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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 4 November 2013
Deputy Prime Minister
Alternative Vote
Mr Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to the public purse was of the referendum on the alternative vote. [173797]
Greg Clark: The cost of the referendum on the alternative vote is set out in the Electoral Commission's December 2012 report 'Costs of the May 2011 referendum on the UK Parliamentary voting system'.
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/153000/Costs-of-UK-May-2011-UKPVS-referendum.pdf
Attorney-General
G4S and Serco
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Serious Fraud Office to complete its investigation into existing contracts held by G4S and Serco in England and Wales. [173360]
The Attorney-General: The Director of the Serious Fraud Office has confirmed that he has formally accepted this matter for investigation. The SFO will complete the investigation as expeditiously as possible.
Leader of the House
EU Law: Parliamentary Scrutiny
Mr Thomas: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward reforms to the House's powers to scrutinise European legislation and the implementation of European Commission budget spending decisions; and if he will make a statement. [173686]
Mr Lansley: The Government consider the scrutiny of EU legislation and policy by Parliament to be vital to our democracy and values. The Government look forward to working with Parliament on improvements to the UK's procedures following the current inquiry being undertaken by the European Scrutiny Committee.
We are keen to focus scrutiny to using effectively the power of Parliament to intervene in EU legislative processes by reasoned opinions and political opinions on the most important issues, and to make better use of Departmental Select Committees' expertise.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Leader of the House how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Office. [174060]
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Wales
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173126]
Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office incurred costs of £16,552 in 2010-11 and £16,621 in 2011-12 for electricity. The Department does not have a direct contract for gas supply.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who the provider was for (a) gas and (b) electricity for his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173127]
Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office had electricity supplied to its London office by British Gas in the period specified. The Department did not have a direct contract for gas supply for its London Office, and did not have a direct contract with utility providers for its Cardiff office.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of gas and electricity provision for his Department. [173141]
Stephen Crabb: The Department has a number of energy efficiency measures in place, including encouraging staff in its London office to switch off lights when rooms are not in use and to ensure that computers are switched off at the end of the working day. The Department's Cardiff office is a modern building with built in energy efficiency measures.
The Department does not have a direct contract for gas supply in its London office. The office is heated by the Whitehall District Heating System and is available between October and May each year. The Department has the flexibility to turn the heating off if temperatures are high during this period.
European Commission
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many visits Ministers from his Department made to either the European Commission or the European Parliament in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement; [173773]
(2) how many visits the Permanent Secretary and the four next most senior civil servants in his Department made to the European Commission in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [173793]
Stephen Crabb: The former Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), visited Brussels on one occasion in March 2011, attending meetings at both the European Commission and the European Parliament. No other Ministers have visited either the European Commission or the European Parliament since 2010.
No senior officials from the Wales Office have visited either the European Commission or the European Parliament during this time.
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Northern Ireland
Banks
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what involvement the devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland will have with the new ministerial task force for banking. [173149]
Mrs Villiers: The Joint Ministerial Taskforce on Banking and Access to Finance held its first meeting on 8 October 2013. Its membership includes Arlene Foster MLA and Simon Hamilton MLA representing the Northern Ireland Executive.
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the provider was for (a) gas and (b) electricity in her Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173129]
Mrs Villiers: During the periods requested, my Department operated from three locations: 11 Millbank, London; Stormont House, Belfast; and Hillsborough Castle. The information for each site is as follows:
During this period, my Department was based in 11 Millbank where office space was leased from a landlord who was billed direct for all utilities. For that reason, no information is held in relation to gas or electricity suppliers. (My Department relocated its London office to 1 Horse Guards Road in February 2013).
Stormont, Belfast—2010-11 and 2011-12
Electricity supplier: NIE Energy (re-branded as Power NI with effect from July 2011).
Gas supplier —Phoenix.
Hillsborough Castle—2010-11 and 2011-12
Electricity supplier: NIE Energy (re-branded as Power NI with effect from July 2011).
Gas supplier: There is no gas supply/provider.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173136]
Mrs Villiers: My Department spent the following amounts on gas and electricity during the periods requested:
| 2010-11 | |
| £ | |
| 2011-12 | |
| £ | |
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to reduce the cost of gas and electricity provision for her Department. [173146]
Mrs Villiers: My Department currently operates from three locations:
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1 Horse Guards Road, London;
Stormont House, Belfast; and
Hillsborough Castle.
The relocation of the London Office in February 2013 was a key element of our drive for efficiency which enabled the Department to secure savings in the region of £1 million per annum. This move also enabled us to reduce our footprint from 3,098 square metres to 462 square metres by maximising opportunities for open plan working which has a knock on effect in terms of reducing heating and electricity costs.
In our offices in Northern Ireland, there is a strong emphasis on encouraging staff to be energy aware and to maximise the sharing of IT equipment and to turn all appliances (computers, printers and lights) off when not in use. The ‘Turn it Off’ campaign is promoted throughout the Department which also includes the use of energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.
Ex-gratia Payments
Mr Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims have been made to her Department for an ex-gratia payment for those affected by the troubles in Northern Ireland; how much each claimant has received in compensation; how many such claims were paid as a result of a direction from the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and how many such claims were paid in respect of cases involving false imprisonment. [173606]
Mrs Villiers: The ex-gratia scheme closed in April 2006. Upon devolution responsibility for ongoing consideration of claims transferred from the Northern Ireland Office to the Department of Justice.
Ex-gratia arrangements were set out in a statement to the House of Commons on 29 November 1985 by the then Home Secretary, and have been adopted by successive Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland since then. Under the ex-gratia scheme compensation may exceptionally be granted where a person has spent time in custody following a wrongful conviction or charge, where there has been serious default on the part of the police or some other public authority, or where facts emerge, either at trial or on appeal within time, that completely exonerate the accused.
Records show that between 2007 and March 2010, the Northern Ireland Office paid a total of £336,153.14 in three ex-gratia cases. These payments were made in respect of claims lodged before closure of the scheme in 2006.
National Asset Management Agency
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with the Finance Minister in Northern Ireland on the National Assets Management Agency. [173154]
Mrs Villiers: I have regular meetings with the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance and Personnel and NAMA has often been a part of our discussions. We last discussed NAMA when we met on 11 September.
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Older Workers
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people aged over (a) 55 and (b) 60 years were recruited by her Department in 2010-11; and what proportion of such staff were new staff. [173153]
Mrs Villiers: My Department did not recruit any staff aged over 55 or 60 years during 2010-11.
Sexual Offences
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were (a) prosecuted for and (b) convicted of a serious sexual assault in each year since 2010. [173152]
Mrs Villiers: Prosecutions for sexual assault are a devolved matter and therefore the responsibility of the Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
European Commission
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what analysis his Department has made of the effectiveness of the European Commission's use of its powers under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union against member states; and if he will make a statement. [173685]
Mr Lidington: The Government support the European Commission in its efforts to ensure the timely and consistent transposition of EU law across all member states, which is crucial to the proper functioning of the Single Market. Although we expect the new powers under article 258 of the treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to be a stronger incentive to member states to transpose directives within the deadlines laid down by the Commission, we are not yet in a position to judge how effective these new powers have been.
Iraq
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on links between Hamid Jafar and Crescent Petroleum International and the former Iraqi Government led by Saddam Hussein; and if he will make a statement. [173407]
Hugh Robertson: We have received no such reports since May 2010.
Prisoners: Organs
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made on ending the forced extraction of human organs from prisoners of conscience. [173281]
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Mr Swire: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer to Mr Campbell dated 22 April 2013, Official Report, column 633W.
Sri Lanka
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of political and human rights in Sri Lanka. [173219]
Mr Swire: Sri Lanka is listed as a human rights “Country of Concern” in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights Report for 2012, a copy of which is available from the House Libraries and online at:
www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk
We continue to have strong concerns about the lack of demonstrable progress on post-conflict reconciliation, accountability and political settlement. We have consistently called for an independent, thorough and credible investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law by both sides in the military conflict.
The British Government are attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November and we will take a tough message to the Sri Lankan Government that they need to make concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation and political settlement.
UK Membership of EU
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the need to prepare transitional arrangements following a vote to leave the European Union in a referendum; and if he will make a statement. [173393]
Mr Lidington: This Government have not made any preparations for the UK leaving the EU.
UK Trade & Investment
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department plans that all documents on the UK Trade & Investment website will be made consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. [172763]
Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) worked with FCO colleagues in developing the Government paper: ‘Good Business - Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’. UKTI subsequently made its staff aware of the Government paper, which includes a responsibility to update information contained in the joint FCO/UKTI Overseas Business Risk (OBR) service on the UKTI website. If there is content that does not appear to be compliant, officials in UK Trade & Investment would be happy to review this with the content owners.
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International Development
Belize
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support she is giving to the government of Belize to help preserve the Chiquibul National rainforest reserve. [173392]
Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government do not provide bilateral development assistance to Belize and therefore has not provided direct financial assistance for the preservation of the Chiquibul National rainforest reserve.
Burma
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support civil society organisations that are (a) registered and (b) unregistered in Burma. [173167]
Mr Duncan: DFID supports a number of registered organisations in Burma. DFID has been helping civil society organisations in their lobbying of the Burmese Government and Parliament to amend the draft Associations Law. This law would change the process of registration for civil society organisations in Burma.
Developing Countries: Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department allocates to support the development of genetically modified organisms. [173595]
Justine Greening: We do not specifically allocate DFID funding to genetically modified organisms.
Forests: Climate Change
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress she has made on the development of the Forests and Climate Change Fund. [173161]
Lynne Featherstone: The business case for the Forests and Climate Change programme has been prepared and is being subject to internal assessment and review by DFID and other Government Departments before being presented to the Secretary of State.
Haiti
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to tackle the spread of cholera in Haiti. [173165]
Mr Duncan: The UK has provided the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) with £1.25 million of funding for Disaster emergency preparedness and early response in Haiti. A component of this funding is being used to maintain adequate surveillance and alert systems to identify upsurges in cholera cases and to increase prevention efforts.
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Overseas Aid
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which multinational bodies are suppliers of UK aid; and in which countries such aid is distributed. [173334]
Justine Greening: Details of DFID multilateral expenditure are published in Table 18 of the 'Statistics on International Development' 2012 which is available online at:
http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistics-on-international-development
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what public accountability mechanisms are in place with respect to third-party suppliers of UK development aid. [173597]
Justine Greening: The Department holds suppliers to account for delivery through managing their performance against the contractual obligations stated in the awarded contract.
For the first time ever we have insisted that our suppliers, including non-governmental organisations, sign up to a code of conduct, and 578 of our suppliers have already done so. This statement of priories and expectations sets out standards we expect our suppliers to meet on value for money, transparency and accountability.
Somalia
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to tackle the spread of polio in south and central Somalia. [173166]
Justine Greening: DFID is working closely with the Federal Government of Somalia who have initiated an emergency response to the polio outbreak jointly with the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners. The response aims to interrupt the transmission of polio in Somalia and curtail its spread to uninfected areas.
In August, DFID made a contribution of £10 million to WHO for tackling polio in the East Africa region, with a focus on Somalia. This was followed by a contribution of £1.8 million in October from DFID Somalia to UNICEF Somalia in response to the joint polio appeal.
Syria
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure that emergency relief and humanitarian assistance reaches vulnerable internally displaced people in Syria in winter 2013-14. [173209]
Justine Greening:
The UK Government are currently working with the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations on our winterisation response which will provide support including blankets, thermal clothing and insulated housing for tens of
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thousands of people in and outside of Syria for winter 2013-14. This includes rehabilitating collective shelters in which some of the most vulnerable displaced people live to provide better shelter for the cold months ahead.
This is in addition to the £150 million already allocated to partners providing humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including support for internally displaced peoples.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to protect the Christian Church in Syria. [173217]
Mr Duncan: Life in Syria for Christians and other minorities is dire. We have serious concerns about rising sectarian tensions and we believe that President Assad's actions include a deliberate attempt to stir up such tensions in his efforts to hold on to power. We have made clear that those responsible for human rights violations and abuses should be held to account. We believe that the International Criminal Court will have a role to play in this. The UK is supporting the Syrian National Coalition who have made clear commitments to supporting a democratic Syria where all people will equal, regardless of their ethnic, religious and sectarian background.
The UK supports humanitarian organisations that operate in an impartial manner and provide support on the basis of need. Thus, Christian groups and minorities are not treated separately but, if members of their communities are particularly vulnerable, they will receive humanitarian assistance as appropriate.
Visits Abroad
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what countries (a) she and (b) her ministerial team have visited since taking post. [173598]
Justine Greening: Details of all overseas visits undertaken by DFID Ministers are published under the transparency section of the DFID website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-minister-of-state-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-january-to-march-2013
Scotland
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173134]
David Mundell: The costs incurred by the Scotland Office in respect of (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 are shown in the following table:
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| £ | |||
| Financial year | Gas | Electricity | Whitehall Heating System and Standby Distribution System |
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who the provider was for (a) gas and (b) electricity for his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173138]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office providers for (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 are shown in the following table:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
| Edinburgh | London | Edinburgh | London | |
The Scotland Office uses framework and supply contracts negotiated by the Government Procurement Service, the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government to secure the best value for public money.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of gas and electricity provision for his Department. [173145]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office keeps all costs under rigorous review. The Office has taken a number of steps to reduce gas and electricity costs including (a) ensuring central heating is switched off whenever possible, (b) conducting campaigns to raise awareness in staff of the need to reduce energy costs, and (c) when routine repairs and maintenance are being undertaken using the opportunities to modify existing equipment or install more energy efficient ones.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost of (a) gas and (b) electricity used by his Department was in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173700]
Mr Alistair Carmichael: The costs incurred by the Scotland Office in respect of (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 are shown in the following table:
| £ | |||
| Financial year | Gas | Electricity | Whitehall Heating System and Standby Distribution System |
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Sovereignty
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to inform civil servants about the potential effect of Scottish independence on jobs. [172857]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael), and I are engaging with civil servants and their representatives. I recently met with representatives from the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss the UK Government's ongoing commitment to employing civil servants in Scotland as part of a strong United Kingdom.
In order to inform and support the debate on Scotland's future, the Government are undertaking a programme of analysis examining how Scotland contributes to and benefits from being part of the UK, and how the rest of the UK benefits from its partnership with Scotland.
The programme has published seven papers to date. The papers have analysed key economic, legal and defence issues. Future papers on further economic and wider policy issues will be released this year and through 2014 in the lead-up to the referendum.
Treasury
China
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs regarding (a) human rights in China and (b) the Government's Action Plan on Business and Human Rights before his recent visit to China; [173318]
(2) what discussions he had regarding (a) freedom of expression, (b) freedom of association, (c) protection of human rights, (d) the rule of law and (e) Tibet during his recent visit to China. [173316]
Nicky Morgan: The Chancellor speaks with his Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues on a regular basis, including the UK's relationships with other major economies. The Chancellor also speaks regularly with international counterparts, including with Chinese Ministers as part of the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue; it is not the Government's practice to comment on every detail of those discussions.
The Government's policy is, nonetheless, clear. Ministers believe that UK foreign policy should be based on our values; the Government regularly engage with the Chinese and other governments on human rights issues, and will continue to do so. China is becoming increasingly internationally facing, and the promotion of universal values is good for China's long-term prosperity.
Excise Duties: Diesel Fuel
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use of red diesel by boats on inland waterways. [173691]
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Nicky Morgan: Fuel for propelling private pleasure craft on inland waterways in the UK is subject to excise duty at the full rate while fuel for other purposes, such as heating, is subject to the rebated rate of duty. Many of these craft have a single fuel supply for propulsion and heating. For this reason, HMRC allows rebated oil such as red diesel to be used provided that an amount equal to the rebate is paid on the proportion of fuel to be used to propel the boat.
Purchasers of red diesel for use in private pleasure craft must provide a declaration estimating the percentage of fuel to be used for propulsion to the supplying Registered Dealer in Controlled Oils who will collect any excise duty due on behalf of HMRC.
Job Creation
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of new jobs in (a) Barnsley, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) London were in the (i) retail, (ii) service and (iii) manufacturing sectors in (A) 2010, (B) 2011, (C) 2012 and (D) 2013. [173249]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Joe Grice, dated November 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of new jobs in (a) Barnsley, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) London were in the (i) retail, (ii) service and (iii) manufacturing sectors in (A) 2010, (B) 2011, (C) 2012 and (D) 2013. (173249).
Figures are not available for 'new jobs' in the labour market. But the following table shows the net change in jobs for the breakdowns requested for 2010, 2011 and 2012, the latest year for which these figures are available.
| Net change in employee jobs1 for Barnsley, South Yorkshire and London by retail, services and manufacturing industries for 2010 to 2012 | |||
| Barnsley | South Yorkshire | London | |
| 1 Jobs which are held by employees and not including the self-employed. Source: Business Register Employment Survey, ONS | |||
Minimum Wage
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the case for an increase in the national minimum wage. [173246]
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Mr Gauke: In its capacity as the Government's economic and finance Ministry, HM Treasury maintains an ongoing interest in national minimum wage policy, for which the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills is responsible.
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), recently wrote to David Norgrove, Chair of the Low Pay Commission, asking for the commission to consider the conditions that would need to be in place in order to allow a faster increase in the minimum wage, taking into account the implications on employment. This assessment is in addition to the remit issued by Government to the Low Pay Commission in June which requested that it makes recommendations on the minimum wage rates it believes should apply from October 2014.
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Dr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of higher rates of stamp duty being levied on properties bought by non-EU (a) citizens and (b) companies. [173648]
Mr Gauke: Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) is payable by purchasers of UK land or property, whether or not the purchaser is resident in the UK. The rates apply equally to UK and foreign nationals or companies.
An assessment has not been made of the impact of the higher rates of SDLT on transactions undertaken by non-EU purchasers.
Tax Evasion
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2013, Official Report, column 827W, on tax evasion, from which countries it has not been possible to instigate proceedings against fugitives from HM Revenue and Customs' Most Wanted list because (a) of a lack of an extradition treaty and (b) the host country does not extradite for the tax offence. [170297]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 10 October 2013]: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched their most wanted list in August 2012, during the current coalition Government. 20 photographs were issued to the British press together with a brief outline of each case. Following a re-launch in August 2013 the list was expanded to 30 individuals.
Six individuals featured in the current HMRC Most Wanted campaign are believed to be in territories that do not have extradition treaties with the United Kingdom. Of these, four have a last known location in Pakistan and two in Northern Cyprus.
In a further three cases, while the fugitives are located in countries where an extradition treaty is in place HMRC has been unable to extradite due to issues relating to the offences committed.
One fugitive is in Italy but the date of the offence pre-dates the European arrest warrant (EAW) legislation. Legal discussions are taking place between the Italian authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Another is in Switzerland. An EAW has been submitted but the Swiss will not extradite their own nationals.
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A third is in Israel, where there are difficulties in relation to extradition for VAT offences.
Although nine fugitives are in locations where currently they cannot be extradited HMRC continues to work closely with both UK and overseas authorities to secure the return of these individuals and to bring them before the UK courts.
Taxation: Charitable Donations
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2013, Official Report, columns 625-26W, on taxation: charitable donations, if he will publish the top 1,000 sums donated as charitable gifts and subsequently claimed against tax in the last financial year. [173201]
Nicky Morgan: There are no plans to publish the information requested. HM Revenue and Customs holds information on the total amounts donated by individual donors in a year on which income tax relief is claimed each year but not on the amounts of individual donations.
There would be a risk of disclosing taxpayer confidential information from publishing the sums on which the top 1,000 donors claim tax relief, even if taxpayer details were anonymised.
Taxation: Energy
David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on imposing a windfall tax on energy firms. [173364]
Nicky Morgan: The Government have no plans to impose a windfall tax on energy companies but keep all taxes under review.
VAT: Imports
Pauline Latham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has accrued to the Exchequer as a result of lowering the low value consignment relief threshold in the Finance Act 2011. [173389]
Mr Gauke: The low value consignment relief threshold for imports from non-EU countries was reduced from £18 to £15 in November 2011.
This information request can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
VAT: Sixth-form Colleges
John Woodcock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the liability of sixth form colleges for VAT; and if he will make a statement. [173724]
Mr Gauke: The Government have received correspondence regarding the position of sixth form colleges in relation to VAT. The Government are carefully considering the arguments made in relation to this issue.
Working Hours
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the number of people (a) who have been moved from a full-time contract to a part-time contract and (b) who have had their number of working hours reduced in (i) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (ii) Renfrewshire, (iii) Scotland and (iv) the UK since 2010. [173044]
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Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Director, Chief Economic Advisor, dated November 2013:
On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the number of people (a) who have been moved from a full-time contract to a part-time contract and (b) who have had their number of working hours reduced in (i) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (ii) Renfrewshire, (iii) Scotland and (iv) the UK since 2010. 173044
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The precise information requested is not available. However, as an alternative, Table 1 provides the number of people who were employed full-time and part-time in the requested areas, according to survey responses from the Annual Population Survey (APS) for the 12 month periods ending December 2010 and June 2013, the latest available period. Net change between these two periods is also provided.
Table 2 provides the percentage of people in employment by the number of hours worked for the same periods as Table 1, along with the net change between the two periods.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1; Number of people employed full-time and part-time and net change between 12 month periods ending December 2010 and June 2013 | ||||||
| Thousand | ||||||
| 12 months ending | ||||||
| December 2010 | June 20131 | Net Change2 between 12 month periods ending December2010 and June 2013 | ||||
| Full-Time | Part-Time | Full-Time | Part-Time | Full-Time | Part-Time | |
| 1 Coefficients of Variation haw been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality following. 2 Net change is calculated on unrounded numbers. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey | ||||||
| Table 2: Percentage of people in employment by hours worked and net percentage points change between 12 month periods ending December 2010 and June 2013 | |||
| Percentage | |||
| 12 months ending | |||
| December 2010 | June 2013 | Net percentage points change between 12 month periods ending December 2010 and June 2013 | |
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4 Nov 2013 : Column 18W
| Source: Annual Population Survey | |||
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many wild animals, of which species, have been licensed under the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses Regulations of 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement. [171646]
George Eustice: A total of 28 wild animals are covered by licences, including: six reindeer, six snakes, four zebras, four tigers, three camels, two lions, one ankole, one fox and one raccoon.
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland relating to the introduction of the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill to Parliament. [173445]
George Eustice: The position remains as reported in the Government's response to the recent Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee's report on Wild Animals in Circuses (paragraph 6) which can be found at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmenvfru/746/74604.htm
European Fisheries Fund
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the European Fisheries Fund budget for 2012-13 remains (a) unallocated and (b) unspent. [173444]
George Eustice: The European Fisheries Fund (EFF) expenditure profile for the UK in 2012 and 2013 is as follows:
| £ | |
However, the UK does not report EFF expenditure against the annual profile but as a cumulative total of the programme.
As at 30 September 2013, for the 2007-15 UK EFF programme (includes two-year post-programme payment period from 2013-15), expenditure was as follows:
| £ | |
Genetically Modified Organisms: Soya Beans
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what academic studies his Department used when making their comparative assessment of the cost-effectiveness of GM soya production and non-GM soya production in Brazil. [173162]
Dan Rogerson: There are a number of academic and other studies which provide information specifically on the economic impact of GM soya production in Brazil. Among the studies which DEFRA has identified are those available at the following links:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/gmo/reports_studies/docs/economic_performance_report_en.pdf
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/rapporten/2011/05/12/sustainability-of-current-genetically-modified-crop-cultivation.html
https://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/gmcrops/2013GMC0001R.pdf
Last year the Brazilian Agriculture Minister advised the DEFRA Secretary of State that GM soya is 30% more cost-effective than conventional soya.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to increase affordable housing supply; and if he will make a statement. [171927]
Kris Hopkins [holding answer 22 October 2013]: More than 150,000 affordable homes have been delivered in England over the last three years.
Our Affordable Homes Programme is on track to deliver 170,000 new affordable homes between 2011 and 2015, with £19.5 billion of public and private funding. Half way through, over 84,000 homes have already been delivered.
A further £23 billion will help ensure another 165,000 new affordable homes are started between 2015 and 2018. This will be the fastest annual rate of building for at least 20 years.
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Carlisle College
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the decision to European Regional Development Fund funding to Carlisle college has been deferred; and when he expects that decision to be made. [171428]
Brandon Lewis [holding answer 25 October 2013]: The European Regional Development Fund in the North West is nearing 100% commitment level. The North West Local Monitoring Committee are meeting on the 28 November 2013 to discuss their priorities for committing the remainder of the programme including Carlisle college.
Electrical Safety
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fires have been caused by moulded plastic fuse boards in each of the last five years. [173382]
Brandon Lewis: The categories used in the Fire and Rescue Incident Recording System do not specifically identify this type of cause of fire.
Fire Services
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the proposal from the Fire Sector Federation that the Minister should appoint a Transformation Commission to implement the findings of the review of efficiencies and operations in fire and rescue authorities in England. [171981]
Brandon Lewis: I am always interested to hear the views of the Fire Sector Federation and the sector more generally. They make an interesting proposal; however I do not think such a Commission should be appointed by the Government. Rather, any drive for transformation must be owned by fire and rescue authorities themselves, which is why in the spending round the Government announced £30 million towards the upfront costs of transforming fire and rescue services, acting on the opportunities identified by the Knight Review. And a further £45 million capital fund for to encourage greater collaboration between fire and other emergency services.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department will publish a response to the Efficiency and Operational review of the Fire Service undertaken by Sir Ken Knight. [172036]
Brandon Lewis: Ministers are currently considering the wide range of issues raised by Sir Ken Knight and the responses from many in the fire and rescue sector to the review. The Government will publish a response in due course.
Fire Services: Industrial Disputes
Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contingency plans his Department put in place to reduce the risk of loss of life or property during forthcoming fire service strikes; and if he will make a statement. [173493]
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Brandon Lewis: The Government's Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser is confident that adequate plans are in place, in all fire and rescue authorities, who are responsible for their plans, to provide emergency cover during periods of industrial action by members of the Fire Brigades Union.
Flood Control
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of annual local authority spending on flood risk management in each year since 2008. [172979]
Brandon Lewis: The following table shows the total local authority expenditure on flood defence, land drainage and coast protection in England in each year from 2008-09.
| Net current expenditure | ||||
| £000 | ||||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
The figures are from Revenue Outturn data submitted to DCLG at the end of each financial year.
Food Banks
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of local authorities make referrals to food banks. [171661]
Brandon Lewis: This information is not held centrally.
Fracking
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultations his Department has held or plans to hold to ensure that best practice is followed on fracking for shale gas production. [173577]
Nick Boles: We published Planning Practice Guidance for onshore oil and gas on 19 July 2013 and will keep this under regular review. This guidance provides clarity on the role of the planning system in England for the three phases of onshore hydrocarbon extraction: exploration, testing (appraisal) and production.
High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the recommendation of Judge Kirkham following the conclusion of the Lakanal House fire inquest, whether his Department has reviewed Approved Document B to ensure that it provides clear guidance in relation to Regulation B4 of the Building Regulations and is expressed in words and adopts a format which is expressed in a language accessible to laypersons. [173720]
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Brandon Lewis: The Department's intention is that a new edition Approved Document B would be published in 2016-17 in an easier to read style. However, the design of fire protection in buildings is a complex issue and the approved document will necessarily contain detailed technical material which is not intended for use by laypersons.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the recommendation of Judge Kirkham following the conclusion of the Lakanal House fire inquest, what steps he has taken to encourage providers of housing in high-rise residential buildings containing multiple domestic premises to consider the retrofitting of sprinkler systems. [173721]
Brandon Lewis: Following the inquest into the deaths of firefighters in a fire in a council-owned block in April 2010, a letter had been sent to all social landlords encouraging them to consider the retrofitting of sprinklers as suggested in the Rule 43 recommendation from the Coroner in that inquest. The Department advised Judge Kirkham of this in its response to her letter and recommendation.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) with reference to the recommendation of Judge Kirkham following the conclusion of the Lakanal House fire inquest, when he expects to provide clear guidance on the scope of inspections which should be undertaken in high-rise residential buildings for fire risk assessment purposes; [173722]
(2) with reference to the recommendation of Judge Kirkham following the conclusion of the Lakanal House fire inquest, whether he has published consolidated national guidance in relation to the ‘stay put' principle and its interaction with the ‘get out and stay out' policy, including how such guidance is disseminated to residents. [173723]
Brandon Lewis: The Local Government Association's guidance ‘Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats’ published in July 2011 addresses the rationale for the stay put principle in residential buildings, including high-rise blocks of flats, and provides detailed advice on the fire safety information that should be made available to residents in the light of the findings of a risk assessment. It also provides advice on when building owners should consider accessing individual flats for the purpose of inspecting the effectiveness of compartmentation and other fire safety measures.
Following the conclusion of the inquests, relevant partners have assured the Local Government Association that there is a high level of confidence in the existing guidance. My Department therefore continues to make it available on the fire safety pages of the Government's website, to help the owners of purpose built blocks of flats to understand and discharge their fire safety responsibilities under both the Housing Act 2004 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Housing: Carbon Emissions
Mrs McGuire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of introducing national
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embodied energy standards for building materials on the zero carbon homes initiative. [173226]
Stephen Williams: No such assessment has been made as the zero carbon homes standard covers carbon emissions arising from energy use in relation to fixed heating, hot water and building services in new homes, which is the scope of the building regulations' requirements in relation to regulated energy use.
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to create national embodied energy standards for building materials as part of the Housing Standards review. [173227]
Stephen Williams: The Housing Standards Review consultation did not include a proposal for a national standard for embodied energy, but made clear that the Government would keep this under review and sought views on the issue. The consultation responses are currently being analysed. The Government will announce their conclusions on the consultation in due course.
Mobile Phones
Mr Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many smartphone apps his Department has launched. [171588]
Brandon Lewis: None, although a number of local authorities employ smartphone apps to assist in the delivery of local services.
As a general principle, the Department would not develop or launch its own smartphone apps. Our preference is to ensure that data and information is made available in a fully open, accessible form, so that it can be quickly, easily and widely re-used in a range of digital channels including websites and smartphone apps developed by third-parties. This is central to our aims for open data to be an enabler of social and economic growth, by providing the fuel to power innovative new tools and insights.
We are working proactively with various local authorities and third sector organisations to help them re-use DCLG data alongside their own sources. The data to power new apps and tools are being provided via the Department's Open Data Communities platform.
Performance Appraisal
Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2012-13. [170469]
Brandon Lewis: The following table provides a summary of the performance results for non-SCS staff for whom the DCLG process applied. This is based on 1,032 staff who declared their disability (90% declaration rate):
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| Percentage | ||||
| Disability | Exceptional | Good | Development needed | Total |
The Department was an early adopter of the new civil service performance management process in 2012-13. We will be monitoring whether the differential remains the case next year, and looking at how disabled staff fare in other HR processes, to determine whether there is a trend and, if so, to agree appropriate action.
All staff are expected to agree individually tailored personal development plans with their line managers and review them regularly so they benefit from at least five days learning and development each year.
DCLG provides a reasonable adjustments service to ensure disabled staff can access and benefit from the full range of training and development available.
The Department's Disability Champion is working with the disability staff network in raising awareness of disability issues to the wider Department.
Planning Permission
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) which local authorities have (a) applied for and (b) been granted an article 4 direction in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the stated purpose was of each such application; [173624]
(2) how many local authorities were granted an article 4 direction in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [173625]
(3) what estimate he has made of the average (a) cost incurred by and (b) time taken for a local authority to successfully secure an article 4 direction from when the decision was taken by the local authority to start the necessary process required in order to apply. [173828]
Nick Boles: Local authorities are required to notify my Department of article 4 directions before they are brought into force. The number and nature of the directions notified for the period between 1 November 2012 and 31 October 2013 is set out in the following table. The time and costs incurred by a local authority will reflect the extent and complexity of the direction and is a matter for a local authority. Data on the number of authorities who have notified my Department of their article 4 directions, have only been recorded nationally since the establishment of the National Planning Casework Unit. In 2012, 53 local authorities notified my Department and to date in 2013 notifications have been received from 33 local authorities.
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Press: Subscriptions
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which newspapers, periodicals and trade profession publications his private ministerial office subscribes to on a (a) daily, (b) weekly, (c) monthly and (d) quarterly basis. [168694]
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Brandon Lewis: Since May 2010, the Department has consolidated the seven separate sets of national newspapers previously received by the ministerial and special adviser offices under the last Administration to a single shared set of newspapers and periodicals (listed here), reducing costs from more than £23,000 in 2009-10 to £2,813.03 in 2012-13:
| Publication | Frequency |
I also refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 June 2013, Official Report, columns 386-7W, which outlines the significant savings delivered on spending on press cuttings, and to my answer of 15 July 2013, Official Report, column 501W, on the savings we have made across departmental periodicals as a whole.
Travellers: Caravan Sites
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to provide permanent sites for Gypsies and Travellers to prevent unauthorised encampments. [171941]
Brandon Lewis: On 9 August 2013, we sent all council leaders updated guidance, reminding them to act swiftly and setting out the strong powers councils and landowners have to remove illegal and unauthorised sites on both public and private land. This includes our recent improvements to Temporary Stop Notice powers.
More broadly, councils should draw up Local Plans to determine where both housing for the settled community and for Travellers should and should not go.
To support councils in delivering authorised site provision, we have allocated nearly £60 million in Traveller pitch funding to help local authorities and other registered providers build around 600 new pitches for rent and refurbish 400 existing pitches for rent by 2015. As with other types of housing, councils also receive the New Homes Bonus for the provision of new authorised pitches.
Furthermore, to help councils in local planning, we are funding a training programme to develop local councillors' and partner agencies' leadership role. To date, nearly 1,000 attendees have benefited from the training.
The Planning Advisory Service and the Planning Inspectorate have together visited over 200 local planning authorities to provide help with getting a good quality Local Plan in place, which includes planning for authorised Traveller sites where relevant.
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Wind Power: Planning Permission
Mr Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of the Planning Practice Guidance for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy issued by his Department in July 2013 on (a) the number of wind turbine application appeals sent to the Inspectorate and (b) the number of refusals overturned by the Inspectorate citing the above guidance. [171710]
Kris Hopkins: The appeals recovery criteria have recently been changed as detailed in the written ministerial statement of 10 October 2013, Official Report, columns 30-31 WS, so that the extent to which new practice guidance is meeting the Government's intentions can be considered. A number of appeals relating to wind turbines have been recovered.
Mr Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue guidance on the application of his Department's Planning Practice Guidance for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy, clauses 39 and 40; and how the cumulative landscape and visual effect of turbines is assessed. [171712]
Kris Hopkins: In addition to the advice set out in paragraphs 39 and 40 on how the cumulative landscape and visual effect of turbines should be assessed, the guidance also sets out in subsequent paragraphs what information is needed to assess these impacts. We have no current plans to add to the guidance published in July, but we have said that we will keep it under review.
Home Department
Charities Act 2006
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports her Department has laid before each House of Parliament pursuant to section 70(9) of the Charities Act 2006 in 2012-13. [172941]
James Brokenshire: The Home Department has yet to submit its 2012-13 report to each House of Parliament. We expect to publish the report shortly.
David Miranda
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the National Security Council was informed prior to the detention of Mr Miranda at Heathrow Airport on 18 August 2013. [172404]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 25 October 2013]: The decision to examine and detain Mr Miranda, under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000, was an operational one taken by the Metropolitan Police Service. It is not unusual for a Minister to be briefed on a possible police operation without in any way interfering with the police's decision on whether to take the particular action in question. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, who is a member of the National Security Council, has already confirmed that she was informed of the possible police operation.
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Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) her Department and (b) any of her Department's Executive agencies notified the Attorney-General before David Miranda was detained at Heathrow Airport on 18 August 2013; and whether the Attorney-General has provided her with legal guidance on the use of schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. [172407]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 25 October 2013]: The decision to examine and detain Mr Miranda, under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000, was an operational one taken by the Metropolitan Police Service. It is a long-standing Government convention not to refer to the existence or otherwise of legal advice from the Law Officers.
Energy
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173066]
James Brokenshire: Home Office expenditure, including VAT on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 was:
| £ | ||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity. [173074]
James Brokenshire: In October 2013 we published our Sustainability Report 2012-13, which updates the Department's performance since 2009-10 against the Greening Government Commitments and sets out some of the steps taken to reduce spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity since 2009-10. Last year we focused on:
day-to-day energy management of the estate;
ensuring building energy was supplied via Government Procurement Service contracts which deliver optimum value for money;
continuing our programme of office consolidations;
installing improved boiler controls and voltage optimisers;
installing LED lighting in place of halogen light bulbs, all motion sensitive light controls; and
reducing consumption by computers and computer equipment, especially monitors and printers.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which companies supplied (a) gas and (b) electricity to her Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [173080]
James Brokenshire: In (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 almost all Home Office properties, which we directly managed, were supplied by (a) Corona Energy Ltd and (b) EDF Energy or British Gas Trading Ltd through Government Procurement Service (GPS) contracts. A small number of sites were supplied by other arrangements before being transferred to GPS contracts. These included;
Phoenix Energy and Total Gas and Power;
4 Nov 2013 : Column 29W
Airtricity Energy Supply (Northern Ireland);
E.ON, RWE Npower and SWALEC.
EU Justice and Home Affairs
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals the Government would bring forward to maintain the relevant co-operation were the UK no longer bound by Council Common Position 2005/69/JHA pursuant to Article 10 of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the EU treaties; [171739]
(2) whether UK practice regarding the information exchange covered by Council Common Position 2005/69/JHA would change as a result of the UK ceasing to be bound by that Common Position pursuant to Article 10 of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the EU treaties. [171740]
James Brokenshire: As the UK have opted out of this measure, it is important to note that on 1 December 2014 the UK will have the power to change legislation or practice on this matter in our Parliament. At the moment, there is currently no intention to bring forward any new proposals or change current UK law or practice.
Section 7 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (which repeals sections 33 and 34 of the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005) provides for the disclosure of relevant information for the purposes of preventing and detecting crime. Under these provisions, the UK will continue to share UK Passport Lost or Stolen data with Interpol. The UK will continue to have access to relevant overseas databases on lost or stolen passports.
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether UK contact points are obliged to attend plenary meetings of the European Judicial Network held pursuant to Article 5 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA; [172597]
(2) what the cost to the public purse has been of European Judicial Network meetings held pursuant to Article 6 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA in each of the last four years; and what her assessment is of the usefulness of co-operation with other EU member states in the fight against crime of the UK's participation in those meetings; [172599]
(3) whether UK authorities will continue to provide, in relation to other EU member states, the functions of contact points as provided for by Article 4 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA if the UK ceases to be bound by that Council Decision pursuant to Article 10 of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the EU treaties; [172612]
(4) what the cost to the public purse has been of UK participation in Council Decision 2008/976/JHA in each of the last four years; [172613]
(5) how many times UK authorities have (a) sent and (b) received communications through the secure telecommunications connection established under Article 9 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA in each of the last four years; what the outcome of such communications, in terms of cross-border co-operation, was in each case; what her assessment is of the usefulness for co-operation
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with other EU member states in the fight against crime of the UK's access to the telecommunications tools provided for by that Article; and whether the UK will continue to have access to those tools if it ceases to be bound by that Council Decision pursuant to Article 10 of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the EU treaties; [172614]
(6) what her assessment is of the usefulness for co-operation with other EU member states in the fight against crime of the UK's access to the information described in Article 7 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA; and whether the UK will continue to have access to and share this information if it ceases to be bound by that Decision pursuant to Article 10 of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the EU treaties; [172615]
(7) how many times UK authorities used a European Judicial Network contact point in another EU member state in a way that materially assisted cross-border co-operation in each of the last four years; and whether UK authorities will remain able to use such contact points if the UK ceases to be bound by Council Decision 2008/976/JHA pursuant to Article 10 of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the EU treaties. [172616]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 28 October 2013]: There is no legal obligation for UK Contact Points to attend plenary meetings of the European Judicial Network (EJN) held pursuant to Article 5 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA.
The costs incurred to the public purse for UK participation in Council Decision 2008/976/JHA are minimal. The cost of travel and accommodation for meetings held pursuant to Article 6 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA for National Correspondents and Tool Correspondents is met by the EJN. There is a minimal cost attached to the time spent by the UK National Correspondents and Tool Correspondents in preparing and attending EJN meetings pursuant to Article 6.
These meetings are a useful way of meeting counterparts in other member states, but overall the UK experience of the EJN meetings, and the fact that direct contact between issuing and executing parties generally happens as matter of course, means that they add limited value to enhancing judicial co-operation between member states.
UK authorities can, if required, continue to provide the functions of contact points as provided for by Article 4 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA.
The information described in Article 7 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA, with the exception of Contact Points, is freely available to the general public on the EJN website:
http://ejn-crimjust.europa.eu/ejn/
The UK provides similar information about judicial co-operation on the Government website. Access to the list of Contact Points requires authorisation, but a few countries not party to the Council Decision 2008/976/JHA provide and have access to Contact Point information.
The UK does not use the telecommunications connection tool established under Article 9 of Council Decision 2008/976/JHA.
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Information on the number of times an EJN Contact Point in a member state has been contacted by and materially assisted a UK Contact Point is not held centrally.
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what her assessment is of which aspects of the UK's bilateral extradition relationship with the US will be affected, and in what way, if the UK ceases to be bound by the EU-USA Extradition Agreement pursuant to article 10 of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the EU Treaties; [172598]
(2) what the cost to the public purse has been of UK participation in the EU-US extradition agreement in each of the last five years; [172741]
(3) what changes to the UK-US extradition agreement have been made as a result of the EU-US extradition agreement; and in how many cases such changes have had a significant effect on extradition between the UK and US in each of the last five years. [172742]
James Brokenshire: The Government have assessed that no aspects of the UK's bilateral relationship will be affected when the UK ceases to be bound by the EU-USA Extradition Agreement. The pre-existing bilateral extradition treaty with the US, as amended, would be maintained. The UK and US work closely on extradition issues on a bilateral basis already, with attachés posted in Washington and London respectively.
Information on the costs, incurred to the public purse in each of the last five years as a result of participation in this measure is not held centrally.
The EU-US Agreement simplified the certification of documents, and made minor amendments to the transmission of documents via diplomatic channels. These amendments were not significant and have had no impact on co-operation.
As the Home Secretary said to Parliament on 9 July 2013, Official Report, columns 177-80, as a point of principle, the UK's international relations in policing and criminal justice are first and foremost a matter for Her Majesty's Government. As the UK has opted out of this measure, it is important to note that on 1 December 2014, the UK will be able to agree the terms of our extradition arrangements bilaterally with the US. In the meantime, the Government will retain unchanged existing UK law and practice.
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost to the (a) public purse and (b) UK forensic service providers has been of UK participation in Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA in each of the last four years; [172600]
(2) how many times UK forensic service providers have been provided forensic laboratory results covered by Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA to the authorities of another EU member state responsible for the prevention, detection or investigation of criminal offences in each of the last five years; on how many of those occasions those authorities accepted such results as being equally reliable as results generated by service providers accredited to EN ISO/IEC 17025; and what use was made of such results in each case; [172601]
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(3) how many EU member states have implemented the requirements of Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA to date; [172602]
(4) what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK's non-participation in Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA on the use in other EU member states of laboratory results covered by that Framework Decision generated by UK forensic service providers. [172603]
James Brokenshire: No costs have been incurred to the public purse or UK forensic providers in the last four years as a result of participation in Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA.
Information on how many times UK forensic service providers have been provided with forensic laboratory results covered by Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA; how many of those occasions those authorities accepted such results as being equally reliable as results generated by service providers accredited to EN ISO/IEC 17025; and what use was made of such results in each case is not held centrally.
Information on the number of EU member states that have implemented the requirements of Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA is not held by the Government. It is worth noting that Article 7 sets out a number of future deadlines for implementation of the provisions of this Framework Decision and member states are only required to report on implementation in 2018.
The Government have assessed that there will be no adverse impact on the use in other EU member states of laboratory results generated by UK forensic service providers.
As the UK has opted out of this measure, it is important to note that on 1 December 2014 the UK will have the power to change legislation and operational practices if required. At the moment, there is no intention to change provisions of UK law and operational practices are a matter for the Forensic Science Regulator.