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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Home Department

Investigatory Powers Tribunal

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2013, Official Report, column 342W, on investigatory powers tribunal, what the definition is of the term “frivolous”. [173669]

James Brokenshire: The term “frivolous” is not defined in legislation. It is a long established concept in legal proceedings that courts will not entertain frivolous claims. It is matter for the tribunal to determine if a complaint is frivolous.

Lasers

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of laser pen attacks on police helicopters have been recorded in the last five years. [173895]

Damian Green: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime data collected by the Home Office.

Police

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces are currently involved in the street triage pilot; whether she has had any discussions with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly about beginning trials of the pilot in Wales; and when she expects to publish results of the pilots. [173942]

Damian Green: The Department of Health is funding mental health street triage pilots to be carried out by the following police forces:

Metropolitan Police Service

British Transport Police

West Yorkshire Police

West Midlands Police

Thames Valley Police

North Yorkshire Police

Sussex Police

Derbyshire Constabulary

Devon and Cornwall Police

Health policy is devolved to the Welsh Government, so it would be for them to decide whether to introduce mental health triage arrangements. However, my officials are keeping in touch with Welsh Government officials (and police forces) about the wider developments in England and in Wales around mental health and policing, to ensure learning is shared.

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The Department of Health will be conducting an evaluation of the street triage pilots, to ensure that good practice can be shared more widely, and my Department is supporting this. The Department of Health will announce in due course when results will be made available.

Police: Autism

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that autism awareness training is available to all police officers. [173652]

Damian Green: All Police Officer and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) recruits complete the two year Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) that includes guidance and advice on responding to persons who are vulnerable through disability, mental ill health or learning disabilities.

Serving officers are required to complete, and refresh annually, First Aid Training and Personal Safety Training that incorporates Mental Ill Heath Modules.

All of these training packages cover Mental Ill Health, including autism awareness.

Transport

East Coast Railway Line

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason data from the Office of Rail Regulation showing that the East Coast Main Line (ECML) on passengers per train kilometre was not included in the ECML prospectus published by his Department on 25 October 2013; and if he will make a statement. [173613]

Stephen Hammond: The number of passengers per train kilometre is included in the Intercity East Coast Prospectus on page 15.

The Office of Rail Regulation does not explicitly publish passengers per train kilometre by Train Operator; although they do publish the passenger kilometres and timetabled train kilometres statistics from which these figures can be calculated.

European Commission

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (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; [173771]

(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. [173791]

Mr Goodwill: Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and senior civil servants attend European Transport Council and engage with EU Commissioners and MEPs as and when required.

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Large Goods Vehicles

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his general policy to restrict heavy goods vehicles to the inside lane on uphill stretches of two-lane dual-carriageways, motorways and trunk roads at certain times of the day. [173926]

Mr Goodwill: The Secretary of State for Transport, has no current plans to make it his general policy to restrict heavy goods vehicles to the inside lane on up-hill stretches of two lane dual carriageways (including when they are trunk roads) or motorways at certain times of the day. In a few, very specific, locations the Highways Agency has put in place overtaking restrictions. Inconsiderate overtaking can fall withinthe offence of careless and inconsiderate driving. The Government introduced a fixed penalty disposal option for this offence in August 2013 to aid its enforcement.

Public Transport: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment his Department has made in rail and bus services in (a) Huddersfield and (b) Yorkshire since 2010. [174139]

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not hold detailed information on rail investment by area. Whilst the Department specifies the outputs required, Network Rail determines the detailed enhancements to deliver these outputs. Funding for the costs of these is allocated by the Office of Rail Regulation at a high level. Network Rail can provide information on the details of these investments.

The following bus investment has been provided by the Department to the Yorkshire area since 2010:

The last three rounds of the Green Bus Fund—between 2010 and 2013—have resulted in some £6.4 million being awarded across the Yorkshire region for investment in greener bus fleets.

In 2012, after successful Better Bus Area Fund applications York received £2.9 million; South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) received £4.9 million; and, West Yorkshire PTE received £5 million. The money is being used to fund a range of bus improvement measures.

Earlier this year both Sheffield and York made successful bids to become new Better Bus Areas. They will each now gradually see Bus Service Operators Grant from within their Better Bus Areas devolved to them, plus a top up amount, to invest in improved bus services.

In 2010, a total of £4.4 million of grant funding was provided to South Yorkshire PTE and West Yorkshire PTE to help meet the start up and initial running costs of new smart ticketing schemes. The PTEs pooled their resources to maximise the benefit to passengers in Yorkshire. This funding was not specific to either bus or rail.

In 2011 and 2012 some £2 million was allocated to the Yorkshire and Humber region in order to support community transport services.

Some £51 million has also been awarded across the Yorkshire region via the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

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Railways: Construction

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the business case for a dedicated twin-track connection between High Speed 1 and High Speed 2, taking account of the costs of construction and the potential for additional domestic services and for terminating southbound High Speed 2 trains at destinations other than Euston; and if he will make a statement. [174130]

Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd assessed the case for a connection between HS2 and HS1 prior to the consultation on Phase One of HS2 in 2012. It concluded that the proposed single track link provides sufficient capacity to meet likely demand both on domestic and international services for the foreseeable future.

HS2 Ltd has assessed terminating southbound services at destinations other than Euston. This would mean not stopping at a central London destination, which would reduce the overall benefits from HS2.

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the cost of tunnelling the High Speed 1/High Speed 2 link from Primrose Hill to St Pancras. [174224]

Mr Goodwill: The proposed High Speed 1/High Speed 2 link runs in tunnel from Old Oak Common to Primrose Hill and then continues on a surface route from Primrose Hill, along the existing (but widened) North London Line to connect with the existing High Speed 1 link. The estimated cost of the link is £610 million of which the tunnelled section is estimated to be £290 million.

HS2 Ltd has also looked at various other options for tunnelling the link. This includes extended tunnelling from Old Oak Common to Agar Grove which is to the north of Kings Cross, estimated to cost £760 million; and two twin bore tunnels starting at Primrose Hill running to Agar Grove, estimated to cost £995 million.

Rescue Services: Air Force

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions fixed wing top cover search and rescue RAF aircraft were (a) requested by and (b) provided to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the last two years; and where each incident took place. [174201]

Stephen Hammond: At no time in each of the last two years have RAF aircraft been (a) requested by and (b) provided to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Roads: Floods

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to provide a pinch-point fund to ensure the upkeep of roads which flood regularly on a seasonable basis. [174121]

Mr Goodwill: The Department does not have a specific fund to deal with those parts of the highway that are liable to flooding. The Local Pinch Point Fund is aimed at those schemes that can be delivered quickly with immediate impact and remove bottlenecks on the local

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highway network which are impeding growth. The Fund reflects the Government's commitment to supporting economic growth by tackling barriers on the local highway network that may be restricting the movement of goods and people. The Tranche 4 competition has just closed and we are currently assessing and will make an announcement on successful schemes in due course.

The Department does, however, provide capital funding via the Highways Maintenance Block. This funding is not ring-fenced and can be used for these activities if these are deemed a priority by the authority. As part of the October 2010 spending review, this Department announced that it would be providing £3.4 billion to local authorities for highway maintenance from 2011 to 2015.

The 2013 spending round announcement on 26 June 2013 commits to providing just under £6 billion to local highway authorities over the six year period from 2015-16 to 2020-21—this equates to £976 million per year. This highlights the Government's commitment to the country's most valuable public asset and to ensure that our local highways are fit for purpose.

Speed Limits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the DVLA website records all speed limits in miles per hour rather than kilometres per hour. [173628]

Mr Goodwill: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website can now be found as part of GOV.UK at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency

Current instructions for all of GOV.UK, including the DVLA section, are to display speed limits in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour—e.g. at:

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

UK Membership of EU

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for Britain to leave the EU in his Department's area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [173750]

Mr Goodwill: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds) on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W. The Department has not made any plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Vehicle Number Plates

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on his Department's review of vehicle number plate security and integrity. [173558]

Mr Goodwill: The Department has made a Red Tape Challenge commitment to reviewing the number plate regime in the UK. Work is under way in suggesting improvements and it is envisaged that a public consultation will take place in 2014.

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Women and Equalities

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities when she last met the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [173945]

Mrs Grant: Together with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, I last met Baroness Onora O'Neill on 23 October.

EU Institutions

Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many visits Ministers from the Government Equalities Office made to either the European Commission or the European Parliament in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [173764]

Mrs Grant: This Department's Ministers' travel is published quarterly, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, and are available at:

http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-dcms-2010

None of the current Ministers for Women and Equalities have visited the European Commission or the European Parliament in their capacity as Ministers for Women and Equalities. They took on this role in September 2012 following a machinery of Government change. Due to this change of Ministers and Departments records are not accessible or available for visits made by previous Ministers for Women and Equalities.

European Commission

Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many visits the Permanent Secretary and the four next most senior civil servants in the Government Equalities Office made to the European Commission in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [173784]

Mrs Grant: The number of visits made by the Permanent Secretary and other officials on the DCMS Executive Board is set out in the following table:

The Government Equalities Office transferred to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in September 2012 following a machinery of Government change. Records of visits of senior officials prior to this have not been kept. The Government Equalities Office does not have a Permanent Secretary. It is currently headed by a Director and neither the Director nor the four next most senior civil servants have visited the European Commission or the European Parliament since September 2012.

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Females: Business

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had on the use of quotas on FTSE 100 boards to increase the representation of black and minority ethnic women at the highest levels of business. [173946]

Mrs Grant: Ministers meet regularly with senior business leaders to discuss board room diversity. We are committed to the voluntary approach and are supporting the recommendations made by Lord Davies this has seen substantial progress from 12% women on FTSE 100 boards in 2011 to 19% in 2013. The biggest increase ever. The Financial Reporting Council have also introduced changes to company reporting which requires listed companies to report on the diversity of their board rooms.

UK Membership of EU

Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for Britain to leave the EU in the Government Equalities Office's area of responsibility; and if she will make a statement. [173743]

Mrs Grant: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds). The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Government Equalities Office has not made any plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Culture, Media and Sport

EU Institutions

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visits Ministers from her Department made to either the European Commission or the European Parliament in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [173758]

Mrs Grant: This Department's Ministers' travel is published quarterly, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, and are available at:

http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-dcms-2010

None of the current Ministers for Women and Equalities has visited the European Commission or the European Parliament in their capacity as Ministers for Women and Equalities. They took on this role in September 2012 following a machinery of Government change. Due to this change of Ministers and Departments records are not accessible or available for visits made by previous Ministers for Women and Equalities.

European Commission

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visits the Permanent Secretary and the four next most senior civil servants in her Department made to the European Commission in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [173778]

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Mrs Grant: The number of visits made by the Permanent Secretary and other officials on the DCMS Executive Board is set out in the table:

The Government Equalities Office transferred to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in September 2012 following a machinery of government change. Records of visits of senior officials prior to this have not been kept. The Government Equalities Office does not have a Permanent Secretary. It is currently headed by a Director and neither the Director nor the four next most senior civil servants have visited the European Commission or the European Parliament since September 2012.

Gaming Machines

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the average spend in fixed odd betting machines by each user in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) the North West and (c) the UK. [173706]

Mrs Grant: The Department does not hold figures on the average spend by each user of B2 gaming machines, otherwise known as fixed odds betting terminals.

The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 found that 4% of the adult population of Great Britain—approximately 2 million people—said they had gambled using a B2 machine in the past year. The Gross Gambling Yield from B2 gaming machines in 2009-10, approximately the period covered by the Prevalence Survey, was £1.17 billion. The Department does not publish data on B2 gaming machine use at a more local level.

An updated estimate of the proportion of people in Great Britain playing B2 gaming machines will be published by the Gambling Commission next year using data collected in the Scottish Health Survey and the Health Survey for England. The Gambling Commission's published Industry Statistics show that the Gross Gambling Yield from B2 machines in the year to October 2012 was £1.52 billion.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 23 October 2013, Official Report, column 299, when the Government’s review of fixed-odd betting terminals will report; [173811]

(2) who will conduct the Government’s review of fixed-odd betting terminals; [173812]

(3) when the Government’s review of fixed-odd betting terminals will begin. [173813]

Mrs Grant: The Government have undertaken a review of gaming machine stake and prize limits for all categories of gaming machine, including fixed odds betting terminals, which was published in October. We remain concerned about the potential and actual harm that can arise from playing fixed odds betting terminals and consider their

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future to be unresolved. The Government are working with the Gambling Commission, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, the Responsible Gambling Trust and the industry itself and further work is under way to rapidly advance our understanding of all aspects of these machines.

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to limit the stakes and rate of play for fixed odd betting terminals. [173947]

Mrs Grant: The Government have undertaken a review of gaming machine stake and prize limits for all categories of gaming machine, including fixed odds betting terminals, which was published in October. We remain concerned about the potential and actual harm that can arise from playing fixed odds betting terminals and consider their future to be unresolved. The Government are working with the Gambling Commission, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, the Responsible Gambling Trust and the industry itself and further work is under way to rapidly advance our understanding of all aspects of these machines.

UK Membership of EU

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for the UK to leave the EU in her Department's area of responsibility; and if she will make a statement. [173737]

Mrs Grant: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds). The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Government Equalities Office has not made any plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Work and Pensions

Child Support Agency

Mr Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish the audited figures for the Child Support Agency's Client Funds account for financial year 2012-13. [174132]

Steve Webb: The Client Funds Account for 2012-13 is currently being finalised and will be published early in the new year.

Child Maintenance

Mr Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what child maintenance arrears by the parent with care are currently outstanding in (a) each of the component parts of the UK and (b) each parliamentary constituency. [174133]

Steve Webb: Tables showing the amount of child maintenance arrears owed by non resident parents, and of this amount how much is owed to the Parent with Care, in the component parts of the UK and by the parliamentary constituency of the Parent with Care (as of March 2013) will be placed in the Library.

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Employment Schemes: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Work Choice participants have been issued with a sanction since 2010. [174126]

Esther McVey: Work Choice is a voluntary programme, and as such providers do not take this course of action.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Work Programme participants have transferred to Work Choice since 2011. [174127]

Esther McVey: The information requested is not available.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people undertaking Work Choice since 2010 have had a mental health problem as their primary impairment. [174128]

Esther McVey: Since primary disability has begun to be collected for Work Choice participants (since 3 May 2011), up to 30 June 2013 there have been 8,670 Work Choice referrals from customers who have a mild to moderate mental health condition and 590 referrals from customers who have a severe mental illness as their primary disability. These figures are published in table 4 on page 15 of the latest publication at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/229350/work-choice-statistics-august-2013.pdf

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people selecting Work Choice since 2010 have claimed (a) employment and support allowance or incapacity benefit, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) disability living allowance. [174129]

Esther McVey: Since Work Choice began (and up to 30 June 2013), there have been:

25,740 referrals from customers in receipt of JSA only;

12,400 referrals from customers in receipt of JSA and DLA;

4,130 referrals from customers in receipt of IB/ESA only;

6,340 referrals from customers in receipt of IB/ESA and DLA;

9,770 referrals from customers in receipt of DLA only.

These figures are published in table 5 on page 16 of the latest publication at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/229350/work-choice-statistics-august-2013.pdf

EU Institutions

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [173774]

Esther McVey: The Department regularly publishes data relating to overseas visits undertaken by Ministers. The information the hon. Member has requested can be found via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-ministers-overseas-travel-2010

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European Commission

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [173794]

Esther McVey: The Department regularly publishes data relating to overseas visits undertaken by the Permanent Secretary and senior civil servants. The information the hon. Member has requested can be found via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-senior-managers-hospitality-and-business-expenses

Genetically Modified Organisms

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration he has given to including commercial applications such as bioreactors, fish tanks and glasshouses within the single regulatory framework covering laboratory safety for genetically modified organisms. [174015]

Mike Penning: HSE is currently consulting on the proposed consolidation of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 and its three amending sets of regulations (2002, 2005 and 2010). Uses of bioreactors, fish tanks and glasshouses for containing genetically modified organisms are covered by the existing regulations and will be covered by the consolidated regulations. These regulations require operators to put in place containment barriers that afford protection to human health and the environment. The consolidation will assist in removing potential legal hurdles that may impede the longer-term goal of producing a single regulatory framework for this type of work.

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether applications covered under the proposed single regulatory framework for laboratory safety for genetically modified organisms will include (a) GM insects, (b) GM fish, (c) GM farm animals, (d) GM plants, (e) GM micro-organisms and (f) products of synthetic biology, including micro-organisms and algae. [174016]

Mike Penning: HSE is currently consulting on the proposed consolidation of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 and its three amending sets of regulations (2002, 2005 and 2010). Activities involving GM insects, GM fish, GM farm animals, GM plants and GM micro-organisms are covered by the existing regulations and will be covered by the consolidated regulations. Products of synthetic biology such as micro-organisms and algae are also covered under these regulations. However, synthetic biology products such as proteins and chemicals are not covered by these regulations. The consolidation will assist in removing potential legal hurdles that may impede the longer-term goal of producing a single regulatory framework for this type of work.

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Jobseeker's Allowance

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, columns 1080-2W, on jobseeker's allowance, how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have (i) received a sanction and (ii) received a sanction and disputed it since 2012. [173570]

Esther McVey: DWP plans to release official statistics on jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanction decisions at 9.30 am on 6 November 2013. These statistics will include JSA sanction decisions under the new JSA regime implemented on 22 October 2012. For further details see here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK have consecutively claimed jobseeker's allowance for (i) over 12 months, (ii) over 24 months and (iii) over 36 months in the latest period for which figures are available. [173585]

Esther McVey: Statistics on the number of JSA claimants, by geography and duration, can be found at:

https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp

Guidance for users can be found at:

https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Lone Parents: Lancashire

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to increase support for single, working parents in Lancashire. [173928]

Esther McVey: In Work Advisory Support (IWAS) is available, on a voluntary basis, to assist eligible lone parents with their transition into work and career progression once in work. Eligible lone parents can access IWAS up to approximately one hour per month during their initial 26 weeks of employment. IWAS is driven by individual requirements but provides a dedicated adviser contact and ongoing advisory support. In Work Emergency Payments (IWEF) also support eligible lone parents who experience a financial emergency in the first 26 weeks of work, enabling them to remain in work.

Under universal credit we will support individuals in work to encourage progression and aim enable those people that can, to earn more. To ensure that we can deliver effective in-work support we are trialling a variety of different approaches to gather evidence about what can help people stay in work and progress to earn more and the circumstances that might make it harder for some people to earn more.

We will run a wide-range of trials over the coming months and years that will help test a variety of approaches. The first of these trials are already under way. Jobcentre Plus is running 11 different trials, many of them look to extend adviser support—delivered through a variety of

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different ways to people who are moving into work. Other trials are looking to test ways of working with employers and the role of skills and their impact on people staying and progressing in-work. The trials will help us learn what works before we roll-out any support nationally.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Department. [174063]

Mike Penning: No officials have been employed specifically to provide direct support to the Department's special advisers.

Personal Independence Payment

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many personal independence payment assessment claims have been received by his Department to date; [173637]

(2) how many personal independence payment assessment claims received by his Department have been assessed within (a) 28 days, (b) 40 days, (c) more than 40 days and (d) more than 60 days of receipt; [173638]

(3) what the target is for completion of personal independence payment claims for people resident in Wales. [173658]

Mike Penning: Personal independence payment started from April 2013 and although limited data have started to feed through, we need to wait until the Department has quality assured and meaningful figures for publication. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish Official Statistics on personal independence payment from spring 2014.

In order to manage the gap between personal independence payment go-live and the first release of Official Statistics in spring 2014, we are assessing whether we can release some management information. If the quality assurance of this management information shows that it is sufficiently robust and reliable then we aim to publish it via an ad-hoc statistical release.

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Personal independence payment is a new benefit and the Department does not have a target for completion of claims while processes are bedding in.

Social Security Benefits

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2013, Official Report, column 459W, on social security benefits, how many of the claims which remained incompletely processed after 14 days related to payment for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) jobseeker's allowance in each month of the current and last three financial years; and what the monetary value of each such category of claim in each month of each such year was; [174093]

(2) pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2013, what the (a) number of claims for jobseeker's allowance and (b) monetary value in sum of all jobseeker's allowance claims is, of those claims that remained incompletely processed after 14 days for each month in the current and past three financial years; [174094]

(3) pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2013, Official Report, column 459W, on social security benefits, what the (a) number of claims and (b) monetary value was of those claims that fell outside each of his Department's performance targets listed in each month in the current and last three financial years. [174095]

Esther McVey: The Department's performance data systems do not record the monetary value of incomplete processed claims.

The Department's performance data systems record the number of claims which are incompletely processed beyond the Department's targets for those claims. These targets are to process:

90% of jobseeker’s allowance claims in 16 days,

85% of employment and support allowance claims in 16 days, and

90% of income support claims in 13 days.

The following annexes show the number of claims that fell outside each of the Department's performance targets listed in each month in the current and last three financial years

The Department's performance data systems do not record the number of incomplete claims after 14 days.

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UK Membership of EU

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for Britain to leave the EU in his Department's area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [173753]

Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Minister for Europe, provided on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds).

Scotland

Common Agricultural Policy

10. Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effects of the recent CAP settlement on farmers and rural communities in Scotland. [900888]

David Mundell: The UK Government negotiated hard in recent EU CAP reform negotiations to deliver a fair outcome for farmers in Scotland and around the UK.

The UK Government secured, for example, a provision that will allow CAP regulations to be implemented at regional level, in line with devolution arrangements. This will ensure that the Scottish Government can implement the CAP according to Scottish priorities.

Low Pay

12. Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government are taking to tackle low pay in Scotland. [900890]

Mr Alistair Carmichael: The national minimum wage is one of Government’s key policies to support the low-paid and is UK wide. On 1 October the adult minimum wage increased to £6.31 per hour. We have also cut income tax, benefitting 2.2 million Scottish taxpayers and taking 224,000 Scots out of income tax altogether.

Scottish Independence

13. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the possible effects on the Scottish economy of Scotland continuing to use sterling after independence. [900891]

David Mundell: As the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said at the Dispatch Box yesterday, the only way to keep the pound as it is now is for Scotland to stay in the UK.

It would be foolish for anyone to vote for independence on the basis that Scotland would keep the pound in a currency union, as many experts agree that this would not be in the interests of either Scotland or the United Kingdom.

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14. Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had on future pension arrangements in an independent Scotland. [900892]

David Mundell: I have regular discussions with industry bodies, unions, businesses and families right across Scotland about the impact of independence on future pension arrangements.

Many have raised significant concerns about the Scottish Government’s proposals for pensions. They deserve answers in the White Paper later this month.

EU Institutions

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [173770]

David Mundell: In the period described Scotland Office Ministers have undertaken the following visits to the European Commission and European Parliament:

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the possible financial implications of opting out of each of the police and criminal justice measures in the third pillar of the EU treaties; and if he will make a statement. [173635]

David Mundell: On 9 July 2013, Official Report, columns 177-180, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, announced to Parliament that the Government intended to exercise the UK's opt-out under the Lisbon treaty and seek to re-join a package of 35 police and criminal justice measures which are in the UK's national interest. Following debates and votes in both Houses of Parliament the Prime Minister wrote to the President of the Council of Ministers on 24 July to provide formal notification that the Government have decided to exercise its right, provided for by article 10(4) of protocol 36 to the treaties, to opt out of all pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department has committed to providing Parliament with an impact assessment on the final list of measures that the UK will apply to re-join. This will be done in good time ahead of the second vote on this matter and contain all relevant information.

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European Commission

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [173790]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office is headed by a director rather than a permanent secretary. Scotland Office officials are in direct and frequent contact with the European Commission through a variety of means. In the period described, the director and the four next most senior civil servants made the following number of visits to the European Commission's offices in Brussels:

UK Membership of EU

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for Britain to leave the EU in his Department's area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [173749]

David Mundell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds) on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W.

Northern Ireland

Electoral Register

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2013, Official Report, column 102W, how many electors and what proportion of the electorate have been registered in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland to date. [174166]

Mr Robathan: As of 24 October, the numbers registered during the canvass process in each constituency were as follows:

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A breakdown of these figures by ward has been published on the website of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland:

www.eoni.org.uk

where updated statistics will also be made available.

UK Membership of EU

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for Britain to leave the EU in her Department's area of responsibility; and if she will make a statement. [173748]

Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds). The Department has not made any plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Wales

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the possible financial implications of opting out of each of the police and criminal justice measures in the third pillar of the EU treaties; and if he will make a statement. [173636]

Stephen Crabb: On 9 July 2013, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, announced to Parliament that the Government intended to exercise the UK's

6 Nov 2013 : Column 200W

opt-out under the Lisbon treaty and seek to rejoin a package of 35 police and criminal justice measures which are in the UK's national interest,

Official Report

, columns 177-80. Following debates and votes in both Houses of Parliament, the Prime Minister wrote to the President of the Council of Ministers on 24 July to provide formal notification that the Government have decided to exercise its right, provided for by article 10(4) of protocol 36 to the treaties, to opt out of all pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department has committed to providing Parliament with an impact assessment on the final list of measures that the UK will apply to rejoin. This will be done in good time ahead of the second vote on this matter and contain all relevant information.

UK Membership of EU

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of a decision for Britain to leave the EU in his Department's area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [173752]

Mr David Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds) on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W. The Department has not made any plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Defence

Armed Forces Personnel

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there has been in the number of armed forces personnel in (a) Wales and (b) each other nation and region of the UK since May 2010. [171872]

Mr Francois: Information held by the Ministry of Defence on the national and regional distribution of UK regular forces by stationed location in the UK since April 2010 is presented in the following table. As we work towards Future Force 2020 from the July 2013 position shown in the table, we anticipate maintaining a broadly similar force distribution in Wales and Northern Ireland, with small decreases of around 200 stationed regulars in each country. In Scotland, we are planning for an increase to around 12,500 by 2020.

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Army: Germany

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2013, Official Report, column 473W, on army: Germany, what funding other than that provided to local schools will be provided as a result of the re-basing to the local authorities in which (a) Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, (b) Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore and (c) Imjin Barracks, Gloucester are situated. [174492]

Dr Murrison: No additional Defence funding will be provided to the local authorities as a result of rebasing.

Belize

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans for the British Army Training Support Unit Belize are. [173163]

Mr Francois: The British Army has trained in Belize for many years through the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB).

In line with the drawdown in Afghanistan and as we reset for contingent operations, the Army has made plans for a limited increase in training in Belize from 2014, focused on light role infantry company level.

We remain grateful for the continued support of the Belizean Government and the Belizean Defence Force for the training that is delivered through BATSUB.

Mediterranean Sea

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the recent humanitarian crisis and loss of life in the Mediterranean sea, what part the Combined Maritime Forces are playing to prevent further loss of life. [173576]

Mr Francois [holding answer 4 November 2013]: The Combined Maritime Forces is a multilateral naval partnership based in Bahrain which comprises the following three task forces:

Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) which promotes maritime security;

Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) which disrupts piracy and armed robbery at sea; and

Combined Task Force 152 (CTF 152) which promotes regional maritime security in the Arabian Gulf.

Together these Task Forces operate in the Red sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian ocean, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf. They do not have a role in the Mediterranean sea.

Military Aircraft

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of laser pen attacks on military aircraft were recorded in the last five years. [173952]

Mr Francois: There have been 162 laser related events on military aircraft recorded in the last five years. It is not possible to determine whether or not laser pens were responsible for each incident.

Military Exercises

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to design a training package to prepare UK forces for contingency operations from 2015. [173245]

Mr Francois: As the hon. Member will recall from his own career in the armed forces, we have always planned for a broad range of standing tasks and contingent operations. All of the training undertaken within the armed forces contributes to our ability to deliver appropriately trained personnel and force elements at readiness in the right place and at the right time.