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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 1 November 2013
Prime Minister
Travel
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions and for what reasons he has used military transport for domestic travel since taking office; and if he will provide a list of all such occasions. [173487]
The Prime Minister: I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements and in accordance with chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code. Most recently, because of logistics, I travelled by military transport for a visit in Yorkshire on 24 October after which I immediately travelled to the European Council meeting in Brussels.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; [173064]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity;[173072]
(3) which companies supplied (a) gas and (b) electricity to his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173078]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has in place a number of measures to reduce spend on gas and electricity which are aimed at reducing both overall consumption and cost. These include draught-proofing; increased use of automated meters on gas and electricity supplies to allow for more accurate real-time energy reporting; replacing cathode ray tube monitors and inefficient lamps with LED technology; and carrying out staff awareness campaigns to encourage staff to switch off all electronic and electrical facilities.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's financial management system shows that for financial year 2010-11 the FCO spent £37,959 on gas and £2,549,935 on electricity. The data for financial year 2011-12 show the FCO spent £40,831 on gas and £2,530,841 on electricity.
In financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12, electricity was supplied to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by EDF Energy. Gas was supplied by Corona Energy, British Gas and EON, which in financial year 2010-11 was known under its former name of Powergen. These companies provided power to the FCO's UK buildings in King Charles Street, Old Admiralty Building, Lancaster House, Carlton Gardens and the Hanslope Park campus. In addition, the FCO maintains a partial tenancy at Northgate House, Milton Keynes. The landlord for Northgate House is responsible for the provision of gas and electricity to the building.
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These answers relate to the UK estate only comprising the buildings listed above. It would incur a disproportionate cost to source this information from our network of posts as this information is held locally, but posts are committed to obtaining value for money in all their expenditure.
Sexual Offences
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of women who have been assisted by the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. [173473]
Mark Simmonds: The aim of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative is to shatter the culture of impunity that exists for sexual violence in conflict, with the goal of ending the use of rape as a weapon of war in conflicts worldwide. It aims to do this by increasing the number of perpetrators held to account and strengthening national capacity.
It is built around a high-level political campaign supported by a range of practical measures, such as the development of an International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, sustained country engagement, and targeted deployments of the UK team of experts to help conflict-affected countries. Through these deployments we have worked with a number of Governments, including in Bosnia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Kosovo to help them develop measures that have had immediate benefit on the lives of women, men and child survivors of sexual violence. It complements the work of the Department for International Development which has the protection of women and girls in conflict situations as one of its high priorities.
Attorney-General
Complaints
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [172994]
(2) how many complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [172995]
(3) how many complaints of age discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [172996]
(4) how many complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [172997]
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(5) how many complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [172998]
(6) how many complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) current employees or (ii) prospective employees in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [173003]
The Solicitor-General:
Between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2013, 62 equality complaints (internal grievances) have been raised by CPS employees. During the same period seven grievances resulted in disciplinary action being taken. However, it is not possible to confirm whether this action was in relation to any specific equality complaint, as the CPS does not record any detailed information distinguishing between different elements
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of equality complaints. The following table shows the annual breakdown for all equality complaints:
Equality grievance | Disciplinary action | |
Complaints made by individuals external to the CPS are categorised on the following basis: legal decision making, mixed (legal and non-legal decision making) and non- legal decision making. Specific information is not currently held on complaints about the above mentioned forms of discrimination and harassment against CPS employees in the last five years.
The following table contains details of the complaints lodged against the Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) employees by other employees during the past five years for the above specified forms of discrimination or harassment.
Treasury Solicitor's Department1 | ||||||
Sexuality | Disability | Age | Race | Pregnancy/maternity | Homophobic/transphobic | |
1 TSol data also covers the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. |
There were no complaints received by TSol in the relevant period from any individuals who were not employees. There was no disciplinary action resulting from the complaints raised in the last five years.
The Serious Fraud Office has not received any formal complaints relating to the above mentioned forms of discrimination or harassment being lodged against its employees by other employees or other individuals during the past five years.
Employment Tribunals Service
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General how many employment tribunal hearings have been lodged against the Law Officers Department on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination in each of the last five years; and how many such cases resulted in a ruling against his Department. [172999]
The Solicitor-General: No employment tribunal hearings have been lodged against the Law Officers Department for pregnancy or maternity discrimination in the last five years.
Offences against Children
Diana Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General how many referrals have been made to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police regarding child sexual offences in each of the last five years. [173475][Official Report, 20 November 2013, Vol. 570, c. 5-6MC.]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of referrals made to the CPS by the police for allegations of child sexual offences. The CPS does identify, by way of a monitoring flag, the number of pre-charge decisions made against suspects alleged to have been involved in the sexual abuse of children. The following table sets out the number of such decisions in each of the last five years:
Pre-Charge Decisions | |
The CPS definition of child abuse covers any case where the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the offence and allegations or crimes perpetrated by both adults and offenders aged under 18.
Staff
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of employees within the Law Officers Department on each civil service pay scale have a physical or learning disability. [173000]
The Solicitor-General: Information on the proportion of employees within the Law Officers Department, broken down by civil service pay grade who have declared themselves as having a disability is contained in the following tables.
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Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol)1 | |
Civil Service Standard Grade | Proportion of grade (%) |
1 TSol data also includes the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. |
Crown Prosecution Service | |
Civil Service Standard Grade | Proportion of grade (%) |
Serious Fraud Office | |
Declared Disabled—Proportion (%) | |
1 The SFO is a relatively small organisation and data has therefore been consolidated to protect staff confidentiality. |
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of employees within the Law Officers Department on each civil service pay scale are (a) white British and (b) from black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [173001]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following tables.
Serious Fraud Office | ||
Percentage | ||
Grade | Employees declared as white | Employees declared as black or minority ethnic |
Crown Prosecution Service | ||
Percentage | ||
Grade | Employees declared as white | Employees declared as black or minority ethnic |
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TSol employee ethnicity is recorded by the following categories: Asian or Asian British, black or black British, mixed, not stated, other ethnic groups and white. The proportion of these categories by civil service pay scale (grade) are detailed as follows:
Treasury Solicitor's Department1 | |||||
Percentage | |||||
Grade | White | Asian or Asian British | Black or black British | Mixed | Other |
1 Tsol data also includes the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. |
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of employees within the Law Officers Department on each civil service pay scale are (a) female and (b) male. [173002]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table:
Percentage | ||||||
TSol2 | SFO | CPS | ||||
Grade | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female |
1 TSol only staff grade. 2Tsol data also cover the Attorney General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. |
Transport
Cross Country Railway Line
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the Cross Country Line there has been since 2009-10; [173018]
(2) what the total investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the Greater Anglia Line from 2009-10 to date has been; [173030]
(3) what the total investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the Great Western Line from 2009-10 to date has been; [173034]
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(4) what the total investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the West Coast Main Line from 2009-10 to date has been. [173035]
Stephen Hammond: Network Rail owns the infrastructure on the GB rail network, and infrastructure investment is undertaken by it. The Department does not hold the information requested. Network Rail may well have more detail as regards the total costs by line or route, but Network Rail may not hold the information by franchise as the network is shared across operators.
With regard to rolling stock, the Department does not hold the information requested. The only information the Department holds is on lease costs for each franchise. However, this information is commercially sensitive. Investment for rolling stock can and does come from various sources (for example the rolling stock companies and operators).
All stations on the network are owned by network Rail; they are managed by either Network Rail, train operators, concessions (MerseyRail for example) or Passenger Transport Executives. Although the Department can and does specify station improvement outcomes in franchise agreements, the station agent for that station is given the commercial freedom to negotiate the best value for money deal for that outcome, and is under no obligation to report that information to the Department. Funding for station investment can and does come from non-departmental sources. There is no obligation to inform the Department of funding generated from non-departmental sources.
Cycling: Accidents
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists were (a) involved in reported accidents, (b) seriously injured and (c) killed on the national trunk road network in each of the last three years. [173549]
Mr Goodwill: The number of cyclists (a) involved in reported accidents, (b) seriously injured and (c) killed on the English national trunk road network, in each of the last three years, is displayed in the following table:
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
These figures are based on the 2010 English national trunk road network layout. The Department does not hold data relating to the national trunk road networks in Scotland or Wales.
Data for 2013 will be available in June 2014.
Great Western Railway Line
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment in (a) on-board catering facilities, (b) WiFi and (c) recycling facilities has been made on the Great Western Line since 2009-10. [173019]
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Stephen Hammond: While this is primarily a matter for the train operator, the Department is aware that investment of £675,000 has been made on recycling and reduction of waste to landfill in total, including additional hardware in the form of new recycling bins for depots and stations. £222,000 has been invested to date on the introduction of WiFi on 5 class 180 trains. First Great Western has introduced a Pullman catering service and has maintained all other catering services in line with the franchise agreement.
As part of the new franchise agreement with First Great Western, announced on 3 October 2013, the Department secured an agreement to fit more trains with free WiFi, with priority given to longer distance services.
High Speed 2
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether direct train services from (a) Sandwell and Dudley and (b) Wolverhampton to London Euston will be reduced upon the completion of High Speed 2. [173387]
Mr Goodwill: The Department's aim is that all towns or cities which currently have a direct service to London will retain broadly comparable or better services once HS2 is completed.
It is not appropriate to specify the exact timetable for train services that are planned to operate in 2026 when HS2 Phase 1 services begin. The detailed timetable development will take place nearer the time and will consider operational considerations as well as the forecast passenger demand for services.
As highlighted in the strategic case, published on 29 October, in partnership with the railway industry, we intend to announce shortly a transparent and participatory process to consider long-term issues, opportunities and options for rail services on HS2 corridors. This will consider how these services can support the delivery of economic growth on a sustainable basis.
Rescue Services
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the number of maritime rescue co-ordination centres for which staffing levels dropped below risk-assessed levels nationally in each month from January to September 2013. [173535]
Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has long and well established procedures in place for when the staffing levels in the maritime rescue co-ordination centres (MRCCs) fail to meet the risk-assessed levels. These enable each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.
The following table shows the number of MRCCs where staffing levels dropped below risk-assessed levels on at least one occasion in each month from January to September 2013.
2013 | Number |
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The MCA is proactively addressing these issues and has recently completed two recruitment campaigns. As a result, 28 new recruits are now in post with a further 31 currently going through the final phases of the appointment process.
Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he and officials in his Department have had with fire and rescue services nationally regarding their at-sea presence. [173536]
Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) met with officials from local government authorities (LGAs) and senior representatives of the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) in 2012 to discuss arrangements for fire fighting at sea. Fire authorities and CFOA were represented at this meeting which was hosted by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
MCA officials also participated in a meeting in February 2013 of the Fire and Rescue Marine Response (FRMR) group where the subject of fire fighting at sea was discussed. No agreements or undertakings were made with that group.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which periods full shadow operations will be in place prior to the closure of the maritime rescue coordination centres in (a) Brixham, (b) Portland and (c) Solent. [173537]
Stephen Hammond: The current concept of operations requires paired maritime rescue co-ordination centres (MRCCs) to have operational familiarity with their paired MRCC. Therefore the MRCCs at Solent and Portland already have familiarity with each other's areas of operation; likewise the Falmouth MRCC has familiarity of the Brixham MRCC's area.
With the announcement of the transition timetable, actions are in hand to ensure that the transfer of knowledge is refreshed and reviewed as part of normal day-to-day operations. This will be accentuated by operational shadowing in the month preceding a MRCC closing.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the number and standing of the local experts from whom local intelligence was formally gathered prior to the closure of the Clyde, Forth and Yarmouth maritime rescue co-ordination centres. [173538]
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Stephen Hammond: The closure of the maritime rescue co-ordination centres (MRCCs) at Forth, Clyde and Great Yarmouth occurred only when the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was satisfied that all relevant information and services were transferred to remaining MRCCs and those receiving MRCCs were fully tested.
Unfortunately due to the prevailing industrial action short of strike at the time of closures, details regarding the number and standing of stakeholders involved in local intelligence gathering process is incomplete.
This process included knowledge transfer between watchkeeping staff at closing and remaining centres; briefings from Her Majesty's Coastguard sector managers to watchkeepers taking on the closing MRCCs’ area of operational responsibility; and the gathering of local intelligence from coastguard rescue officers, RNLI lifeboat operations managers, RNLI crew, independent rescue boat crews, beach lifeguards, harbour masters, Broads Authority and members of the public.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the Government's proposed changes to search and rescue co-ordination on the efficacy of local authority coastguards protecting local waters. [173539]
Stephen Hammond: The programme to modernise Her Majesty's Coastguard focuses on the co-ordination of civilian maritime search and rescue. The Coastguard rescue teams, like the RNLI, independent lifeboats, beach lifeguards, rescue helicopters and other rescue facilities are not affected by these changes.
It should be noted that the Coastguard rescue service is a network of volunteer teams around the UK coast that is part of Her Majesty's Coastguard and not a service delivered or managed by local authorities.
Rights of Way: West Sussex
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding his Department has made available to support (a) footpaths and (b) bridleways in each of the local authority areas of West Sussex in each of the last 10 years. [173471]
Mr Goodwill: The Department provides capital funding to local highway authorities through both the Highways Maintenance and Integrated Transport Blocks. This funding is not ring-fenced and can be used for these activities if these are deemed a priority by the authority.
Funding we have provided to West Sussex county council since 2004-05 for both highways maintenance and integrated transport is as follows:
£ million | ||
Financial year | Integrated Transport | Highways Maintenance Block |
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Work and Pensions
Atos Healthcare
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets health assessors working for Atos Healthcare work towards; and whether a bonus is payable upon reaching such targets. [173463]
Mike Penning: The current contractual agreement between Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Atos Healthcare contains numerous performance targets covering a wide range of features including throughput, claimant service and medical quality. There are no percentage targets for Atos Healthcare's various recommendations to DWP in the health assessors' medical output reports.
Atos Healthcare is expected to clear work capability assessments within an actual average clearance target (AACT) of 35 working days and there has been no easement in this service level. Atos Healthcare reports on performance against that target on a month by month basis and there are no bonuses payable if that target is reached.
Credit: Interest Rates
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2013, Official Report, column 455W, on credit: interest rates, if he will estimate the number of people with disabilities who have requested a payday loan in each of the last 60 months. [173046]
Steve Webb: The information is not available because the Government do not collect information on the number of requests for payday loans.
Employment: Disability
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2013, Official Report, column 657W, on employment: disability, if he will commission an impact assessment into the effect on (a) sick leave and (b) health of staff who have returned to work as a consequence of changes to disability benefit. [173045]
Mike Penning: The Department has no plans to commission an impact assessment into the effect on (a) sick leave and (b) health of staff who have returned to work as a consequence of changes to disability benefit.
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173128]
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Mike Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions spend on gas and electricity in 2010 -11 and 2011-12 was as follows:
£ | ||
2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of gas and electricity provision for his Department. [173130]
Mike Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions has in place a publicly available Carbon Management Plan. This details the strategic, administrative and technical actions to be taken to meet the Greening Government Commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2015, as well as helping to deliver cumulative and in year savings on the energy spend.
The Department's gas and electricity providers are currently EDF and British Gas (for half hourly and non-half hourly electricity respectively) and Corona Energy (for gas). The contracts were let using Government Procurement Service (GPS) frameworks. Electricity and gas are purchased on the wholesale markets for periods of up to three years in advance by GPS using the agreed public sector buying strategy. This enables the Department to benefit from the Government's collaborative procurement policy and GPS market expertise.
In addition, the Department is an active participant in the Government's Energy for Growth initiative. The first project (energy from a waste plant in Teesside) is expected to deliver £84 million in savings over the 20 year life of the contract through an innovative fixed agreement that will provide stability in what the public sector pays for energy. The Department is also actively investigating the potential for using geothermal energy at some of its sites in the North East.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who the provider was for (a) gas and (b) electricity in his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173131]
Mike Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions' provider of gas and electricity in 2010-11 and 2011-12 was as follows:
2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Separated People: Finance
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when each of the seven voluntary and third-sector projects established in March 2013 under the Help and Support for Separated Families Innovation Fund (a) will begin and (b) is due to finish. [173421]
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Steve Webb: Contracts for the seven projects funded through the first round of the Innovation Fund were signed in April this year and they will all conclude by the end of March 2015. The start date for customers varies. Projects by Malachi, Resolve Cymru, Spurgeons and Howells started in April 2013. Services run by Resolution started between April and June in different locations. Finally, the digital projects to be delivered by Relate and OnePlusOne respectively will begin around December 2013.
Work Capability Assessment
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish updated statistics for tables 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11 of his Department's statistics bulletin, Employment and Support Allowance: outcomes of work capability assessments, published on 22 October 2013. [173540]
Mike Penning: DWP statisticians are working with Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) to incorporate unpublished appeals data as soon as they are available. We hope to be able to do so in our next publication in January 2014. An exact date will be notified to users in advance, in accordance with standard UK Statistics Authority guidelines, via the publication hub at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html
Energy and Climate Change
Energy: Prices
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with (a) British Gas, (b) EDF Energy, (c) E.ON, (d) nPower, (e) Scottish Power and (f) SSE on those companies' plans to reduce existing discounts for customers who pay their bills by direct debit. [173416]
Michael Fallon: DECC Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with energy supply companies about a range of energy issues.
International Development
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173067]
Mr Duncan: DFID spent on its UK estate, £66,779 on gas supplies and £515,100 on electricity during 2010-11 and £73,500 on gas supplies and £509,522 on electricity during 2011-12.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity. [173075]
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Mr Duncan: DFID has and is reducing spend on gas through various measures including the installation of an insulating green roof and a biomass boiler at our office in Scotland. We are also currently repairing the external fabric of the building to limit heat loss. We have reduced electricity through decreasing the number of IT servers, printers and also by using PC and laptop models which use 50% less electricity.
A reduction in plant operation times and better temperature control at both UK sites has resulted in significant savings in both gas and electricity. In London we have recently moved to a new smaller office which will save 25% in energy usage; as part of this we are also replacing elements of the heating and lighting systems with more modern, energy-efficient alternatives.
In 2012-13 DFID reported a reduction of 26% in carbon emissions against the baseline year which resulted in savings of over £300 000 in energy costs. This has saved £300,000 this year.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which companies supplied (a) gas and (b) electricity to her Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173081]
Mr Duncan: The company who supplied DFID's two headquarters offices in London and East Kilbride were as follows:
(a) gas in 2010-11 and 2011 -12: Corona Energy; and
(b) electricity in 2010-11 and 2011-12: EDF Energy.
Telephone Services
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what geographic telephone numbers her Department advertises for use by the general public. [173041]
Mr Duncan: DFID advertises on its webpage, under
www.gov.uk,
five ways for the general public to contact the Department by telephone:
In the UK to contact the Public Enquiry Point call 0845 300 4100;
Outside the UK to contact the Public Enquiry Point call +44(0)1355 84 3132;
To contact a named member of staff in London call 020 7023 0000;
To contact a named member of staff in East Kilbride call 01355 844000; and
For the Press Office call 020 7023 0600.
Communities and Local Government
A4E
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what evaluation has been undertaken of the A4E's work using volunteers to work with complex cases in the troubled families programme. [173036]
Kris Hopkins:
The Department for Communities and Local Government has not undertaken any evaluation of A4E's work in relation to troubled families. A4E is not part of the troubled families programme and receives
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no funding directly from the Department in relation to the programme. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deliver the programme in their area.
Disadvantaged: Families
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what evaluation his Department has undertaken of the work of private companies working as part of the troubled families programme. [173037]
Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not undertaken any evaluation of the work of private companies as part of the troubled families programme. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deliver the programme in their area.
The Department commissioned a three-year independent evaluation of the programme overall. The details are available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/study-to-assess-impact-of-troubled-families-work
This evaluation does not specifically cover the work of private companies.
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of savings to the public purse to date due to crime, health and social problems being avoided as a result of the troubled families programme; and how this figure is calculated. [173038]
Kris Hopkins: In January 2013, the Department for Communities and Local Government published the “Cost of Troubled Families” report
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cost-of-troubled-families
and the “Fiscal Case for Troubled Families” report
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-fiscal-case-for-working-with-troubled-families-analysis-and-evidence-on-the-costs-of-troubled-families-to-government
These reports provide the best available information on the potential savings that can be achieved through the troubled families programme (including crime, health and other social problems) and on the work under way in local areas to build on this evidence base.
Since the publication of these reports, the Department has also commissioned an independent national evaluation of the troubled families programme. This work will include an evaluation of the economic and fiscal benefits of the programme. Further information about the-evaluation is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/study-to-assess-impact-of-troubled-families-work
The evaluation is under way and initial findings will be available in 2014.
Pay
Andy Sawford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his announcement of 18 July 2013 on the creation of a reward scheme for officials in his Department who recommend money-saving ideas, what incentives he intends to offer through that scheme; on what basis those rewards will be offered; under which budgetary
1 Nov 2013 : Column 622W
cost heading the purchasing of rewards will be made; and what the
(a)
minimum and
(b)
maximum reward under the scheme will be. [169282]
Brandon Lewis [holding answer 8 October 2013]:I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 July 2013, Official Report, column 707W, on how the scheme operates and how it rewards the saving of taxpayers' money. The minimum award is £25 and the maximum is £50.
Health
Winter Deaths
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of excess winter deaths in 2013-14; and whether he has produced alternative estimates based on varying weather scenarios. [173551]
Jane Ellison: The causes of excess winter deaths are complex and linked not just to the weather but also to the wider determinants of health. This makes excess winter deaths difficult to predict in advance.
The Office for National Statistics compares observed winter deaths with non-winter deaths retrospectively, and we are awaiting its estimate for last winter (2012-13) this is due for publication next month.
Public Health England (PHE) has, however, recently published the Cold Weather Plan for England, which aims to avoid preventable deaths in winter by setting out a series of actions for organisations, communities and individuals, to take throughout the year.
PHE does not make any estimates of future numbers of excess winter deaths. The data it publishes are based on past experience.
Dementia
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress has been made on implementing the National Dementia Strategy for England; [173231]
(2) what plans he has to develop a new National Dementia Strategy for England following the current strategy's expiry in 2014; [173232]
(3) what assessment he has made of Improving Dementia Services in England, an interim report published by the National Audit Office in January 2010, HC82; and how many recommendations of this report have been met to date. [173284]
Norman Lamb: The National Dementia Strategy runs until 2014, and the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia, which builds on progress made on the strategy, runs until 2015. Decisions on future policy on dementia will be made following the forthcoming evaluation of progress of the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia.
On 15 May 2013, a report on progress in delivering improvements in dementia care and research, “The Prime Ministers Challenge on Dementia, Delivering major improvements in dementia care and research by 2015: Annual report of progress”, was published. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.
We have made no assessment of the 2010 National Audit Office report or its recommendations, which apply to implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.
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Depressive Illnesses
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each region and nation of the UK have been reported as suffering from depression. [173113]
Norman Lamb: The information requested is not collected centrally.
An Office for National Statistics survey in 2004 “Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain” found that one in 10 children aged between five and 16 years has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem, with 3.7% having an emotional disorder which would include anxiety and depression.
At any one time, around 1.2 to 1.3 million children in Great Britain will have a diagnosable mental health disorder.
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173065]
Dr Poulter: The Department spent the following on gas and electricity in 2010-11 and 2011-12:
£ | ||
2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity. [173073]
Dr Poulter: The Department's Sustainability and Development team review tariffs on a regular basis with suppliers.
By the end of September 2013 the Department had reduced its energy usage by 24% compared to the baseline year 2009-10. This is on track to meet the Greening Government Commitment target.
The Department has implemented a range of projects and initiatives to reduce energy consumption. These include:
lighting upgrades, including the introduction of LED lighting;
heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades;
energy efficient air filters;
boiler upgrades; and
improved energy monitoring and bill validation.
There have also been a range of information and communication technology related projects to reduce energy consumption, including the replacement of desktop personal computers with Thin Client Dynamic Desktop devices.
Epilepsy
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the benefits of establishing a national epilepsy deaths register. [173417]
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Norman Lamb: SUDEP Action recently established an epilepsy deaths register which the Government are supportive of. The register is promoted by professional and patient organisations around the United Kingdom. This has been developed to look beyond the information produced by the Office for National Statistics which publishes mortality data by cause, derived from information recorded on death certificates.
The important work that SUDEP Action are doing to bring sudden unexpected death in epilepsy to greater public attention is in line with the Government's broader aims for health and social care in England. A key element of improving outcomes and tackling premature mortality is having the right information to improve understanding and inform actions—and the SUDEP register is making an important contribution to this. It is hoped that reviewing the data will improve understanding of the types of people most likely to die, and how mortality rates for different groups are changing over time.
Details of the register can be found here:
www.sudep.org/epilepsy-deaths-register-1
The decision as to whether to establish a separate national register of epilepsy related deaths would now most appropriately be taken by NHS England.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the state of care of epilepsy training. [173420]
Dr Poulter: The Government have mandated Health Education England (HEE) to provide national leadership on education, training and workforce development in the national health service. This mandate includes a commitment to improve care of people suffering with long term conditions, by supporting training for staff, to deliver better prevention and care to patients with long term conditions.
The content and standard of health care training is ultimately the responsibility of independent regulators. However, HEE will work with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate. For the non-regulated professions, HEE, together with the Sector Skills Councils and professional associations, will have a role in determining the content and standard of training.
HEE has not undertaken a recent assessment of epilepsy training and care.
Mental Health Services
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to work with NHS England to use programme budgeting to assess public spending on mental health services in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [173541]
Norman Lamb: Programme budgeting data are being collected at primary care trust level for 2012-13 by NHS England. These will be published in the form of an interactive programme budgeting spread-sheet and resource for commissioners. Arrangements are being developed for 2013-14, with the intention that programme budgeting will be published at clinical commissioning group and NHS England area team level.
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Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of NHS and social care spending on mental health support in England for (a) children, (b) adults of working age and (c) adults over 65 years old in 2012-13. [173543]
Norman Lamb: The Department's Annual Report and Accounts for 2012-13 reports the expenditure on secondary mental health care as £8.796 billion. It is not possible to break this information into expenditure for different age groups.
Provisional personal social services expenditure data published by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre report gross expenditure in 2012-13 on social care for adults with mental health needs (aged 18 to 64) at £1.15 billion.
Information in respect of social care spending for children is not held centrally.
Mental Health Services: Young People
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will conduct a new psychiatric morbidity survey for children and adolescents; [173542]
(2) what plans he has to respond to the recommendations in the recent report by the Chief Medical Officer, Prevention Pays - our children deserve better, that there should be an annual survey of children's mental health and well-being and of investment in child and adolescent mental health services in England. [173553]
Norman Lamb: The Department is currently looking at the options available for undertaking a survey of children and young people to look at prevalence and outcomes of mental health and well-being in line with the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation, and what additional information this would give us.
The Government have no plans to review investment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services—commissioning these services is the responsibility of NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.
Midwives
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of midwives who were not employed by an NHS trust two years after qualifying. [173353]
Dr Poulter: We are unable to estimate the proportion of midwives who were not employed by a national health service trust two years after qualifying because these data are not collected locally or centrally.
There are currently 21,443 full-time equivalent qualified midwives working in the NHS, with an overall increase of 1,311 since May 2010. There are also in excess of 5,000 midwifery students in training and 75 more new training places this year than in 2010.
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for (a) midwives and (b) supervisors of midwives in each NHS trust. [173467]
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Dr Poulter: There is no central collection of the number of vacancies of midwives and supervisors of midwives in each national health service trust. The Department of Health is able to provide data about the number of job advertisements placed on NHS Jobs by employers in the NHS.
The following table shows the number of adverts as at 31 October 2013 for midwives by NHS trust. Only Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust advertised a vacancy for the role of supervisor of midwives.
NHS trust | Number of adverts |
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | |
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | |
1 Nov 2013 : Column 627W
Note: The numbers produced are worked out from those adverts that are in the ‘Nursing’ or ‘Nursing and Midwifery Registered’ staff groups and have 'midwife' or ‘midwives’ in the job title. Source: Data gathered from NHS Jobs 31 October 2013. |
Neurology
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many (a) elective and (b) emergency bed days were recorded for patients in each primary care trust or care commission group with a (i) primary and (ii) secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition, as defined under Diseases of the nervous system in the ICD-10 in each of the last five years for which data are available; [173342]
(2) how many emergency readmissions within seven days took place for patients in each primary care trust or care commission group with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition in each of the last five years for which data are available. [173351]
Norman Lamb: The information requested on the number of elective and emergency bed days recorded for patients with a diagnosis of a neurological condition has been placed in the Library.
We have provided a count of bed days for a primary and secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition, ICD10 codes G00-G99, by primary care trust of treatment for the years 2007-08 to 2011-12. To ensure we capture all activity we have provided the data by elective, emergency and other admission methods. We are unable to provide the information by clinical commissioning group area.
Information on re-admissions within seven days for patients in each primary care trust or clinical commissioning group area with a primary and secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition for each of the last five years is not collected.
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of hospital stay was for patients in each primary care trust or care commission group with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition in each of the last five years for which data are available. [173349]
Norman Lamb: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
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We have provided the mean and median length of stay for records with a primary and secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition, ICD10 codes G00-G99 by primary care trust of treatment for the years 2007-08 to 2011-12. We are unable to provide the information by clinical commissioning group area.
It should be noted that some of these values are based on relatively small numbers of records, so are affected by one or a few large values.
We have excluded averages derived from groups with five or fewer records.
NHS Property Services
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process was used for the recruitment of the executive director of NHS Property Services. [173533]
Dr Poulter: The executive directors for NHS Property Services Limited were recruited through a number of processes.
The following table sets out the executive role and recruitment process:
Position | Date appointed | Process |
1 The Director of Finance was appointed as a temporary secondment from Community Health Partnerships, the Department of Health owned company which manages NHS LIFT estate in primary and community care. 2 The Human Resources Director and the Director of Communications and Governance were previously employed within the NHS and were recruited using the provisions of the nationally agreed HR transition process designed to support the retention of NHS staff who were at risk of redundancy due to the implementation of the NHS reforms. |
Those who were seconded were subsequently interviewed and assessed.
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2013, Official Report, column 284W, on NHS Property Services, what criteria were used by NHS Property Services to determine the suitability of applicants for vacancies for (a) executive and (b) non-executive positions. [173534]
Dr Poulter: All candidates who applied for executive positions within NHS Property Services Limited (NHS PS) were assessed against their skills, knowledge and experience set out in the person specification for each job description to reflect the responsibilities and duties of the post. Each area was assessed in a number of ways where appropriate:
By application;
By interview;
By test or presentation;
By reference;
By pre-employment check; and
By certificate/documentation.
1 Nov 2013 : Column 629W
All candidates who applied for non-executive director posts within NHS PS were evaluated for their knowledge, skills and strength of experience against the following headings:
Finance;
Property Services;
Asset Management;
Corporate Services;
Business Services;
Strategic;
Non-Executive Director Experience; and
NHS Non-Executive Director Experience.
The Chair was appointed without competition on a two year contract. The Department took this decision as at the time of his appointment in August 2012, there was only eight months before NHS PS had to be operational. As he was an experienced NHS Chair, it was determined that this experience would be the most likely way to ensure a full board and executives team would be appointed, and operational by April 2013.
The Department's nominee was appointed directly.
South London Healthcare NHS Trust
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of his appeal against the judgement issued by Mr Justice Silber on 31 July 2013 in the High Court on the South London Healthcare Trust and Lewisham Hospital. [173441]
Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of the High Court appeal by his Department in respect of the London Borough of Lewisham and Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign Ltd v Trust Special Administrator & Anr. Appeal to date. [173486]
Dr Poulter: The estimated cost to the Department of bringing the appeal against the High Court judgment of 31 July 2013 is approximately £92,000.
Once the Court of Appeal judgment has been handed down, the court will be required to deal with consequential matters including both respondents' costs of the appeal, the level of which are not known at this time.
Home Department
Baraa Shiban
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the exercise by immigration officials of powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 when they detained Baraa Shiban at Gatwick Airport on 23 September 2013. [172958]
Mr Harper [holding answer 29 October 2013]: Baraa Shiban was examined by officers of Sussex police and not by Border Force officers. No immigration officer exercised powers under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 in this case.
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Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether an HM Inspector of Prisons inspection visit to Campsfield House will take place in the next six months; [172390]
(2) what steps she has taken to ensure that immigration removal centres are subject to regular HM Inspector of Prisons visits. [172391]
Mr Harper: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons has a statutory responsibility to inspect immigration detention facilities. The timing and frequency of these inspections are matters for the chief inspector. His current business plan envisages inspections of five immigration removal centres in this financial year. These inspections are normally unannounced. I have not been informed of any plans to inspect Campsfield House in the next six months.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations made following the last HM Inspector of Prisons visit to Campsfield House have yet to be implemented. [172392]
Mr Harper: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons made 71 recommendations in his last inspection report of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre in 2011. Of the 59 recommendations accepted, 56 have been implemented.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that recommendations made following the last HM Inspector of Prisons visit to Campsfield House are implemented. [172393]
Mr Harper: Home Office Immigration Enforcement receives regular updates from the service provider and the local Home Office Immigration Enforcement Team on progress against the service improvement plan published in November 2011 in response to the inspection report.
Common Travel Area
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has held with her Irish counterpart on strengthening the Common Travel Area. [172472]
Mr Harper: Home Office officials are in regular contact with Irish Government officials to take forward joint work on the Common Travel Area, which is underpinned and driven by the programme of work in the joint ministerial statement signed by the then UK Minister for Immigration, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), and the Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter TD in Dublin on 20 December 2011.
Detention Centres: Inspections
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the full source and detail of the Immigration Removal Centre comparator information used in the recent Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons Report, published in July 2013, on Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. [172395]
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Mr Harper: The comparator information in this inspection report was collected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons as part of its inspections of Brook House and other immigration removal centres. The Home Office does not hold information further to that which the inspectorate has published in this and other inspection reports.
Drugs: Misuse
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to publish an evaluation framework for the National Drugs Strategy. [172528]
Norman Baker [holding answer 28 October 2013]: The Drug Strategy Evaluation Framework is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with the National Audit Office on the completion and publication of the Drugs Strategy Evaluation Framework. [172529]
Norman Baker [holding answer 28 October 2013]: The Home Secretary and Ministers in her Department have not had any discussions with the National Audit Office (NAO) about the completion or publication of the Drug Strategy Evaluation Framework. NAO have asked for updates on progress towards publication, which have been provided by officials in the Department.
Entry Clearances
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, column 901W, on entry clearances, how many family visa applications have been put on hold since 5 July 2013. [173104]
Mr Harper [holding answer 30 October 2013]: Spouse or partner and child applications under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules which fall for refusal solely because they do not meet the minimum income threshold have been subject to a hold on decision-making following the 5 July 2013 High Court judgment in MM and Others.
The Home Office is collating internal management information on the number of applications put on hold overseas and in country. This information will be published on the Home Office immigration website as soon as possible and then on a quarterly basis.
Entry Clearances: Foreign Workers
Sir James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2013, Official Report, column 7MC, on entry clearances, if she will list, for each of the top 20 organisations which sponsor certificates for Tier 5 visas, the individual job titles and job descriptions for each certificate issued in each of the last three years where such number exceeds 10. [172405]
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Mr Harper [holding answer 25 October 2013]:The table detailing Tier 5 certificate of sponsorship used by top 20 sponsors period 1 January 2010-31 December 2012 will be placed in the House Library.
Sir James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long each issue certificate of sponsorship for Tier 5 visas issued by each issuing organisation was issued. [172408]
Mr Harper [holding answer 25 October 2013]: There were a total of 39,349 certificates of sponsorship by the top 20 Tier 5 sponsoring organisations used between 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012.
A full list containing the duration of each certificate used will be placed in the House Library.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of whether evidential flexibility has improved decision making and processing times with Tier 4 applications under the points-based system. [172553]
Mr Harper [holding answer 28 October 2013]: The Home Office has made no assessment of whether evidential flexibility has improved decision making and processing times with Tier 4 applications under the points-based system. The evidential flexibility policy was introduced to improve customer service, rather than to improve decision making or processing times.
Landlord and Tenant: Right of Abode
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with landlords' associations on the viability of landlords being able to accurately assess the legitimacy of applicant tenants in terms of their right of abode in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [170688]
Mr Harper [holding answer 14 October 2013]: A public consultation was conducted between 3 July and 21 September 2013 inviting responses to the published proposals. The Home Office published a response to the consultation on 10 October 2013 setting out the response received to the consultation from landlords’ associations, including a summary of written comments submitted and points made by associations in meetings with officials during the consultation. Additionally, I met representatives of the Residential Landlords Association on 17 October.
Licensing Laws
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to allow pubs to apply for extended licences to show late night football matches during the football world cup in 2014. [172295]
Norman Baker:
Licensing hours are determined by licensing authorities under the Licensing Act 2003. Pubs which already have a licence to open late will be able to open as they currently do. Premises which wish to open longer during the World Cup can apply for an extension using a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) on
1 Nov 2013 : Column 633W
which local police and environmental health authorities also have a say. This Government has already legislated to reform the TENs system including extending their flexibility. The Home Secretary has the power to make a national provision to extend licensing hours to mark occasions of exceptional international, national or local significance, as happened for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Passports: Concessions
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to extend eligibility for free UK passports to people over the age of 80 years. [172551]
Mr Harper: Concessionary passports are issued free of charge to applicants born on or before 2 September 1929. That date recognises those who were 16 or over at the time the second world war ended. The concession was introduced in 2004 as part of the 60th anniversary commemorative ceremonies and recognises the second world war generation of civilians and military personnel. There are no plans to extend the concession.
Prisoners: Repatriation
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice to deport foreign nationals in UK prisons to serve detention in their countries of origin. [172346]
Mr Harper: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) lead on the negotiation and implementation of Prisoner Transfer Agreements. The Home Office is working closely with MOJ to develop casework processes to ensure removals are delivered efficiently once agreements are implemented.
Public Expenditure
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's expenditure on (a) border control and (b) the asylum system was in each of the last 10 years; and how much of that expenditure was covered by fee income in each such year. [165948]
Mr Harper [holding answer 17 July 2013]: The published expenditure for Border Force operations is detailed in the table. For clarity, the cost of border control has been deemed to be all resource expenditure incurred by Border Force operations.
However, it is important to note that Border Force has undergone a number of machinery of government changes that would make the expenditure over the last 10 years incomparable:
Pre 2007-08 Border Force formed part of immigration and nationality directorate, Home Office.
In 2008-09, UK Border Agency was formed including a transfer in of detection customs services from HM Revenue and Customs.
At the end of 2011-12 Border Force was transferred out of UK Border Agency with its share of overheads.
During 2012-13 further Border Force budgets were moved around as part of the transition arrangements with former UK Border Agency.
1 Nov 2013 : Column 634W
£ million | ||
Total Border Force expenditure | Of which Border Force operations | |
Source: BF Records. |
(b) The total expenditure for the whole of asylum operations is not split out in the UK Border Agency Accounts.
For this reason we can only supply expenditure relating to asylum support during the period it was listed in the UK Border Agency Accounts (five years):
Asylum support expenditure (£ million) | |
Source: UK Border Agency accounts. |
Fee income earned through migrant applications is not applicable to Border Force as it operates outside the arrangements.
Income is not earned on any asylum application. In the period in question, asylum support costs have been more than covered by resource budget allocation. Any excess income has therefore been put towards crime and enforcement activity and support functions.