House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Nov 2013 (pt 0001)

25 Nov 2013 : Column 1W

Written Answers to Questions

Monday 25 November 2013

Prime Minister

Tony Blair

Mr Amess: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent discussions he has had with Tony Blair in his role as Quartet Representative; what was discussed at each such meeting; on what date each such meeting took place; and if he will make a statement; [176875]

(2) what recent assessment he has made of the achievements of Tony Blair in his role as Quartet Representative; what recent discussions (a) he, (b) other Ministers and (c) officials of (i) No. 10 Downing Street and (ii) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have had with Tony Blair on this issue; and if he will make a statement; [176876]

(3) what recent targets he has give to Tony Blair in his role as the Quartet Representative; what recent discussions (a) he, (b) other Ministers and (c) officials in (i) No. 10 Downing Street and (ii) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have had with Tony Blair on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [176877]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 March 2013, Official Report, column 411W.

The Quartet has an important role to play in supporting the peace process. Tony Blair has been working closely with the United States of America and others on the Palestinian Economic Initiative which will help create sustainable, long-term growth in the Palestinian economy. Most recently Foreign Office officials met Mr Blair on 19 November 2013. These discussions focused on the prospects for the Middle East Peace Process and how to support the efforts of the United States of America and other parties involved.

Leader of the House

Travel

Chris Leslie: To ask the Leader of the House what the cost of travel within the UK was for staff of the Office of the Leader of the House in each year since 2010; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence. [177167]

Mr Lansley: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. Information on expenditure on travel and subsistence is published in the Department's annual accounts, which are available in the House of Commons Library.

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A summary of staff costs (outside of normal working hours) for this current financial year (between April and October 2013) is as follows:

(a) hire cars: £303.03

(b) helicopter hire: Nil

(c) hotel accommodation: Nil

(d) subsistence: Nil.

Northern Ireland

Departmental Responsibilities

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she last meet the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland. [176898]

Mrs Villiers: I last met the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland on 24 October 2013.

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress she has made in improving the energy efficiency of her Department. [176150]

Mrs Villiers: My Department currently operates from three locations; 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 and enabled my Department to secure savings in the region of £1 million per annum. This move also enabled us to reduce our footprint from 3,098 sq m to 462 sq m by maximising opportunities for open plan working which has reduced energy 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 off all appliances (computers, printers and lights) 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.

Foreign Relations: Republic of Ireland

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she next plans to meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Ireland; what the subjects for discussion will be; and if she will make a statement. [177035]

Mrs Villiers: I meet regularly with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.

Northern Ireland Government

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the call by the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland for an end to all investigations, inquests, inquiries and prosecutions for Troubles-related killings which took place before the Belfast Agreement of April 1998; and if she will make a statement. [177033]

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Mrs Villiers: The Attorney-General was not speaking on behalf of the Government when he made his comments. The Government have no plans to introduce an amnesty for troubles related offences committed before the Belfast Agreement.

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she next plans to meet the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister; and what the subjects for discussion will be. [177034]

Mrs Villiers: I meet regularly with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether offices of (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service; and what the cost to the public purse is in each case. [176436]

Mrs Villiers: My Department operates from three locations, one in London and two in Northern Ireland. Neither of the Northern Ireland premises have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent sports television service. While the London office can receive Sky Sports this is as part of a wider parliamentary television service which is necessary for official business. There is no additional charge for Sky Sports channels and, therefore, no cost to the public pursue.

My Department has two Executive non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As these bodies are independent of Government, the hon. Member may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters—contact details are set out in the following table:

ALB	Status	Contact details
Parades Commission for Northern Ireland	Executive NDPB	info@paradescommission.org
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission	Executive NDPB	information@nihrc.org
Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland	Advisory NDPB	bcni@belfast.org.uk

Sinn Fein

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she last meet the Sinn Fein leadership to discuss the disappeared. [176905]

Mrs Villiers: I meet regularly with the political parties in Northern Ireland to discuss a range of issues, including addressing Northern Ireland's past. The British and Irish Governments continue to fund and support the work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains. I would reiterate their recent call for new information to assist in locating the remains of those who have not yet been recovered.

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House of Commons Commission

Wi-fi

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will change the House of Commons wi-fi system to one which, once the password has been entered and remembered by devices, does not have to be re-entered each time the device is switched on. [177055]

John Thurso: The current password system for wi-fi is in place to protect the service and to manage the volume of traffic to ensure a strong signal is received.

Most iPhones and iPads used by Members already have the ability to retain the password and connection to the wi-fi across the estate. Members can call into the Members' Centre in the Atrium of Portcullis House to have this configured on an iPhone or iPad.

Machines, such as BlackBerrys and Android devices, are unable to remember the password and this needs to be re-entered each time the device is switched on. PICT is aware of this and is looking at ways of securely improving the wi-fi service to a wider range of devices.

Wales

Devolution

Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the devolution settlement in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [176247]

Mr David Jones: On 18 November, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), and I, alongside the Welsh Minister for Finance, announced that the Government have accepted, either in full or in part, all but one of the 31 recommendations on fiscal devolution made to it by the Commission on Devolution in Wales in its first report. The package of tax and borrowing powers being devolved to Wales will strengthen the Welsh devolution settlement by ensuring the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government become more accountable for how they raise the money they spend. The Government intend to legislate in this Parliament to implement the proposals, and we will publish a draft Wales Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the current parliamentary session.

The Commission is now considering what modifications are needed to the boundary of the Welsh devolution settlement, and the Government will carefully consider the Commission's findings when it reports next spring.

Disabled Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of employees in his Department have a physical or learning disability, by each Civil Service pay grade. [176667]

Stephen Crabb: The proportion of staff at the Wales Office, as at 31 October 2013, who have a physical or learning disability by each civil service pay grade is shown in the following table:

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Percentage
Pay grade	Declared disabled	Declared non-disabled	Undeclared
Administrative Assistant	0	100	0
Administrative Officer	0	60	40
Executive Officer	0	71	29
Higher Executive Officer	0	89	11
Senior Executive Officer	0	80	20
Grade 7/6	10	40	50
Senior Civil Service	0	100	0

Discrimination

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of his Department by (a) current employees and (b) prospective employees in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [176580]

(2) how many complaints of age discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many of those complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [176614]

(3) how many complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [176631]

(4) how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [176684]

(5) how many complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [176701]

(6) how many complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176718]

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office has had no complaints of discrimination lodged against employees of the Department in the last five years.

Employment Tribunals Service

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many claims at employment tribunals have been lodged against his Department on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination in each of the last five years; and how many such cases were found against his Department. [176563]

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Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office has had no employment tribunals lodged against the Department on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination in each of the last five years.

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he has made in improving the energy efficiency of his Department. [176152]

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 ensuring 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 has reduced its carbon emissions from 83.32 tonnes in 2009-10 to 75.37 tonnes in 2012-13.

Fire Extinguishers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2013, Official Report, column 240W, on the Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011, if he will meet Carl Sargeant AM, John Griffiths AM and Ann Jones AM to discuss the implementation of fire sprinkler legislation in Wales. [176837]

Mr David Jones: Implementation of legislation passed in the National Assembly for Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government, and consequently I have no plans to meet with Carl Sargeant AM, John Griffiths AM or Ann Jones AM at this time.

London Welsh School

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions his Department had with the Department for Education on funding for the London Welsh School; and if he will meet the London Welsh School and the London Welsh Chapel to discuss their future. [176723]

Mr David Jones: The Wales Office has always been supportive of the London Welsh School, which I have previously visited. I have recently been in contact with the school to offer reassurance about their eligibility for Free School status, in particular the requirement to demonstrate local demand. I would encourage the school to make an application which would be considered in the normal way.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether offices of his Department have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service; and what the cost to the public purse is in each case. [176440]

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office does not have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service.

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Railways

Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the planned rail link between Heathrow and South Wales on the economy in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [176078]

Mr David Jones: The planned rail link between South Wales and Heathrow is a vital investment for businesses in South Wales that will cut typically 30 minutes off the existing journey time. This faster link to the UK's main air hub will make Wales a more attractive destination for businesses looking to invest in the UK.

The benefits the Heathrow spur has to offer to Wales were outlined to me during my recent visit to Heathrow's Terminal 2 where I was also pleased to meet Welsh businesses who are contributing to its construction.

Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of employees in his Department are (a) female and (b) male, by each civil service pay grade. [176597]

Stephen Crabb: The proportion of staff at the Wales Office, as at 31 October 2013, by gender and by each civil service pay grade is shown in the following table:

Pay grade	(a) Percentage female	(b) Percentage male
Administrative assistant	50	50
Administrative officer	66	34
Executive officer	45	55
Higher executive officer	70	30
Senior executive officer	83	17
Grade 7/6	46	54
Senior civil service	25	75

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of employees in his Department is (a) white British and (b) black, Asian and from other minority ethnic groups, by each civil service pay grade. [176649]

Stephen Crabb: The proportion of staff at the Wales Office, as at 31 October 2013, by ethnicity and by each civil service pay grade is shown in the following table:

Pay grade	(a) Percentage white British	(b) Percentage black Asian and other minority ethnic groups	Percentage undeclared
Administrative assistant	0	0	100
Administrative officer	60	20	20
Executive officer	57	29	14
Higher executive officer	67	0	33
Senior executive officer	60	0	40
Grade 7/6	70	0	30
Senior civil service	100	0	0

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Energy and Climate Change

Climate Change Levy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the amount of money raised through the Levy Control Framework through consumer bills from customers in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each year between 2015 and 2020. [176461]

Gregory Barker [holding answer 22 November 2013]: The Levy Control Framework (covering the Renewable Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the costs of Contracts for Difference) sets an upper limit on spend as follows

	Upper limit on spend (£ million)
2014-15	3,300
2015-16	4,300
2016-17	4,900
2017-18	5,600
2018-19	6,450
2019-20	7,000
2020-21	7,600

All figures are in £ million and 2011-12 prices. The limit represents the combined total effect on domestic (household) and non-domestic bills.

DECC's methodology for estimating the impact of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills assumes that the costs of the schemes in the Levy Control Framework faced by energy suppliers are passed on in full to consumers (domestic and non-domestic), and that costs are spread on an equal per MWh basis.

Given the respective shares of total UK electricity consumption, this implies households will face approximately one-third of the total UK costs of schemes covered by the Levy Control Framework, and non-domestic consumers (including businesses, industry and the public sector) the remaining two-thirds. The precise method of cost pass through will vary between energy suppliers depending on their own tariff structure and approach to cost mark-up.

DECC has not estimated a geographical split going forward but in 2011 England accounted for 84% of total UK electricity consumption, Scotland 9% and Wales 5%.

Electricity Generation

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much generation capacity from (a) renewable and (b) non-renewable energy sources was installed in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013. [175867]

Michael Fallon: The following table shows generation capacity installed from renewable and non-renewable energy sources during each of 2011, 2012 and 2013.

(MW)
	Renewable generation capacity	Non-renewable generation capacity
2011	3,049	-3,057
2012	3,274	-1,042
2013 (January to June)	3,985	n/a

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Data showing new installed capacity alone are not available; figures given are net of reductions and closures. In both 2011 and 2012, these exceeded new capacity for non-renewables.

Renewables figures include coal station conversions to biomass, which show as a reduction to the non-renewable figures. Non-renewable data are published annually, on a Transmission Entry Capacity basis, and will be available for 2013 on 31 July 2014.

Renewables data are from table ET 6.1, available at:

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

Non-renewables data are from table DUKES 5.7. In addition, a list of major non-renewable capacity that has closed, reduced or converted (to biomass) in the last three years can be found in Table 5B in chapter 5 of DUKES. Both are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress he has made in improving the energy efficiency of his Department. [175982]

Gregory Barker: Since its inception, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has made good progress in increasing its energy efficiency and has reduced energy consumption across its estate by 44% from 2008-09 compared with 2012-13.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what guidance his Department provides to those trying to switch energy providers who find using the internet difficult; [177068]

(2) what mechanisms are in place to assist elderly and disabled people if they have problems switching energy provider. [177069]

Michael Fallon: The Government are providing legislative backing to Ofgem's Retail Market Review measures to simplify and standardise tariff structures and provide consumers with clearer and better quality information so that it will be easier for all consumers to compare tariffs.

We recognise however, that even with an effective competitive market vulnerable consumers will need extra help and advice to engage with the energy market and to give them the confidence to take decisions that will reduce their bills.

That is why DECC has provided £900,000 funding for the Big Energy Saving Network, a programme of consumer outreach led by around 500 specially trained energy advisers from voluntary organisations and community groups throughout Great Britain.

The outreach programme will focus on helping vulnerable consumers, including those who do not have access to the internet, take concrete steps to reduce their energy costs, by taking action on tariffs and switching.

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Energy: Competition

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many different officials employed by his Department have worked in the team handling retail market reform since that work stream's creation. [177174]

Michael Fallon: Ofgem, as the independent regulator, has led the work stream on retail market reform. Since Ofgem launched this work with the Energy Supply Probe in 2008, 20 officials have worked on these issues at various times for the team responsible in DECC. There are currently eight officials in the relevant team who contribute to work on retail market reform.

Energy: Unfair Practices

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many financial penalties have been levied on the six largest energy suppliers for unfair trading with small suppliers in the last 10 years. [176314]

Michael Fallon: We are not aware of any such penalties in the last 10 years. However, the energy regulator, Ofgem has issued a statutory consultation on new licence conditions to improve access to the wholesale electricity market, including by requiring the eight largest electricity generating companies to follow a set of 'Supplier Market Access' rules when trading with small independent suppliers. The Consultation can be found at:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/wholesale-power-market-liquidity-statutory-consultation-secure-and-promote-licence-condition

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the 2013 auction value of EU Emissions Trading Scheme allocations made in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) the UK. [177004]

Gregory Barker: Free allocations to UK installations in the EU ETS for 2013 will not be made to operators until the Commission has approved the final version of the UK's free allocation figures. However, based on provisional data and assuming an allowance price of £3.65 (based on average 2013 prices to date and average exchange rates) the estimated value of free allocation in 2013 is expected to be approximately £252 million for the UK.

We hold these data by regulator, and this equates to approximately £24 million for installations regulated by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, £150 million for installations regulated by the Environment Agency, £43 million for installations regulated by National Resources Wales, £3 million for installations regulated by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and £32 million for installations regulated by DECC Offshore.

Fuel Poverty

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how many hon. Members have written to his Department on behalf of constituents about (a) his plans to alleviate fuel poverty in the private rented sector, (b) the operation of the Warm

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Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 and

(c)

the disconnection of (i) gas and (ii) electricity supplies since June 2013; what the average time taken to reply to such letters was; if he will place in the Library a copy of each such reply; and if he will make a statement; [176862]

(2) how many (a) written, (b) email and (c) telephone representations he has received in each month since June 2013 about (i) his plans to alleviate fuel poverty in the private rented sector, (ii) the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 and (iii) the disconnection of (A) gas and (B) electricity supplies; how many such representations were from (1) individuals and (2) organisations; if he will place in the Library copies of responses sent to such representations; and if he will make a statement. [176863]

Gregory Barker: For the purpose of answering this question, various searches of the departmental correspondence system have been conducted. In relation to fuel poverty in the private rented sector and the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000, it has been possible to search the records on correspondence with DECC Ministers with the case title “fuel poverty”. In the period since June 2013, 214 letters from hon. Members were given this case title. Providing the average time taken to reply to these letters would entail disproportionate cost. Providing copies of each reply would also entail disproportionate cost.

An initial search of the correspondence system relating to “disconnections” of electricity and/or gas has not yielded reliable results. A more detailed subject search would entail disproportionate cost.

Providing a response on the number of e-mail and telephone representations to the Department on these subjects would entail disproportionate cost.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials of his Department have had since June 2013 with utility companies on (i) the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 and (iii) reducing fuel poverty; what response he received from each; what conclusions he reached on those responses; and if he will make a statement; [176864]

(2) what recent meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials of his Department have had with utility companies about reducing fuel poverty; which utility companies attended each such meeting; what response he received from each such utility company; and if he will make a statement. [176865]

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), DECC Ministers and officials have regular meetings with all the utility companies on a range of subjects, including fuel poverty.

Green Deal Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Green Deal assessments made, (b) Green Deal plans installed and billed and (c)

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energy company obligation measures installed in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England and (iv) Wales in each month since January 2013. [176761]

Gregory Barker [holding answer 22 November 2013]:The number of (a) green deal assessments made, and (c) energy company obligation measures installed by country up to the end of June 2013, were published on 19 September here

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-january-june-2013-statistics

These are broken down by country by month in the following tables.

Future quarterly releases will provide more detailed breakdowns on green deal plans.

Table (a): Number of green deal assessments, by country, by month
	England	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
January 2013	61	12	0	73
February 2013	1,676	51	3	1,727
March 2013	7,111	313	67	7,424
April 2013	8,816	428	278	9,244
May 2013	11,241	591	314	11,832
June 2013	12,187	690	640	12,877

Total	41,092	2,085	1,302	43,177

Table (c) : Provisional number of ECO measures installed, by country, by month
	England	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
October to December 2012	774	12	66	852
January 2013	12,135	499	1,164	13,798
February 2013	15,788	846	1,867	18,501
March 2013	18,124	898	2,012	21,034
April 2013	23,623	1,454	2,644	27,721
May 2013	28,752	1,850	3,166	33,768
June 2013	27,869	2,364	3,697	33,930

Unknown	—	—	—	77

Total	127,065	7,923	14,616	149,681

Updates of geographical breakdowns of (a) green deal assessments lodged, and (c) energy company obligation measures installed up to the end of September 2013 will be published on 19 December.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2013, Official Report, column 575W, on the Green Deal Scheme, what assessment he has made of (a) progress in converting the 954 Green Deal plans into live energy efficiency measures installed and (b) the level of take up of Green Deal finance. [176835]

Gregory Barker: Our latest statistics show 1,173 households had Green Deal plans in progress at the end of October. Of this number, 219 homes have already had all of their measures installed (a total of 481 individual measures) and the rest are progressing through the system. The Green Deal is a 20-year programme, new markets take time to establish and we are still at an early stage in terms of the development of the Green Deal finance market, but we see this as an encouraging start.

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Natural Gas: Storage

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the value of private sector investment in gas storage over the 10-year period from 2015; and how that estimate has changed since the decision in September 2013 not to offer public subsidy for gas storage; and if he will make a statement. [176542]

Michael Fallon: We published the consultant's report, commissioned to analyse the costs and benefits of three potential interventions, on 4 September 2013. This looked at the investment climate for storage out to 2030, to test investment potential with and without intervention in the market. The analysis found scope for commercial investment in fast cycle storage with no intervention by Government.

It further showed that, while intervening to incentivise storage had the potential to make further investment economic, the costs of the interventions were greater than the value of the security of supply gained. In addition, any intervention runs a substantial risk of unintended consequences such as displacing investment from one part of the market to another.

We have seen and continue to see new storage come forward from the market. Two new storage facilities have recently been built and two more are under construction, although as gas storage developments are commercial activities the precise value of this investment is a matter for the companies concerned.

Nuclear Power Stations

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to assure the general public that allowing overseas governments or state-owned companies a majority stake in UK nuclear power plants does not pose a risk to UK energy security. [176976]

Michael Fallon: As in many other industrial and service sectors, the UK energy sector is an open and liberalised market and we actively welcome overseas investment. The UK has already attracted significant levels of investment into the new nuclear build programme and we encourage this, recognising the global nature of this industry.

Any potential nuclear operator is, and would be, subject to the same rigorous scrutiny through the established regulatory and legislative processes led by the UK's independent nuclear safety regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

The UK's legal and regulatory framework provides a range of controls in terms of safe and secure operation, consumer protection, security of UK supply and enforcement of wider contractual obligations. Any investment proposal would also be assessed on competition grounds, EU law, and has to be consistent with the UK's national security.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether offices of (a) his Department and (b) its Executive agencies have access

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to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service; and what the cost to the public purse is in each case. [176429]

Gregory Barker: Neither DECC nor its non-departmental public bodies have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service.

Piper Alpha Inquiry

Mr Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost was of the inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster. [177155]

Michael Fallon: The Piper Alpha inquiry concluded in 1990. The Department has checked internal records and with The National Archives, but we have been unable to locate any documents relating to the cost of the inquiry.

Renewable Energy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the amount of funding available through the 2020 Levy Control Framework which is required to meet obligations to existing and proposed projects in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales. [175939]

Michael Fallon: The Levy Control Framework totals for existing and proposed projects in the years 2015-16 to 2020-21 are as follows (in 2011-12 prices):

	Totals for existing and proposed projects (£ billion)
2015-16	4.30
2016-17	4.90
2017-18	5.60
2018-19	6.45
2019-20	7.00
2020-21	7.60

We have not assessed where projects will be built on a geographical basis. However, the modelling conducted by National Grid (System Operator) that was published with the draft Delivery Plan Consultation on the 17 July 2013 (and will be updated and published with the final Delivery Plan in December) sets out how the Levy Control Framework amounts could be spent on different technologies. The National Grid report shows deployment in GW not in terms of £ million spent by technology.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department has shared with the Ground Source Heat Pump Association about data arising from the metering programme of heat pumps installed under the Renewable Heat Premium Scheme. [176254]

Gregory Barker [holding answer 21 November 2013]: We are able to review the preliminary data we are collecting and regularly do so for example for the purpose of identifying inaccurate readings. We agreed to publish some examples of this information in our response to your request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (sent 8 November 2013).

25 Nov 2013 : Column 15W

My officials have occasionally shown example preliminary data in presentations, for example at ground-source heat pump association conferences. We consider this a good opportunity to generate interest in the metering programme, including the installation of the metering equipment, and a forum that enables us to get feedback on the approach we are taking. The data's limitations can also be explained easily.

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the oral evidence heard by the Energy and Climate Change Committee on 12 November 2013, HC 743, what evidence his Department holds that heat pumps perform to specification once installed in the UK. [177113]

Gregory Barker: Evidence to evaluate the in-use performance of heat pumps installed in the UK can be found in the Energy Saving Trust field trials, phase 1 results published in 2011 and phase 2 results published in May 2013.

In phase 2, targeted improvements were made to the monitored installations which resulted in overall improvements in heat pump system efficiency. The findings of this research led to improvements to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme installation standard MIS 3005.

We explained in our domestic RHI consultation document:

“At the beginning of 2012, we started another heat pump metering programme in the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme to take a snapshot of heat pump performance. The preliminary data from this programme (which is still being verified) appears to indicate that on average there has been a measurable but modest improvement in the Seasonal Performance Factor. We think it is likely that on average the results will still be a long way off the high-performing systems that are consistently being measured in Germany.”

Renewable Energy: South West

Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the renewable energy sector to new jobs and growth in the South West; and if he will make a statement. [176081]

Gregory Barker: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has made an assessment of employment and nominal sales growth in the renewable energy sector and its wider supply chain in the South West, and published these data in the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) report for 2011-12:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-carbon-and-environmental-goods-and-services-2011-to-2012

The report estimates that, in 2011-12, 17,846 people were employed in the renewable energy sector and its wider supply chain in the South West. Estimates based on this report show that between 2010-11 and 2011-12 there was no employment growth in this sector in the South West. Nominal sales growth in the same period was 6% across the renewable energy sector and its supply chain, broken down as follows: biomass (5%), geothermal (5%), hydro (3%), photovoltaic (6%), renewable energy general consultancy (3%), wave and tidal (5%) and wind (7%).

25 Nov 2013 : Column 16W

DECC has also estimated that, since 2010, £1,249 million of new private sector investment in renewable electricity has been announced with the potential to support 3,308 jobs in the South West of England:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/renewable-energy-delivering-green-jobs-growth-and-clean-energy

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent changes his Department has made to the renewable heat incentive scheme for biomass boilers; when his Department made such changes; and what consultation he undertook with (a) industry and (b) the public about such changes. [176143]

Gregory Barker: In relation to biomass boilers we announced a 5% reduction to the medium commercial biomass tariffs which took effect from 1 July. In September, we announced the introduction of emissions limits for biomass boilers.

The tariff reduction to medium biomass tariffs was made under the cost-control mechanism for the non-domestic RHI scheme, which is set out in regulations. This degression-based system was introduced in April this year following the consultation ‘Renewable Heat Incentive: Providing certainty, improving performance’, which was published in July 2012 and is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/renewable-heat-incentive-providing-certainty-and-improving-performance

It was always our intention to introduce emission limits to the RHI scheme, we announced what these limits would be in our policy document published in March 2011. These regulations came into force on 24 September this year. Prior to their introduction, we carried out two public consultations, in which we sought views before making them a part of the scheme. These consultations were:

‘Renewable Heat Incentive: Consultation on the proposed RHI financial support Scheme’, published in February 2010, available at:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100712173559/http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/rhi/rhi.aspx

The outcome of this consultation is the March 2011 policy document referred to above.

‘Renewable Heat Incentive: providing certainty and improving performance’, published in July 2012, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43165/5883-rhi-certainty-performance-cons.pdf

The response to this consultation was published in February 2013, ‘Government response to 'Providing Certainty, improving performance’, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/128679/Gov_response_to_non_domestic_July_2012_consultation_-_26_02_2013.pdf

The domestic RHI scheme will launch in spring 2014. It will include support for eligible biomass-only boilers and biomass pellet stoves with integrated boilers. Following our announcement on 11 November, this support will also cover condensing biomass boilers:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/condensing-biomass-boilers-qualify-for-domestic-rhi

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The announcement came following the results of tests undertaken on behalf of DEFRA to look at the condensate discharged by condensing biomass boilers. The study was done with input from industry.

Telephone Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent representation he has received on revenue raised by energy companies through placing customers using 0845 and 0844 numbers on hold; [176735]

(2) what recent representation he has received on response times to 0844 and 0845 numbers used by (a) E.ON and (b) Scottish Power for (i) new sales and (ii) customer services. [176736]

Michael Fallon: The Department receives a number of representations concerning energy supply companies. The use of 0845 and 0844 telephone numbers is a commercial matter for companies themselves and therefore the Department does not hold the information requested.

Travel

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost of travel within the UK was for his Department in each year since 2010; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence. [177169]

Gregory Barker: The cost of UK travel and subsistence between 2010 and period ending September 2013 is shown in the following table:

£000
	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
Hire car (inc. taxis)	227	134	63	34
Accommodation	n/a	n/a	212	115
Subsistence	118	44	63	19
All other travel	344	411	583	294
Total	689	589	921	462
Notes: 1. The Department does not hire helicopters 2. Accommodation costs cannot be separately identified for 2010-12.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding his Department contributes to the Warm Homes scheme. [176478]

Gregory Barker: Government do not provide energy suppliers with the funding for the warm home discount scheme. The energy suppliers are required by law to provide assistance with energy costs to low income and vulnerable households. Over four years (from April 2011 to March 2015) the assistance provided will be worth over £1.1 billion. Annual spending targets are set out in the warm home discount regulations 2011.

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Warm Home Discount Scheme: West Midlands

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of applications in (a) Birmingham and (b) West Midlands for assistance under the warm home discount scheme which were (i) accepted and (ii) rejected in 2012-13. [176477]

Gregory Barker: Regional data are not available for the number of people applying for or receiving assistance under the warm home discount.

In 2012-13, an overall total of 1,157,879 pensioners received a core group rebate of £130 under the warm home discount scheme across Great Britain

Inevitably, some pensioners who contacted the call centre were not found to be eligible for the scheme under the rules established through regulations. In 2012-13 there were 14,249 such cases.

In addition to the core group rebates in 2012-13, 489,494 low income and vulnerable households received a £130 rebate by applying to their energy supplier under the broader group. Suppliers do not report how many people are unsuccessful as part of that process. Furthermore, 966,823 customers received bill support under the legacy spending elements of the scheme.

A full annual report on the operation of warm home discount in 2012-13 has been published by Ofgem and is available at:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/warm-home-discount-annual-report-scheme-year-2

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials of his Department have had since June 2013 with their counterparts in (i) HM Treasury and (ii) other Government Departments on the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [176860]

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), Ministers and officials have regular contact with counterparts from other Government Departments including Her Majesty's Treasury on a range of issues, including fuel poverty. In particular the Secretary of State discussed and agreed with Cabinet colleagues the changes we have subsequently proposed to the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act that will put in place a new target for fuel poverty.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made since June 2013 of the operation of (a) section one and (b) section two of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; what representations he has received since June 2013 on the operation of that Act; and what responses he gave to such representations. [176861]

Gregory Barker: Last year, the Government consulted on changing the framework for measuring fuel poverty, including whether the proposed change in the fuel poverty

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definition had any implications for the legislative framework as set out in the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. We have since concluded that a new framework is needed and in July we proposed amendments to the Act that will see us set out, through secondary legislation, a new target to address fuel poverty. The amendments maintain the requirement to have in place a strategy to achieve that objective.

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), receives a wide range of stakeholder representations and regularly discusses a range of issues relating to fuel poverty. For example, the Secretary of State attended a Fuel Poverty Advisory Group workshop in October, and while there discussed a number of issue relevant to the development of the new fuel poverty strategy.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to page 10 of Home Office Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2011, HC345, how many of the 795 other carnivores listed in the table on page 20 were badgers. [175928]

Norman Baker: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.

The Home Office statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2011 details scientific procedures by species of animal and primary purpose of the procedure. Of the 795 scientific procedures on ‘other carnivores’ in Great Britain 2011, 317 involved badgers.

Biodiversity

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect of water abstraction rates from rivers on levels of ecological biodiversity. [175196]

Dan Rogerson: Over the last four years the Environment Agency has completed more than 1,350 desk-top assessments of surface water bodies in England. More detailed investigations of approximately 1,000 surface water bodies have been undertaken where flows may not be supporting the appropriate ecological biodiversity.

Recent assessments indicate that flows in some 14% of river water bodies in England may not support Good Ecological Status due to the effects of abstraction. Investigations have concluded that an additional 4% of heavily modified river water bodies in England are not supporting Good Ecological Potential due to alterations to the natural flow regime downstream of reservoirs.

Birds: Conservation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help his Department provides to farmers to enable them to retain and enhance habitat, to increase the number of birds in the countryside. [176966]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 20W

George Eustice: To help retain and enhance habitats important to farmland birds, farmers may apply for Environmental Stewardship, which currently funds a range of environmental management options of benefit to farmland birds. Additional scheme options to help farmland birds were introduced from 1 January 2013, including supplementary feeding over the winter, to help them through the 'hungry gap' when berries and seeds are scarce.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2013, Official Report, column 284, if he will commission new research to demonstrate whether gassing can be proven to be safe, humane and effective; and if he will make a statement. [175929]

George Eustice: As set out in our draft “Strategy for achieving officially free bovine tuberculosis-free status for England”, further research into alternative population control methods (e.g. sett-based culling methods and non-lethal methods) is under consideration. This includes investigating the potential use of anoxic gas or gas-filled foam as a sett-based means of humane culling.

No new research has been commissioned at this stage.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2013, Official Report, column 284, on bovine tuberculosis, what evidence he is considering as part of his consideration on the use of gassing; and if he will make a statement. [175930]

George Eustice: Further research into alternative population control methods (e.g. sett-based culling methods and non-lethal methods) is under consideration. This might include an investigation into the potential use of anoxic gas or gas-filled foam as a sett-based means of humane culling.

Licences to use any other method of badger control will not be granted without scientific evidence of the effectiveness (both in terms of its ability to correctly identify and remove infected badgers) and humaneness of such an approach.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badgers have been culled by (a) shooting and (b) cage trapping to date; and what estimate he has made of the (i) cost of shooting, (ii) cost of cage trapping, (iii) total cost to his Department of the badger cull pilots and (iv) total cost of the initial pilots and each subsequent extension. [175986]

George Eustice: The statements made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson) to the House on 9 October 2013, Official Report, columns 23-24WS, 17 October 2013, Official Report, columns 64-65WS, and 5 November 2013, Official Report, columns 10-11WS, provide details of the number of badgers removed in each pilot area during the initial six-week period and during the three-week extension in Somerset. We will update the House on the

25 Nov 2013 : Column 21W

number of badgers removed in Gloucestershire during the extension there once it has concluded. Further details on the method used to remove badgers will be released in due course once analysed by the independent expert panel. The 2011 Impact Assessment remains the most recent estimate prepared on the costs of the pilots, including the relative cost of each control method.

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what use his Department makes of the Brock Test to test for tuberculosis in badgers; what the cost is of such testing; and how long the process takes. [176747]

George Eustice: The Brock Test is a previously used antibody test for badgers but is no longer available. We now use the similar StatPak antibody test.

The StatPak test is used for research purposes by DEFRA and its agencies, and some wildlife charities use it to test orphaned badger cubs. It is specific, but not very sensitive, meaning it misses around half of the truly infected animals. On the other hand, a positive is likely to be a true positive. It is quick to run, and can be used sett-side.

If blood can be taken from a conscious animal, the cost of such testing would be approximately the same as cage trapping and vaccination, or £2,500 per square kilometre, as both procedures need trapping. If this is not possible, it would cost significantly more.

Conditions of Employment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many direct employees and contracted workers of his Department and its arm's length bodies are paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage; and how many direct employees are on zero- hours contracts. [174977]

Dan Rogerson: Core DEFRA has no direct employees paid less than the living wage. No core DEFRA employees are on zero-hours contracts. For contracted workers, current contracts do not specify the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, but this is under review. Core DEFRA has an estimated 24 contracted workers who are paid less than the living wage.

Information for DEFRA's Executive agencies and arm’s length bodies could be provided only by incurring disproportionate cost.

Dogs: Animal Welfare

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will commission research into (a) whether a captive bolt gun is a humane way to put down dogs and (b) whether its use for this purpose should be banned. [177007]

George Eustice: There are no plans to commission research into, or ban, the use of captive bolt guns on dogs. It is preferable that a dog is euthanised by a veterinary surgeon using an overdose of barbiturates. However, occasionally there will be situations where this method may not be possible, in which case alternative

25 Nov 2013 : Column 22W

methods must be available. However, any method used must be humane as required by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider bringing forward legislative proposals to (a) fully regulate the use of captive bolt guns and (b) license the device for putting down dogs. [177016]

George Eustice: The Government do not consider it is necessary to regulate or license the use of captive bolt guns with dogs. It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (AWA) to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. If anyone considers that someone has caused unnecessary suffering to a dog by using a captive bolt gun they can report the matter to the local authority or the RSPCA who can investigate and take action as necessary under the AWA powers.

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made on improving the energy efficiency of his Department. [175977]

Dan Rogerson: The sustainability performance of core DEFRA can be found in annex 1, section A of the annual report and account for 2012-13 from page 183.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/224329/defra-year-end-accounts2012-13.pdf

This includes narrative on energy efficiency initiatives undertaken in DEFRA's buildings. It also includes charts which show the Department's year-on-year reductions in energy use.

Farms: Buildings

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will introduce an agri-food loan scheme to help the farming industry invest in boiler houses. [176967]

George Eustice: There are no plans to introduce an agri-food loan scheme to help the farming industry invest in boiler houses.

Assistance to help with boiler installations is currently available through the non-domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI). This is a Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) scheme that supports biomass installations, biogas combustion and biomethane injection to the grid. We do not have deployment figures specific to agriculture under the scheme.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether offices of (a) his Department and (b) its Executive agencies have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service; and what the cost to the public purse is in each case. [176430]

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Dan Rogerson: Neither core DEFRA, nor any of its Executive agencies, has access to Sky Sports or any other premium sports television services.

Plants: Disease Control

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to safeguard plants and trees from the threat of disease in (a) the UK and (b) the North East. [176117]

Dan Rogerson: In the UK plant health is a devolved issue. We are working closely with the devolved Administrations to ensure a joined up approach to addressing the threat of pests and diseases. Last week the Secretary of State introduced new restrictions on the importation and movement of sweet chestnut and plane trees, and tighter notification requirements for pine trees imported to England. The Scottish Government have introduced parallel legislation. We will be responding shortly to the recommendations of the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce, which reported in May 2013, setting out our approach to safeguarding plants from the threat of pests and diseases. In the meantime, we are taking forward work on two of the taskforce's key recommendations:

development of a prioritised risk register for plant pests and diseases; and

improving our approach to contingency planning.

The Forestry Commission has recently appointed a tree health officer specifically for Yorkshire and the north-east to give extra field-level support across the range of tree diseases.

Attorney-General

Atos Origin

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Attorney-General how much his Department spent on contracts with Atos in each year since 2008. [176124]

The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.

Atos contracts: Expenditure
£
	Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)	Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol)¹	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate²	Serious Fraud Office
2008-09	96,404	41	365	—
2009-10	148,945	—	968	—
2010-11	164,279	—	1,059	6,294
2011-12	137,583	—	—	4,492
2012-13	164,892	—	—	4,382
2013-14³	119,163	—	—	2,632
¹TSol data also covers the Attorney-General's Office. ²These amounts were paid by the CPS and recharged to HMCPSI. ³2013-14 expenditure to date.

Domestic Violence: Prosecutions

Helen Jones: To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been prosecuted for breach of a domestic violence injunction in each year since 2010; and what information he holds on the number of breaches of such orders. [177172]

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The Solicitor-General: The only civil remedy for protecting victims of domestic violence, breach of which is a criminal offence, is a non-molestation order, which is designed to prohibit a person from doing or continuing to do certain acts. The breach of a non-molestation order without a reasonable excuse has been a criminal offence under section 42A of the Family Law Act 1996 since 1 July 2007.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) holds data for the number of charged offences reaching a hearing in the magistrates courts. The numbers of charged offences since 2010 are as follows:

Family Law Act 1996 (42A(1)and(5))
	Number of charged offences
2010	5,501
2011	5,542
2012	5,554
2013¹	5,136
¹ January to October 2013.

The CPS hold no central data on the number of defendants prosecuted, the final outcome of cases involving one or more charges under the Family Law Act 1996, or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time the case was finalised.

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Attorney-General what progress he has made on improving the energy efficiency of the Law Officers' Departments. [176048]

The Solicitor-General: Since the introduction of the Greening Government targets in 2011 and compared to the baseline of 2009-10, the Law Officers' Departments have already reduced their carbon emissions by 24% against a target of 25% by March 2015. This has been achieved through the reduction in the size of our estate and various energy efficiency measures including boiler replacement and improved energy monitoring systems.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General whether offices of (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its executive agencies have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service; and what the cost to the public purse is in each case. [176423]

The Solicitor-General: Through its subscription to the Parliamentary Television Service, the Attorney-General's Office (AGO) has access to two Sky Sports channels.

The AGO has no control over the channels to which it has access via this service and subscribes to the Parliamentary Television Service to watch debates, select committee hearings and to monitor news channels.

The AGO does not pay an additional fee for access to these channels over the cost to the Parliamentary Television Service subscription.

The remaining Law Officers' Departments do not have any access to Sky Sports or any other premium sports television services.

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Home Department

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to announce the outcome of her consultation on a ban on the use of animals for testing household products. [176090]

Norman Baker [holding answer 21 November 2013]: The Government made a Coalition commitment to end the testing of household products on animals and I am keen to take this forward. I am presently consulting with ministerial colleagues and intend to make a statement early in the new year.

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: Wales

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) genetically-modified animals and (b) animals with a harmful genetic defect were used in regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2012; [169337]

(2) how many regulated procedures were carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Wales in 2012; [169338]

(3) how many places in Wales were designated as a (a) supplying establishment, (b) breeding establishment and (c) scientific procedure establishment under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at the end of 2012; [169340]

(4) what proportion of project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Wales was in the (a) mild, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) unclassified severity banding at the end of 2012; [169341]

(5) what proportion of procedures regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which were carried out in Wales, was conducted without anaesthesia in 2012; [169342]

(6) how many infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were recorded in Wales in 2012; and how many such infringements led to a prosecution; [169343]

(7) how many project licences were granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2010; and how many such project licences were in force at the end of 2012 in respect of work to be carried out in Wales; [169344]

(8) what proportion of regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were carried out for (a) fundamental and applied studies other than toxicity and (b) toxicity tests or other safety and efficacy evaluation in 2012; [169345]

(9) how many (a) mice, (b) rats, (c) guinea pigs, (d) hamsters, (e) rabbits, (f) horses and other equids, (g) sheep, (h) pigs, (i) birds, (j) amphibians, (k) reptiles, (l) fish, (m) cats, (n) dogs, (o) new world primates and (p) old world primates were used in regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2012; [169347]

(10) how many regulated procedures conducted in Wales in 2012 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involved (a) mice, (b) rats, (c) guinea pigs, (d) hamsters, (e) rabbits, (f) horses and

25 Nov 2013 : Column 26W

other equids,

(g)

sheep,

(h)

pigs,

(i)

birds,

(j)

amphibians,

(k)

reptiles,

(l)

fish,

(m)

cats,

(n)

dogs,

(o)

new world primates and

(p)

old world primates in 2012; and how many such procedures involved (i) genetically-modified animals and (ii) animals with a harmful genetic defect; [169348]

(11) what proportion of regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2012 were performed in (a) public health laboratories, (b) universities and medical schools, (c) NHS hospitals, (d) Government Departments, (e) other public bodies, (f) non-profit-making organisations and (g) commercial organisations. [169349]

James Brokenshire: In 2010, the Government made a commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research in “Coalition: our programme for Government”. The Coalition commitment is not concerned with just baseline numbers, but encompasses the replacement, refinement and reduction (3Rs) more broadly, putting them at the heart of a science-led approach.

We intend to publish a Delivery Plan later this year that will set out how the Government are supporting and encouraging these advances and the programmes and policies through which Government will continue to deliver their commitment. The consequence will be accelerated take-up of the 3Rs—both domestically and internationally—set on the tenets of good science, good animal welfare and good for the UK and economic growth.

I have placed copies of the latest annual statistics on animal procedures in Great Britain 2012 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the House Library and it is available from the Home Office website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals-great-britain-2012

The following statistics reflect the returns under project licences where the primary availability is in Wales under the authorities of these licences. Returns reported for Wales could therefore include statistics for animals used at additional availabilities at other establishments not in Wales, or work at non-licensed places, also not in Wales.

In 2012 in Wales, regarding the number of animals used in regulated procedures conducted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA):

(a) 24,220 genetically modified animals were used;

(b) 9,803 animals with a harmful genetic defect were used.

During 2012 in Wales, 85,892 regulated procedures were carried out under ASPA.

At the end of 2012 in Wales, there were six designated establishments under ASPA. There were:

(a) one designated as a combined scientific procedures, breeding and supplying establishment;

(b) two designated as combined scientific procedures and breeding establishments;

(c) three designated solely as scientific procedures establishments.

At the end of 2012 in Wales, regarding the severity of project licences granted under ASPA:

(a) 54% were in the mild severity banding;

(b) 44% were in the moderate severity banding;

(c) 1% were in the substantial banding;

(d) none were in the unclassified severity banding.

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During 2012 in Wales, 77% of procedures regulated under ASPA were conducted without anaesthesia.

During 2012 in Wales, one infringement of ASPA was recorded, which did not result in prosecution.

During 2010, 515 project licences were granted under ASPA in the United Kingdom of which eight were granted at designated establishments in Wales. All of these eight licences were still in force on 31 December 2012.

During 2012 in Wales, regarding the proportion of regulated procedures conducted under ASPA:

(a) all were carried out for fundamental and applied studies other than toxicity;

(b) none were carried out for toxicity tests or other safety and efficacy evaluation.

During 2012 in Wales, regarding the number of animals used in regulated procedures under ASPA:

(a) 48,850 mice were used;

(b) 4,206 rats were used;

(c) 237 guinea pigs were used;

(d) no hamsters were used;

(e) no rabbits were used;

(f) no horses and other equids were used;

(g) 465 sheep were used;

(h) no pigs were used;

(i) 454 birds were used;

(j) 153 amphibians were used;

(k) no reptiles were used;

(l) 30,942 fish were used;

(m) two cats were used;

(n) no dogs were used;

(o) no new world primates were used;

(p) no old world primates were used.

During 2012 in Wales, regarding the number of regulated procedures conducted under ASPA:

(a) 48,850 involved mice, of which:

(i) 23,981 involved genetically-modified animals;

(ii) 9,803 involved animals with a harmful genetic defect;

(b) 4,206 involved rats, of which:

(i) 239 involved genetically-modified animals;