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Written Answers to Questions

Friday 25 October 2013

Justice

Legal Costs

Sir Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the payment of a defendant's (a) wasted costs and (b) costs of legal advice and representation by a private prosecutor following a failed prosecution; and if he will make a statement. [170056]

Mr Vara: The information is as follows.

(a) Section 19A of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 provides for a court to make an order against a legal representative, whether of the prosecution or of the defendant, in respect of 'wasted costs', which means costs that are incurred as a result of an improper, unreasonable or negligent act or omission by a legal representative rather than a party.

(b) Where a court is satisfied that costs have been incurred as a result of an unnecessary or improper act or omission by a party, it has power under section 19 of the 1985 Act to order them to be paid by that party. In such circumstances the court thus has power to order the prosecutor to pay the defendant's costs, and vice versa. In the absence of such act or omission, a court may order the payment of a defendant's costs out of central funds under section 16 of the 1985 Act.

The Government have no plans to amend these provisions.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bovine Tuberculosis

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of badgers culled to date have been infected with tuberculosis. [172207]

George Eustice: There were no plans to test badgers culled for infection with M. bovis. This was one of the elements investigated during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, giving us evidence on the typical prevalence of TB in badgers in areas of high TB incidence, and has not been repeated during the pilots.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of (a) weather variations and (b) health among the badger population in his Department's most recent estimate of the number of badgers. [172327]

George Eustice: The methodology used to estimate the badger populations in the pilot areas was not designed to provide reasons for any changes in these populations. Its aim was to provide an estimate of the population at that time.

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Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2013, Official Report, column 51W, on bovine tuberculosis, on what evidential basis his Department has produced the estimated badger populations in both cull zones; and what the estimated badger population in Woodchester Park was in the last three available time periods. [172384]

George Eustice: Before the pilots started, hair trapping was carried out in both areas in order to secure an up to date population estimate for the period immediately before the cull started. We will only be able to produce a robust population estimate for 2013 at Woodchester Park once we have completed trapping for 2014.

Deputy Prime Minister

Hillsborough Independent Panel

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many briefings he has received on the ongoing investigations into the Hillsborough disaster to date. [172453]

The Deputy Prime Minister: The Deputy Prime Minister has taken a strong personal interest in the investigations into the Hillsborough disaster and receives regular briefings on the topic verbally and in writing.

Cabinet Office

Government Departments: ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what security guidance he issues on the use of personal devices and networks in Government buildings; [172361]

(2) what his Department's policy is on officials and Ministers using their own personal devices for work purposes; [172362]

(3) what security the Government put in place on Ministers' personal technology devices; what management and audit by officials there is of that security; and if he will make a statement. [172363]

Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office provides all Government Departments and Ministers with advice and guidance on security policy. Our emphasis is on effective risk management.

On 17 October I announced our new security Classification Policy. This should help Departments strike the right balance between meeting business needs and containing information risks.

A copy of the new policy has been placed in the Library and is available on:

www.gov.uk

Oil: Scotland

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent meetings he has had with representatives from oil import and distribution companies with regards to increasing the amount of oil imported into Scotland and civil contingencies; and if he will make a statement. [R] [172402]

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Mr Maude: 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/collections/ministers-transparency-publications

Sixth Form Colleges: Finance

Mr Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reasons the financial borrowings of sixth form colleges are not counted towards total Government debt. [172381]

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 October 2013:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question: for what reasons the financial borrowings of sixth form colleges are not counted towards total government debt. [172381]

Sixth Form College Corporations are currently classified in National Accounts as Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households. This means that the colleges are outside of the public sector and so their financial liabilities are not included in either public sector debt or government debt measures.

Further detail on this classification decision can be found via this link:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/na-classification/national-accounts-sector-classification/classification-update---may-2012/index.html

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Amira Osman Hamed

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the case of Amira Osman Hamed; and if he will make representations to his Sudanese counterpart that the charges against her should be dropped. [172315]

Mark Simmonds: Amira Osman Hamed, a Sudanese activist, while in a Government building on 27 August, was asked by the Public Order police to cover her head. She refused, and was arrested. She was charged under Article 152 of the 1991 Criminal Code, which deals with public decency and morals, and faces a fine or up to 40 lashes. Her trial was held on 19 September at the Jebel Awlia court, and we understand has now been adjourned until 4 November.

Officials from the British embassy, along with other diplomatic missions, have met with two lawyers from her legal team. At this stage the legal team have requested only that we follow the case and a representative of the embassy attended the hearing on 19 September. We will continue to follow the case closely and stay in contact with the legal team.

Iraq: Iran

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column

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84W, on Iraq: Iran, what issues the British Government has raised with the

(a)

UN and

(b)

Government of Iraq concerning conditions at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [172213]

Hugh Robertson: Following the attack on Camp Ashraf on 1 September we have raised the safety and security of residents at Camp Liberty with the UN and the Government of Iraq. We regularly receive updates about the situation at Camp Liberty from the UN, who continue to report that conditions at Camp Liberty meet international humanitarian standards.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2013, Official Report, column 84W, on Iraq, what the outcome was of his discussions with the Iraqi Foreign Minister in February on the humanitarian situation at Camp Liberty; and if he will make a statement. [172214]

Hugh Robertson: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) on 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 84W. During his meeting with the Iraqi Foreign Minister in February my hon. Friend raised his concerns about the 9 February attack on Camp Liberty and discussed residents' access to medical care.

Kashmir

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent in (a) Kashmir and (b) joint projects between Pakistan-controlled and Indian-controlled Kashmir, in each year since 2009. [172322]

Mr Swire: A total of £1,576,222 has been spent on Kashmir (IaK and PaK) from the South Asia Conflict Pool since 2009. This is broken down as follows:

The fluctuations in each year are due to differences in the number of project applications that are approved and completed in each financial year. The conflict pool is the mechanism by which the Government allocate resources for discretionary conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacekeeping activities and is managed jointly by the Department for International Development, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence.

Conflict Pool activity does not contradict the long standing position of the UK on Kashmir; that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution to the situation in Kashmir or to mediate in finding one.

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Health

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what refurbishment to (a) Richmond House and (b) Wellington House has been carried out in 2013 to date; what the cost of such refurbishment was; what future refurbishments of those buildings are planned; and what the estimated cost is of such future refurbishment. [172190]

Jane Ellison: As part of the transition to the new Health and Social Care system a number of new organisations were established as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This has required the Department to improve and update its buildings to accommodate these new organisations thus maximising efficiency and effectiveness without purchasing expensive new buildings. Refurbishment relates to the general fit out, improvement and provision of furniture and equipment. We have also taken the opportunity to deliver a number of improvements to our lighting, heating and cooling systems which will make our buildings more energy efficient and help towards delivering our Greener Government targets.

Costs of the refurbishment undertaken in 2013 to date and for planned refurbishment in Richmond House and Wellington House is detailed as follows:

Clinical Trials: Scotland

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the public awareness campaign in Scotland to encourage greater participation in randomised controlled trials. [172450]

Jane Ellison: The Department has made no specific assessment of the effectiveness of the initiative by NHS Research Scotland to establish a register of people interested in participating in health research.

Food: Advertising

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the public health effects of junk food being displayed at supermarket checkouts; and if he will make a statement. [172432]

Jane Ellison: There is evidence that the majority of food promoted at checkouts and in queuing areas is less healthy than elsewhere, and that foods sold at impulse purchase points such as checkouts experience uplifts in sales. According to one report¹, parents have indicated

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that positioning of sweets at checkouts can increase pestering to purchase by their children.

¹ “Checkouts checked out: How supermarkets and high street stores promote junk food to children and their parents”, published by the Children's Food Campaign in March 2012.

We have identified food promotion as an area for action under the Responsibility Deal, and will be discussing with the food industry actions it might take to reduce exposure to marketing and promotion of less healthy foods.

Food: Safety

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has made to the European Food Safety Authority on permitted health claims for products containing (a) fructose and (b) any other products. [172433]

Jane Ellison: The Department has not made any representations to the European Food Safety Authority on permitted health claims for products containing fructose or any other substances.

Fructose

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the public health effect of allowing food and drink manufacturers to make positive health claims for products containing fructose. [172431]

Jane Ellison: The only permitted health claim for fructose is:

“consumption of foods containing fructose leads to a lower blood glucose rise compared to foods containing sucrose or glucose”.

The United Kingdom played a full part in European Union discussions leading to the authorisation of the claim, during which public health implications were taken into account.

The claim may only be used if certain rules, designed to support public health, are respected. The glucose or sucrose content in the food must be at least 30% less than in similar foods and the label must tell the consumer that the food should be part of a varied and balanced diet and that it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle. The claim must not be presented in any way that could lead to excess consumption of the food.

Health Services: Freedom of Information

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice he has received regarding what changes to existing legislation would be needed to extend the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to cover private healthcare providers; [172447]

(2) what recent discussions he has had with private healthcare providers on extending Freedom of Information Act 2000 provision to cover private companies providing services to NHS patients. [172449]

Jane Ellison: The Government recognise the importance of maintaining transparency in relation to outsourced public services. Requirements in relation to freedom of information requests are included in the national health service standard contract for all providers of NHS

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services. A high level group, chaired by Monitor, which is considering the implementation of the Fair Playing Field review will continue to consider the operation of existing transparency, requirements.

The Government do not currently intend to extend the Freedom of Information Act to private healthcare providers. There have been no recent discussions about this with private providers of NHS services.

Guidance will be provided in a revised Code of Practice to be issued under section 45 of the Act to promote openness by all contractors providing public services, including through the use and enforcement of contractual transparency provisions.

Health Services: Greater London

Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2013, Official Report, column 895W, on health services: Greater London, which clinical commissioning groups will contribute how much revenue costs. [172406]

Jane Ellison: We understand that the proportion of revenue costs relating to the dissolution of South London Healthcare NHS Trust that is to be met by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGS) will be apportioned among the following groups:

Bexley CCG;

Bromley CCG;

Greenwich CCG;

Lambeth CCG;

Lewisham CCG; and

Southwark CCG.

Information on the respective amounts to be met by each CCG is not centrally held.

However, we are informed that the local CCGs have agreed to support the cost of the transactions from funds set aside each year for spending flexibly on non-recurrent priorities. This means that planned health care services in south London will not be adversely affected.

NHS Property Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2013, Official Report, column 765W, on NHS Property Services, for how long each non-executive position on the board of NHS Property Services was advertised; where each non-executive position was advertised; and how many applicants there were for each position; [172324]

(2) how much money intended for capital purposes was used for short-term financing of NHS Property Services' revenue expenditure; [172325]

(3) what property NHS Property Services has divested in the last 12 months; and what was (a) the price paid and (b) the district valuation for each such property; [172326]

(4) what the name of the buyers of any properties disposed of, or sold by, NHS Property Services is; when completion took place; and who the responsible officer was in each instance; [172430]

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(5) whether the £3 billion valuation of properties transferred to NHS Property Services reflects the market or the district valuation. [172480]

Dr Poulter: The Department of Health followed a full and transparent recruitment process on behalf of IMHS Property Services Limited (NHS PS) to appoint the non-executive directors (NEDs). The process included an executive search and advertisement.

An advertisement was placed in the following online publications:

The Times;

The Financial Times;

Executive Appointments; and

Harvey Nash Journal.

The process began during November 2012 with a three week closing date.

In total 115 responses were received and assessed. Of these:

39 applications were considered strong;

31 applications were worth further consideration;

24 applications were considered borderline; and

21 applications did not meet the criteria.

10 candidates were shortlisted for final consideration, all of which include the current NEDs.

Since the establishment of NHS PS on 1 April 2013, the company has disposed of 16 freehold properties, generating £13.1 million of receipts for the public purse. These are listed in the following table.

Property to be disposed of is first listed on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (ePIMS) website, which allows other public sector bodies to purchase it. Properties are listed on this website for 40 working days and if no other public sector organisation expresses an interest then they will be marketed;

NHS PS's assets are sold through an arm's length open market process, where there are a multitude of bidders the market will set the value. Where the local market is not strong and there has been limited interest in the property the sale price is supported by district valuer, or other third party independent valuations. However, in most instances the property will have been valued at some point prior to or during the sales process by the district valuer or other third party independent valuers to assist in the marketing strategy. All disposals are handled in line with NHS Estatecode and Cabinet Office and Treasury guidelines.

The responsible officer for all disposals is NHS PS's Director of Asset Management. All transactions are approved by two authorised officers under the company's corporate governance rules.

We are unable to disclose the identity of purchasers to because this information is commercially sensitive.

The table lists the property and date it was sold, the amount it was sold for and the market value.

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The sale of these properties made a total profit of £495,500, above estimated market value.

The identity of purchasers cannot be released to protect their confidentiality.

The £3 billion estimate for the value of the property portfolio was arrived at by aggregating the valuations in the accounts of the primary care trusts and other bodies from which they were transferred. In the main, the assets were in operational use, and where this is the case properties will have been valued on an “existing use” basis by professional valuers. This is in accordance with Treasury guidance for accounting for public sector assets.

Where properties are known to have been surplus, they would have been held at open market value, reflecting the fact that there is no existing health service use for them.

NHS: Energy

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what costs were incurred by the NHS estate in respect of (a) gas and (b) electricity supply in the 2012-13 financial year. [172410]

Dr Poulter: The information is not available in the precise format requested.

The Department holds information on the total annual cost of energy consumed by national health service organisations. The information relates to the cost of all energy supplies including gas and electricity but does not identify the cost of each separately.

For the 2012-13 period, the NHS reported a total energy cost of £633.8 million.

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The information has been supplied by the NHS and has not been amended centrally. The accuracy and completeness of the information is the responsibility of the provider organisation.

NHS: Finance

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has made to NHS England on protecting funding based on geographical remoteness in the review of funding of NHS commissioning bodies. [172367]

Jane Ellison: Responsibility for resource allocation is a matter for NHS England as set out in the Mandate. NHS England is overseeing the fundamental review of allocation policy and will draw on the expert advice of the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) and involve a range of external partners. The review will be completed in time for initial conclusions to inform 2014-15 allocations. NHS England will consider the recommendations and findings of ACRA as part of this. Ensuring that the needs of rural areas are adequately captured will be a consideration.

Physiotherapy

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold discussions with the devolved regions regarding independent prescribing by physiotherapists across all parts of the UK. [172414]

Jane Ellison: We have no plans to hold discussions with the devolved Administrations on this issue as they were fully involved in work to enable independent prescribing by physiotherapists.

The necessary amendments to medicines legislation, which apply throughout the United Kingdom, came into force on 20 August 2013. Arrangements for the implementation of independent prescribing by physiotherapists are matters for each of the devolved Administrations.

Work continues with the Home Office and the devolved Administrations, concerning independent prescribing by this profession of a restricted range of controlled drugs.

School Meals

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings the Minister for public health has had with (a) ministeral colleagues and (b) officials at the Department for Education regarding school food. [172482]

Jane Ellison: My predecessor, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), met with the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss), in April and June to discuss school food. I have had an informal discussion with the Under-Secretary of State about school food and a formal meeting will be arranged in due course. Departmental officials meet regularly to discuss progress on delivering of the School Food Plan.

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Work and Pensions

Child Maintenance

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Child Support Agency can report a non-paying parent of child maintenance to a credit reference agency. [172413]

Steve Webb: We are exploring bringing into force powers laid out in the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, providing for the disclosure of payment information to credit reference agencies. This would be subject to a public consultation before any regulations were laid in Parliament.

Devonport Dockyard

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Office for Nuclear Regulation was first informed of the failure of an electrical ring main at HM Naval Base Devonport on 29 July 2012; and what the reason was for the time taken to issue an improvement notice requiring the site operator to take action to remedy shortfalls identified following the incident. [172426]

Mike Penning: The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) was made aware of the incident involving a loss of electrical power at the Devonport site on 29 July 2012. ONR were satisfied that Devonport Royal Dockyard's (DRDL) investigation and subsequent corrective actions were appropriate. No Improvement Notice was issued. Follow up inspections were carried out in August 2012, April 2013 and August 2013. ONR remains satisfied with the actions taken by DRDL in respect of this matter.

An Improvement Notice was issued on 16 July 2013 to DRDL following inspections by ONR into a number of incidents at the site in which operations were not carried out in accordance with their own operating rules and instructions. This was not related to the incident in July 2012.

Housing Benefit

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the actual and percentage change in the number of households in receipt of housing benefit was in (a) England and Wales, (b) each English region and (c) each London local authority in each of the last five years; [172420]

(2) what the actual and percentage change in the number of households in receipt of local housing allowance was in (a) England and Wales, (b) each English region and (c) each London local authority in each of the last five years. [172421]

Steve Webb: The information requested will be placed in the House of Commons Library. Detailed statistics on housing benefit and local housing allowance can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

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Housing Benefit: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) in total and (b) aged between 16 and 24 years old claimed housing benefit in 2012. [172316]

Steve Webb: The information requested for the number (a) in total and (b) aged under 25 claiming housing benefit in total and for private rented accommodation in 2012, can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) in total and (b) aged between 16 and 24 years old claimed housing benefit for private rented accommodation in 2012. [172317]

Steve Webb: The information requested for the number (a) in total and (b) aged under 25 claiming housing benefit in total and for private rented accommodation in 2012, can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged 16 to 24 years old who claimed housing benefit in 2012 had been claiming for (a) less than six months and (b) between six months and a year. [172318]

Steve Webb: The duration of claim for housing benefit (HB) recipients aged between 16 and 24 is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged between 16 and 24 years old and claiming housing benefit in 2012 were also in receipt of employment and support allowance. [172319]

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information is only available for HB recipients whose claim is passported: that is for those who receive either income support, jobseekers allowance (income-based), employment and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit (guaranteed credit).

This information can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

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Social Security Benefits: Disability

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) applications, (b) successful applications and (c) appeals against failed applications there have been for (i) work capability assessments and (ii) personal independence payments since May 2010 by (A) people in Wales and (B) people in other areas of the UK. [172136]

Esther McVey: Personal independence payment (PIP) started in April 2013 and although limited data have started to feed through, we need to wait until the Department has quality assured and meaningful figures for publication. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. In line with the timetable for release of statistics detailed in our publication strategy we intend to publish Official Statistics on personal independence payment from spring 2014 onwards.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-release-strategy

The information requested on work capability assessments (WCA) is shown in the following tables.

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The information requested for appeals heard on Fit for Work decisions in the functional assessment for repeat claims to ESA and incapacity benefit (IB) reassessments is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development. Northern Ireland statistics can be found at:

http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_andresearch/benefit_ publications.htm

Energy and Climate Change

Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (a) what revenues have been received and (b) how many contributors there have been from the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme in each year since 2010. [172254]

Gregory Barker [holding answer 24 October 2013]:The year 2010-11 was a reporting only year. There were 2,109 active participants in that scheme year.

For the scheme year 2011-12, based on allowances ordered and paid for by participants and allocated by the Environment Agency, £673.7 million of revenue was received. There were 2,097 active participants in that year.

For the scheme year 2012-13, by 20 September 2013, £653.8 million of revenue was received. For this scheme year there were 2,107 active participants in the scheme.

Energy Performance Certificates

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what analysis his Department has undertaken of the potential effects of making the Energy Performance Certificate transferable between all companies supporting the Green Deal. [171642]

Gregory Barker: An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) can be downloaded from the Domestic and Non-Domestic EPC Registers, except where properties have been opted out or are excluded for other reasons, such as security. The database is open to the public, who can locate an EPC using a simple, web-based postcode search. This has the positive effect of enabling companies supporting the Green Deal to obtain necessary information about the energy efficiency characteristics of a property, without generating a new EPC.

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Fuel Poverty

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people will be lifted out of fuel poverty by the energy company obligation scheme. [171866]

Gregory Barker: As set out in the final impact assessment, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42984/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf

it is challenging to project and quantify the impact on fuel poverty of the Green Deal and energy company obligation (ECO) policy framework. This is because of a number of uncertainties, such as which households take up which measures and the costs of delivering measures over time. There is also inherent uncertainty around changes in the level and distribution of incomes across households, changes to the housing stock independent of the Green Deal and ECO and, of course, energy prices. Nevertheless, based on projected changes in incomes, prices and the housing stock, the measures installed under Green Deal and ECO are estimated to result in a net reduction in fuel poverty of between 125,000 to 250,000 households by the time the costs of ECO are no longer passed through to bills in 2023.¹ This figure does not reflect the aggregate benefits of this policy. In reality, ECO will deliver permanent improvements to 230,000 low income and vulnerable households per year. Indeed, in the first seven months of delivery, 167,000 measures were delivered under affordable warmth and the carbon saving communities elements of ECO combined.

¹ This estimate is based on the 10% definition of fuel poverty.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has held with his Irish counterpart on the new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point C. [172314]

Michael Fallon: DECC has a regular forum for consulting with the Irish Government on nuclear matters. We consulted the Irish Government thoroughly on the potential impact on Ireland of the UK's new nuclear programme, including Hinkley Point, and on our conclusion that there would be no significant impact.

Renewable Energy

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether hydrogen and fuel cells will be considered as eligible technologies at the next steps of the electricity market reform. [172072]

Michael Fallon: The key mechanisms being introduced as part of electricity market reform are the capacity market and contracts for difference (CfDs).

Generation, storage and demand side response capable of contributing to security of electricity supply will be eligible to participate in the capacity market, with the exception of capacity in receipt of low carbon support such as the renewables obligation or CfD. This would permit hydrogen and fuel cells to compete alongside

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other resources. On contracts for difference, inclusion of new technologies would require evidence to be provided to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), that the technology is low carbon, will make a significant input into decarbonising electricity generation and would support security of supply. It will also be necessary to provide evidence of the levelised costs of the technology to allow a judgment about the level of support required. It will then be for the Secretary of State to decide whether the technology should be added to the mix of technologies supported by the CfD.

Fuel cell micro CHP systems of 2 kW or less are currently eligible for support under the feed-in tariff scheme. There is a pilot, limited to the first 30,000 systems, for sub 2 kW micro CHP in general.

Wind Power

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of UK energy he estimates wind turbines will contribute by 2016. [172264]

Michael Fallon: The proportion of energy delivered by any technology is uncertain as it depends on a range of factors—for example future technology costs. The most recent illustrative scenarios for contributions from different energy technologies between now and 2030 were developed by National Grid and published in July as part of the consultation on the draft Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan. These indicate a range of 10.2% to 11.7% of generation coming from wind in 2016. These figures are calculated on a GB (not UK) basis and refer to the proportion of electricity generation coming from onshore and offshore wind.

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contribution wind turbines make to the total energy production of the UK. [172265]

Michael Fallon: In 2013 Q2, the latest period for which data are available, wind contributed 1.9 % of total primary energy production in the UK. This was 7.5% of total electricity generation.

In 2012, wind contributed 1.4% of total primary energy production in the UK. This was 5.4% of total electricity generation.

Source:

September 2013 Energy Trends, tables ET6.1, ET 1.1 and ET 5.1, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-section-6-energy-trends

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/total-energy-section-1-energy-trends

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-section-5-energy-trends

Transport

Cycling: Rural Areas

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources he has made available for cycle safety facilities and schemes on rural sections of the trunk road network in each of the last three years. [172368]

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Mr Goodwill: The Highways Agency works with cycling organisations to ensure, as far as is reasonably possible, that improvement schemes across the Strategic Road Network in England include elements that will benefit cyclists. The agency does not routinely record the cycling improvement elements of its small scheme enhancement programme, and separate records are not kept for urban and rural routes. The agency is investing up to £5 million in upgrades at 14 locations on the Strategic Road Network benefiting cyclists, and this work will be completed by March 2015. £15 million will be invested in upgrades benefiting cyclists on the Strategic Road Network during the 2015-16 financial year, with plans in place for many more similar schemes.

Motor Vehicles: Noise

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on (a) the European regulation on the sound level of motor vehicles, (b) Article 9 of the Regulation on implementing proposals by 2022 and (c) Annex 9 of the legality of the pause switch. [172360]

Mr Goodwill: There have been no direct ministerial discussions with EU counterparts. The Department's officials have negotiated on the basis of the agreed Government position during the ongoing discussions between member states and the European Commission, most recently at Council of Ministers working groups held on the 11 and 24 October. The Government have opposed calls to mandate acoustic vehicle alerting systems in Article 9 and Annex 9 of the proposal, irrespective of the implementation dates, taking account of the available evidence and the additional burden to manufacturers and consumers.

Railway Stations: Disability

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that all UK railway stations are accessible for disabled passengers. [172378]

Stephen Hammond: The Government are committed to improving access to the rail network, this demonstrated

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by continuing with the 10 year Access for All programme that will give at least 150 stations step-free routes by 2015. They have also committed a further £100 million to extend the programme until 2019. The Access for All programme is over and above access improvements under other major projects such as Crossrail improvements by Network Rail and the train operating companies.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of railway stations which are inaccessible for disabled passengers. [172379]

Stephen Hammond: The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) holds information on facilities at stations and publishes this on the National Rail website. We understand from ATOC that 452 out of 2,533 UK railway stations have step free access via lifts or ramps to all platforms.

It is, however, very difficult to make any meaningful assessment, as what is an accessible station for a visually or hearing impaired person will be completely different to a wheelchair user.

Railways: Chelmsford

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvement has been made to journey times on the London Liverpool Street to Chelmsford rail service over the last (a) 10 and (b) 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [172292]

Stephen Hammond: Over the last 20 years, improvements to the infrastructure have meant that higher line speeds are possible. However with the increased passenger numbers that we have witnessed, train operators have to allow for various factors when deciding on service running; they have to weigh capacity versus calling patterns versus service reliability. Since 2004, the public performance measure (PPM) for the Greater Anglia franchise has improved, while the cancellation and significant lateness (CaSL) measure shows a more reliable service in operation across the franchise.

The following table shows PPM and CaSL figures since 2004:

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Treasury

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when his Department plans to respond to the 17th Report of the Public Accounts Committee, on Administering the Equitable Life Payment Scheme, HC 111; [172226]

(2) what steps his Department is taking to trace Equitable Life policyholders who are entitled to compensation; [172227]

(3) what steps his Department is taking to improve the level of customer service provided to Equitable Life policyholders who are entitled to compensation; [172228]

(4) with reference to the 17th Report of the Public Accounts Committee, on Administering the Equitable Life Payment Scheme, HC 111, what steps his Department is taking to assess the accuracy of the data used by Towers Watson regarding those eligible for compensation from the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. [172229]

Sajid Javid [holding answer 24 October 2013]: Treasury Minutes, the Government's response to Parliament on PAC reports, follow the parliamentary timetable. The Government will respond to the Committee on this report in November.

Free School Meals: Northern Ireland

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Barnett consequentials will follow in funding for Northern Ireland following the extension of free school meals in England. [172178]

Danny Alexander [holding answer 24 October 2013]:The details of this package will be announced as part of the Chancellor's autumn statement later this year. The devolved Administrations will receive Barnett consequentials of additions to the Department for Education's budget.

Infrastructure

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 21 October 2013, Official Report, column 36W, on income tax, how many of the 12 private-finance initiative projects which did not need Government lending were included in the original figure of 30 public private infrastructure projects to be covered by the UK Guarantees temporary lending programme; and how many of the projects covered by the UK Guarantees temporary lending programme have now received funding. [172434]

Danny Alexander: Following the announcement of the temporary lending programme long-term debt sources for well-structured PPP infrastructure projects have begun to re-emerge.

The 12 public private infrastructure projects that reached financial close without the need for Government lending were eligible under the temporary lending programme. The UK Guarantees scheme is available for PPP projects that require support.

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Personal Income: Greater London

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect on London residents on average income of the purchase of residential property in London by Chinese nationals. [171281]

Danny Alexander [holding answer 21 October 2013]: The data available do not allow for an assessment of the impact of property purchases on household income. However, the Government continue to publish an assessment of the impact of all its changes to tax, benefits, and public spending on household income at each fiscal event.

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Wales

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many submissions were made to the Stamp Duty Land Tax: consultation on the potential effects of devolving to the National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Government; and when a response to the consultation will be published; [171930]

(2) how many of his officials are working on analysing submissions to the Stamp Duty Land Tax: consultation on the potential effects of devolving to the National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Government. [171931]

Danny Alexander: The consultation on stamp duty land tax and the potential effects of devolving to the National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Government closed on 10 September. 40 submissions were received. The Government are still considering these submissions and has not yet decided on the timing or nature of the Government response.

Several officials from across HMT and HMRC are involved in the analysis of the submissions to the consultation.

Education

Academies

Mr Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2013, Official Report, column 21W, on academies, for what reasons the borrowings of academies count towards total Government debt. [172439]

Mr Timpson: Academies are classified as public sector bodies by the Office for National Statistics in accordance with European Standards of Accounting 95 accounting standards. Any expenditure or borrowing is therefore included in measures used to calculate public sector net debt.

Mr Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2013, Official Report, column 21W on academies, how many academies have sought his permission to borrow in the last 12 months; for what purpose each request made; and how many such requests were approved. [172440]

Mr Timpson: In the 12 months to 22 October 2013, five formal requests for approval to borrow have been received by the Department for Education from academies. All requests were approved. These approved requests were for borrowing to:

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1. purchase photovoltaic panels;

2. facilitate cash flow management;

3. provide a bridging loan between a building project and the sale of a property;

4. lease ICT equipment; and

5. to refurbish catering facilities.

In addition, 39 requests have been made and approved for energy efficiency projects from the interest free energy efficiency loan scheme run by SALIX on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The Department regularly receives informal, tentative enquiries about the possibility of borrowing. Often these do not result in a formal request. The Department does not keep a central record of all these approaches.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many academy sponsors have been removed by his Department to date. [172457]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education has not removed any academy sponsors to date.

Donors: Health Education

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote awareness of organ donation within schools in England. [172077]

Elizabeth Truss: The NHS Blood and Transplant's Organ Donation strategy, Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020, highlights the potential to educate school age children about organ donation and transplantation. Organ donation is a topic that schools may include in science and religious education, and personal, social, health and economic education lessons.

Teachers are well-placed to judge which topics to cover, tailored to the needs of their pupils and in the context of the school's overall programme. Specific resources are available for teachers, such as Give and Let Live; a free teaching resource pack that includes a teachers' booklet, case studies and background information about the need for donors.¹

¹ Available at:

www.giveandletlive.co.uk

Extended Schools

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that young people are provided with out-of- school services. [172086]

Elizabeth Truss: Local authorities have a number of existing responsibilities for out of school services. For example, they have a legal duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient child care for working parents or parents who are studying or training for employment. The Government are also introducing new responsibilities that will strengthen out of school services. For example, under the provisions in the Children and Families Bill, from September 2014, local authorities will have to involve families and young people in producing a 'local offer', which sets out the services that will be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) in their area.

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Schools have the freedom to choose which out-of- school services they provide or link with, including youth services, because they understand the needs of their pupils. They do have certain duties, however, such as using their 'best endeavours' to identify and meet the needs of pupils with SEN.

The Government are encouraging, and making it easier for schools to do more, such as: providing out-of-hours and holiday care; using their increased freedoms in the use of alternative provision to meet pupils' needs; and taking up the opportunity of joining the joint Department for Education and Ministry of Defence Cadet Expansion Programme to develop their own military cadet force as part of school life.

GCE A-level

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what recent representations he has received on incorrect predictions of A-level grades made by teachers; [172435]

(2) what recent representations he has received on using predicted A-level grades in the university application process. [172436]

Elizabeth Truss: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has not recently received correspondence referring to incorrect predictions of A-level grades or universities' use of predicted A-level grades in making offers to students. He does, however, speak regularly to representatives from schools, colleges, higher education institutions and other relevant organisations, on issues relating to A-level reform.

Predicted A-level grades form part of a range of information available to universities about prospective university applicants. Universities also look at other information, such as prior attainment at key stage 4, teachers' assessments and personal statements.

Research¹ shows that identifying students with very good GCSE results enables universities to identify those students with the potential to do well at university at an early stage. That is why the Government's aim to restore rigour to GCSEs will make them a more useful source of information for university admissions in the future.

¹ Available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-comparison-of-gcse-results-and-as-level-results-as-a-predictor-of-getting-a-21-or-above-at-university