f) grievous bodily harm, (g) robbery, (h) theft, (i) drugs smuggling, (j) money laundering and (k) other offences. [162920]

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Mr Harper [holding answer 8 July 2013]:I have been informed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) that due to the way data were recorded prior to 1 April 2009, it is not possible to provide details of the offences for European arrest warrants (EAW) prior to this period.

Since 1 April 2009, 4,005 people have been extradited from the UK to another EU member state under an EAW. A breakdown per offence is as follows:

Asylum

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many on-site inspections took place on contractors delivering the Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Services project (COMPASS). [167096]

Mr Harper: Since the Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Services project (COMPASS) contractors were appointed in March 2012, a total of 2,889 on-site inspections have been completed.

Asylum: Iran

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum applicants have been deported back to Iran year on year in each of the last three years. [167293]

Mr Harper: The following table provides the number of asylum cases removed or departing voluntarily from the UK in each year from 2010 to 2012.

It is not possible within these figures to say at what stage in the asylum process individuals have reached at the time of their removal, including whether their claim has failed at that point, as those departing voluntarily can do so at any stage without necessarily notifying the Home Office.

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Deportations are a specific subset of removals which are enforced either following a criminal conviction or when it is judged that a person's removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. The deportation order prohibits the person returning to the UK until such time as it may be revoked. Most of the foreign national offenders are removed via deportation or the Home Office enforces their departure to ensure they leave the UK.

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within the Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April to June 2013, is available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

and will be placed in the Library of the House.

Bombings: Birmingham

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent progress has been made on bringing to justice the perpetrators of the Birmingham pub bombing in 1974. [167728]

James Brokenshire: Decisions in relation to any police investigation, including terrorist incidents, are an independent operational issue and therefore a matter for the west midlands police force.

Correspondence

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will introduce a departmental service level agreement covering responses by Ministers of her Department to correspondence from hon. Members. [167584]

Mr Harper: There are no plans to introduce a departmental service level agreement covering responses by Home Office Ministers to correspondence from MPs. The Home Office adheres to Cabinet Office guidance on handling correspondence from MPs that was originally issued to all Government Departments in July 2005. We are continually seeking to improve our responsiveness to correspondence from MPs.

Crime: Wiltshire

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of trends in the level of crime in (a) North Swindon constituency and (b) Wiltshire in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [167706]

Mr Jeremy Browne: The requested data are provided in the table. Police recorded crime data are not available at constituency level but data for Swindon Community Safety Partnership area have been provided as this covers the same area.

Over the last two years, Action Fraud has taken over the recording of fraud offences from police forces. Fraud recording in Wiltshire moved to Action Fraud in 2012-13. To allow for consistent comparisons over time, crime totals are shown excluding fraud offences.

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David Miranda

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will set out the basis for the detention of Mr David Miranda in transit at Heathrow Airport on 18 August 2013; for what reason his mobile telephone and laptop computer were confiscated; and what representations the Government have received from the Brazilian Government over the detention. [167234]

James Brokenshire: The decision to examine and detain Mr Miranda, under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000, was an operational one taken by the Metropolitan Police Service. On 23 August, the Metropolitan Police Service announced that it had started a criminal investigation. Under the 2000 Act the examining officer may retain any property while he believes that it may be needed for use as evidence in criminal proceedings. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs spoke to then Brazilian Foreign Minister Patriota about the detention of Mr Miranda in a telephone call on 19 August. Brazilian and UK officials remain in contact on this issue.

Exclusion Orders

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish a list of the names of all people banned from entering the UK for anti-extremist purposes in each of the last 10 years. [167284]

Mr Harper: It is the general policy of the Home Office not to disclose, to a third party, personal information about another person unless there is a substantial public interest in doing so. This is because the Home Office has obligations in law to protect this information.

Immigrants: English Language

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will exempt South Africans who speak English as a first language from the English language element of the Life in the UK test for applicants for indefinite leave to remain on the same basis as applicants from Canada and New Zealand. [167275]

Mr Harper: It is important that people settling in the UK can speak English and have an understanding of British history, culture and values. From 28 October,

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applicants for indefinite leave to remain will be required to obtain an intermediate level English speaking and listening qualification, as well as passing the Life in the UK test.

Although English is one of the 11 official languages of South Africa, it is not the first language of the majority of the population and South Africans are not therefore exempted from the requirement to obtain a speaking and listening qualification. There are no nationality based exemptions from the Life in the UK test. The Government do not intend to change this position.

Immigration Controls

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to improve the service provided by the Employer Checking Service. [164927]

Mr Harper [holding answer 12 July 2013]: The Home Office launched a consultation document on proposals to strengthen and simplify the civil penalty scheme to prevent illegal working on 9 July 2013. The findings of the consultation may inform the future direction of the Employer Checking Service. For the financial year to date, 100% of all requests completed were answered within our five day service standard.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister of State for Immigration, dated 5 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman) with regards to Khwima Msiska. [167664]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 4 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her, dated 22 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr O. T. Atoola. [167678]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 27 August 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her, dated 22 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr Muzammal Iqbal. [167680]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 4 September 2013

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her, dated 22 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr Ifran Gondal. [167681]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 3 September 2013.

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Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her, dated 22 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Miss Symone McCarthy. [167682]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 4 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her, dated 19 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Ms Yasmin Begum. [167683]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 2 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs B Aguma. [167685]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 4 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Chavon O'Brien Campbell. [167686]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 2 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms B Jacob. [167687]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 3 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr A V Rehman. [167688]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 2 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Olajida Olamuyiwa Olasegha. [167689]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 3 September 2013.

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Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs Bushra Aslam and Miss Hamsa Fatima. [167691]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 28 August 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss Oluwakemi Ruth Osikota. [167692]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 4 September 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M Latif. [167693]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 3 September 2013.

Registrars

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Superintendent Registrars, (b) Deputy Superintendent Registrars, (c) Registrars and (d) Deputy Registrars in England and Wales are (i) men and (ii) women. [167126]

Mr Harper: Registration officers are appointed by local authorities in England and Wales who make returns to the Registrar General of the appointments made. The figures in the table are based on the information held by the Registrar General on 2 September 2013. In many cases, individual registration officers will hold a range of posts.

Turkey

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to ratify the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. [167367]

Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK has some of the most robust protections in the world against violence towards women and we already comply with the vast majority of the articles of the Istanbul convention, which we signed on 8 June 2012. We need to ensure that all articles are fully met before ratification and we are currently working within the UK Government and with the devolved Administrations to do this.

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UK Border Agency

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers the UK Border Agency has dedicated to organised crime. [166853]

Mr Harper: The current staffing number within Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigation (formerly within the UK Border Agency) is 547. There are also staff within the Home Office that will occasionally provide support in our efforts to disrupt organised crime groups such as operational intelligence and RALON officers working overseas.