Entry Clearances: Iran

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the facility for issuing visas in Tehran to Iranians to recommence. [176310]

Mr Harper: Home Office officials are in regular contact with colleagues from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the current situation in Iran and the closure of the Visa Application Centre (VAC) for security reasons remains under review. The VAC was housed in the British embassy in Tehran, and should the embassy reopen, we will consider reopening the VAC.

Any applicant wishing to submit an application for a visit visa can apply at any Visa Application Centre worldwide. When the VAC in Tehran was closed, seven VACs were designated for Iranian nationals to apply for any category of entry clearance. These were our two VACs in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and our five VACs in Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa and Gaziantep).

Homicide

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to issue a new model guidance following the findings of Domestic Homicide Review: Common themes identified as lessons to be learned. [176742]

Norman Baker: On 19 November, we published ‘Domestic Homicide Review: Common themes identified as lessons to be learned’.

This document, available on the Home Office website and in the House Library, sets out common themes that have arisen from the first 54 Domestic Homicide Reviews that have been considered by the Home Office Quality Assurance Panel.

Human Rights

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on legal advice, representation and support in third party claims brought against the Department under the Human Rights Act 1998 since that Act entered into force. [176240]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office deals with thousands of cases every year and litigants frequently rely on arguments based wholly or partly on the Human Rights Act 1998. In most cases, the 1998 Act is relied on in addition to other claims.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 32W

The Treasury Solicitor’s Department’s records do not, historically, distinguish between cases where the 1998 Act is invoked and cases where it is not. Consequently, it is not possible to indicate how much the Department has spent on legal advice, representation and support in such cases.

Immigrants: Public Sector

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the amount that will be raised by the proposed introduction of charges for migrants for access to public services (a) in the first year of such a scheme and (b) in each subsequent year. [176212]

Mr Harper: The Immigration Bill plans to introduce a health surcharge for certain types of non-EEA migrants. The income generated from the surcharge is estimated to be around £230 million per year in the first year and in each subsequent year.

The Impact Assessment for this policy sets out which non-EEA migrants will be affected and how the estimated income is calculated. The Impact Assessment can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251972/Health_impact_assessment.pdf

Immigration

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on passing comment on individual cases where there is a genuine and legitimate public interest in those cases. [175988]

Mr Harper: It is the general policy of the Home Office not to disclose to a third party personal information about another person's immigration status unless there is a substantial public interest in doing so. In cases where there is a genuine and legitimate public interest in disclosure, we will comment to the extent necessary. This is underpinned by the first data protection principle, which allows for the disclosure of non-sensitive personal data for the exercise of functions of a public nature in the public interest.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under which budgetary heading her Department is funding the expansion of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [176135]

Damian Green: We intend to transfer resources from police forces to the Independent Police Complaints Commission to enable it to deal with all serious and sensitive cases involving the police.

Members: Correspondence

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan dated 31 May, 21 August and 24 October 2013 relating to overseas recruitment for Scotland's universities and colleges. [176053]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the hon. Member separately on this individual case on 19 November 2013.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 33W

Travel

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of domestic travel by representatives of her Department was (a) in total, (b) on hire cars, (c) on helicopter hire, (d) on hotel accommodation and (e) on subsistence in each year since 2010. [176756]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 22 November 2013]: The information on the cost of domestic travel made by representatives of the Department in each year since 2010 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

UK Border Force: Dorset

Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by the UK Border Force in (a) Poole constituency and (b) Dorset. [176064]

Mr Harper: Border Force employs 47 members of staff in the Poole constituency who also cover Dorset. The 47 border force staff are deployed, from Poole, to the ports and airports in the Dorset area.

Defence

Army

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers aged under 18, both in training and in the trained strength, have (a) been hospitalised for injuries and (b) died in the last three years. [176226]

Anna Soubry: While the Ministry of Defence does not necessarily hold data for all hospital admissions, we are aware that between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2012, 22 soldiers under the age of 18 have been admitted to hospital. Nine of these were admitted on an in-patient basis. It has not been possible to identify whether the remaining 13 were for an in-patient or out-patient appointment.

In the same period, three soldiers aged under 18 have died. This figure covers all causes of death: hostile action, accidents, natural causes, assaults, coroner confirmed suicides or open verdicts and cause not yet known.

Army: Bullying

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of beasting or other bullying among army personnel have been reported in each of the last 10 years; and in how many such incidents the (a) alleged victims and (b) alleged aggressors were under 18 at the time of their enlistment. [176227]

Anna Soubry: Bullying or beasting is not tolerated in the Ministry of Defence and when an allegation is made it is fully investigated.

Allegations may be reported through a variety of routes including via the chain of command, to the Royal Military Police, to the Service Complaints Commissioner who provides a rigorous and independent oversight of how the complaints system is working, or

25 Nov 2013 : Column 34W

through the Speak Out helpline, which was set up three years ago to provide personnel with a confidential avenue to report complaints. Information on the total number of incidents investigated in each of the last 10 years, or the ages of the alleged victims or aggressors, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Army: Qualifications

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits enlisting at Harrogate Army Foundation College in each of the last five years held (a) English GCSE, (b) mathematics GCSE and (c) 5 or more GCSE qualifications at any grade. [175999]

Anna Soubry: Details, by financial year (FY), of recruits who enlisted at Harrogate Army Foundation College with GCSE qualifications are provided in the following table:

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enlisted soldiers who were not commissioned officers gained GCSEs in (a) English and (b) mathematics while serving in the infantry in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many such soldiers gained GCSEs in (i) English and (ii) mathematics within four years of their enlisting. [176000]

Anna Soubry: The numbers of enlisted soldiers who gained GCSEs in English or mathematics while serving in the infantry in each of the last five years are provided in the following table:

Of these, the following numbers gained their GCSEs within four years of enlistment:

25 Nov 2013 : Column 35W

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enlisted soldiers who were not commissioned officers gained GCSEs in (a) English and (b) mathematics while serving in the army in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many such people gained GCSEs in (i) English and (ii) mathematics within four years of their enlisting. [176036]

Anna Soubry [holding answer 21 November 2013]: The numbers of enlisted soldiers who gained GCSEs in English or mathematics in each of the last five years are provided in the following table:

Of these, the following numbers gained their GCSEs within four years of enlistment:

Army: Recruitment

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army recruits were (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 or above at the point of their enlistment during the financial year (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013 to date. [176224]

Anna Soubry: The age of army recruits at the point of their enlistment is shown in the following table:

Figures in the annual report are currently being revised and will be published on Tuesday 26 November 2013.

Army: Training

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits at AFC Harrogate were training for roles in the infantry in each of the last four years. [176225]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 36W

Anna Soubry: The number of recruits being trained at AFC Harrogate for Infantry roles in each of the last four years is shown in the following table:

Defence Equipment and Support

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made during his Department's consideration of a possible transfer of the Defence Equipment and Support organisation to GOCO status of the characteristics and freedoms of the DE&S plus model that differentiate it from the status quo. [176362]

Mr Dunne: The Defence Equipment and Support Plus DE&S plus proposal is currently being developed and as the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), said in his written statement on 19 November 2013, Official Report, columns 44-5WS, we expect the detailed proposal to be evaluated alongside the Government-owned contractor-operated bid shortly.

Defence: Procurement

Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of expenditure on defence procurement contracts valued in excess of £5 million was placed with small and medium-sized enterprises based in the South West in each of the last three years. [176077]

Mr Dunne: It is not possible accurately to provide the proportion of expenditure of defence procurement contracts valued in excess of £5 million placed with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the South West without incurring disproportionate cost.

However, expenditure that can be indentified as with SMEs in the South West is set out in the following table:

This analysis is based on expenditure with companies positively identified as SMEs who have a billing address in the South West geographic region. It does not include payments made on behalf of other Government Departments, by Ministry of Defence Trading Funds and executive non-departmental public bodies, locally by the Department, through third parties such as prime contractors or other Government Departments, in relation

25 Nov 2013 : Column 37W

to collaborative projects where the payments are made through international procurement agencies or overseas Governments, or by Government Procurement Card.

NATO

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the NATO Standardised Agreement 1100. [176806]

Mr Dunne: I will not place a copy of NATO Standardised Agreement 1100 in the Library of the House. NATO regulations state that

“only individuals, bodies or organisations that require it for official NATO purposes may have access”

to documents of this type.

Pensions

Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the review of Ministry of Defence Police and Defence Fire and Rescue Service pensions will include examination of the MDP Net Pay Deduction; [177021]

(2) which stakeholders were consulted as part of the review of Ministry of Defence Police and Defence Fire and Rescue Service pensions. [177022]

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for International Security Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), on 31 October 2013, Official Report, column 549W, to the hon. Member for West Dunbartonshire (Gemma Doyle). The Department has consulted with the relevant trade unions while preparing this report.

The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) Net Pay Deduction is not part of the current Ministry of Defence review of MDP and Defence Fire and Rescue Services pensions, but is under review as part of the wider review of MDP terms and conditions due to conclude in spring 2014.

Reserve Forces: South West

Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of efforts to recruit new Army reservists in (a) Poole constituency, (b) Dorset and (c) the South West. [176075]

Anna Soubry: The Army has just started a new recruiting initiative in order to grow the size of the Army Reserve to 30,000 by 2018. The Army is actively recruiting across the country including in the south west.

In order to kick-start the recruitment process the Army is running a range of attraction events. In the week ending 15 November 2013 there have been over 80 such events in the south west which included Army engagement team events in Poole, Bristol and Taunton.

In addition, as the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) said on 20 November 2013, Official Report, column 1319, a number of pilot projects are also under way to trial different approaches to determine the most effective way not just to recruit

25 Nov 2013 : Column 38W

Reservists but to convert them to trained strength as rapidly as possible. Once these pilot projects conclude in December the successful projects will be rolled out across the country.

Shipbuilding: Portsmouth

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many options were submitted to the Government before the decision to close Portsmouth's ship building facility. [176311]

Mr Dunne: The 2009 Terms of Business Agreement requires BAE Systems (BAES) to rationalise its shipbuilding business in line with the predicted future workload. The company considered a number of scenarios, utilising external advisers to assist. As internal company business, these scenarios were not formally submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), as the final decision on how to rationalise its business was a matter for the company.

Detailed discussions between the MOD and BAES focused on only one scenario, the company's preferred option, to focus complex warship building on the Clyde.

Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of employees in his Department are (a) female and (b) male, by each Civil Service pay grade; [176585]

(2) 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; [176637]

(3) what proportion of employees in his Department have a physical or learning disability, by each Civil Service pay grade. [176655]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is an equal opportunities employer which is committed to meeting its obligations under the relevant legislation. Information held by the Department on civilian gender and declared ethnicity by pay grade as at 1 October 2013 is presented in the following table. However, information on the proportion of civilian employees with a declared disability is not currently available, following redefinition of the reporting categories in 2011 to facilitate alignment with revised census definitions. The number of staff who have subsequently made a disability declaration is not yet sufficient to enable valid reporting of disability representation rates.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 39W

The MOD publishes a biannual breakdown of diversity statistics which contains a wide-ranging analysis across all diversity categories. The next publication is due on 28 November 2013, and a link to this series can be found at the following web address:

http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/personnel/combined/diversity-dashboard

Type 23 Frigates: Portsmouth

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider a workshare approach to retain the existing proportion of Type 23 work in Portsmouth. [176309]

Mr Dunne: Major packages of upkeep work for Royal Navy warships are allocated by the Surface Ship Support Alliance, an alliance between the Ministry of Defence (MOD), BAE Systems Maritime—Naval Ships and Babcock Marine. These allocations are based on what is best for the maritime enterprise as a whole, taking account of factors such as industrial capacity, past performance and the ability to meet Royal Navy crew harmony guidelines. In allocating major upkeep work, the aim is to balance work across the surface fleet as a whole, rather than by each individual class of ship.

On current plans, this will mean that although the majority of future upkeep work on the Type 23 Frigates will be carried out at Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport, the work schedule agreed to date for HMNB Portsmouth includes upkeeps on HMS Westminster, three Type 45 Destroyers, and five Hunt Class minesweepers. Further upkeeps to be undertaken at HMNB Portsmouth will be scheduled in due course.

World War I

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to provide financial assistance in order to locate and identify the bodies of missing soldiers from the First World War in France. [176110]

Anna Soubry: The UK Government discourage the disturbance of battlefields where human remains may be present and do not authorise speculative searches of such sites. However, when bodies of missing service

25 Nov 2013 : Column 40W

personnel from the First World War are discovered, the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) will try to identify the body and contact the next of kin. The JCCC will then organise at public expense an appropriate burial in the nearest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the country in which the remains are found. If they are unable to identify the remains, they will be buried as “Known unto God”.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Business: Government Assistance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research his Department has undertaken into international examples of models of (a) advice provision and (b) funding for micro businesses. [176927]

Matthew Hancock: We repeatedly assess the adequacy of advice provision and compare internationally. To help develop the Small Business document we will publish in December, we have reviewed models of business support in some other industrialised countries through desk research and interviews with policy officials in those countries.

Although we review regularly international examples of access to finance models relating to small and medium sized businesses, we have not commissioned specific research on international models of finance for micro businesses.

Conditions of Employment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to protect the rights of employees subject to zero-hours contracts. [176969]

Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced that a consultation will take place shortly on zero-hours contracts. This consultation will seek views on the issues identified following an information gathering exercise undertaken by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills during the summer.

The consultation will seek views on both legislative and non-legislative proposals.

Copyright: Arts

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the scale of monthly imports from China of copies of goods for which intellectual property protection is intended to be introduced through the implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. [176206]

Jo Swinson: No such assessment has been made.

A “Call for Evidence” on the timing of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act is currently under way, and more information can be found at

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-policy/consult/consult-live/consult-2013-s52.htm

25 Nov 2013 : Column 41W

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons artistic designs made before 1 June 1957 do not receive intellectual property protection; what assessment he has made of the effects of this on the design and innovation sector in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [176312]

Jo Swinson: Design registration lasts for up to 25 years and will now have expired in works made before 1 June 1957.

The Government understands that some artistic works created before 1 June 1957, where the work was also a design, may attract copyright protection by virtue of the Term Directive (2006/116/EC). If a work of artistic craftsmanship were protected by copyright in any EU member state on 1 July 1995, then it would be protected in the UK.

Creating new copyright in these works would be likely to disrupt existing markets and hinder innovation, but no formal assessment of the scale of the impact has been made.

Diabetes: Research

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Government has spent on type 1 diabetes medical research in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [176296]

Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. Expenditure by the MRC on research into type 1 diabetes can be found in the following table:

Department of Health spend on research on type 1 diabetes through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards is in the following table:

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what comparative assessment his Department has made of the level of Government expenditure on type 1 diabetes medical research relative to other countries with a high incidence of type one diabetes. [176297]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 42W

Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research.

The MRC has not made an assessment of government expenditure on research on type 1 diabetes in the UK relative to publicly funded research in other countries with a high incidence of type 1 diabetes.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's response to the consultation on implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recast Directive 2012/19/EU and changes to the UK WEEE system published in October 2013, how he plans to ensure that the application of dual use provisions in the UK is in line with EU objectives for the collection of hazardous household and business waste. [176537]

Michael Fallon: The WEEE recast directive distinguishes between business-to-consumer and business-to-business WEEE.

The Government will meet EU requirements to prioritise the collection and treatment of all hazardous WEEE by ensuring that UK regulations on waste (including the WEEE regulations, the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment regulations, the waste regulations and the environmental permitting regulations) properly reflect the collection, treatment and other requirements in the WEEE recast directive and the waste framework directive and are effectively enforced.

In particular this will be achieved by requiring separate collection and treatment and requiring specific collection targets.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's response to the consultation on implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recast Directive 2012/19/EU and changes to the UK WEEE system published in October 2013, what steps the Government plan to take to prioritise the collection and treatment of hazardous waste and electronic equipment. [176538]

Michael Fallon: The Government will meet EU requirements to prioritise the collection and treatment of all hazardous WEEE by ensuring that UK regulations on waste (including the WEEE regulations, the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment regulations, the waste regulations and the environmental permitting regulations) properly reflect the collection, treatment and other requirements in the WEEE recast directive and the waste framework directive and are effectively enforced.

In particular this will be achieved by requiring separate collection and treatment and requiring specific collection targets.

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in improving the energy efficiency of his Department. [176202]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 43W

Jo Swinson: The ongoing rationalisation of its estate and improved space utilisation has enabled the Department to make significant improvements to the energy efficiency of its buildings.

The CO2 emissions reported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) core Department against the Greening Government Commitments (GGC) in year 2012/13 were reduced by 36%, compared to the 2009/10 baseline. The target is a 25% reduction by 2014/15.

One initiative aimed at reducing energy consumption is the partial closure of the 1 Victoria Street HQ over the Christmas period. This has been implemented since 2011 and saves in the region of 50 tonnes of CO2 each year.

BIS also ensures that any building plant or equipment that has come to the end of its economic life is replaced by more modern and energy efficient systems.

Exports: Government Assistance

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2013, Official Report, column 535W, what discussions his Department has had with EU authorities on the Export Refinancing Scheme; what deadline he has set for the conclusion of those discussions; and by what date he expects that scheme to begin operation. [176355]

Michael Fallon: I will write to the hon. Member with the requested information and place a copy in the Library of the House.

Gas Masks

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will issue a warning about the risk of inhalation of crocidolite asbestos when Second World War gas masks are used in schools for demonstration purposes. [176215]

Mr Laws: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Education.

The Department for Education takes the issue of asbestos management in schools very seriously and has discussed this matter with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE advise that it is not appropriate for children or teachers to wear or handle a gas mask unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the particular mask does not contain asbestos.

We have added this advice to our on-line guidance on asbestos management in schools and issued it to schools and local authorities.

We will continue to work closely with HSE and keep this matter under review.

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will meet the Secretary of State for Education and Ministers from the devolved Administrations to discuss the risk of inhalation of crocidolite asbestos from the use of Second World War gas masks in schools for demonstration purposes. [176796]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 44W

Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has no plans to discuss this issue with the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), or Ministers from the devolved Administrations.

Google

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what discussions his Department has had with (a) Which?, (b) Consumer Futures and (c) other consumer organisations on the European Commission's anti-trust investigation into Google; [176340]

(2) what discussions his Department has had with the Office of Fair Trading on the European Commission's anti-trust investigation into Google. [176341]

Jo Swinson: This Department has not been in contact with consumer groups or the competition authorities about this specific investigation, which is for the European Commission to decide. Once the European Commission has made its decision, the Government will work with consumer groups and competition authorities, as necessary, to understand its impact.

This Department is in regular contact with the Office of Fair Trading on competition issues more widely. This contact will continue when responsibility for competition issues transfers to the new Competition and Markets Authority from next year.

Land Registry

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with Google on stopping advertisements for unofficial websites which seek to encourage customers to pay them for Land Registry services. [176521]

Michael Fallon: Land Registry have not held any discussions with Google, as the websites referred to are not illegal while they are not infringing Land Registry trademarks and displaying that they are independent of Land Registry.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 10 October 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton regarding Ms J Emanuel. [177195]

Jo Swinson: According to our records, we have not received a copy of the letter referred to. If the right hon. Member would forward a copy, we will respond as a matter of urgency.

Regional Growth Fund

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what targets have been set for winning bidders to draw down funds under each round of the Regional Growth Fund; and how much and what proportion of funds have not been drawn down to date from the existing round of the fund. [176322]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 45W

Michael Fallon: Selected bidders have until January 2014 to draw down funds under Rounds 1 and 2 of the Regional Growth Fund and until February 2015 under Rounds 3 and 4.

Round 4 conditional awards were announced in July and all projects and programmes have until January 2014 to finalise their awards. No funds from that round have been drawn down to date.

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will provide a breakdown by (a) region and (b) local authority area of the difference between the expected and actual investment outlined in the Regional Growth Fund Annual Monitoring Report 2013. [176324]

Michael Fallon: We do not hold the information. The £1.7 billion anticipated level of combined Regional Growth Fund (RGF) and private sector investment referred to in the Annual Monitoring Report is a national level estimate of the investment projects and programmes should have delivered by 31 March 2013 and is therefore not possible to disaggregate to any lower geographical level.

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the success of the Regional Growth Fund. [176896]

Michael Fallon: The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a success. Over 400 companies and other organisations have successfully applied to the first four rounds of the RGF and received offers totalling £2.6 billion. This will generate £14.7 billion of private sector investment and deliver 550,000 jobs.

With our accelerated timetable, we have now completed the contracting process for rounds 1 and 2 and there is only one bidder yet to finalise terms in round 3. Almost 300 projects and programmes are now operational. Round 4 offers will need to be agreed by January 2014, meaning another 100 schemes will be under way.

The first RGF Annual Monitoring Report was published on 11 July 2013, detailing the progress made in rounds 1 and 2 up to 31 March 2013. It showed an estimated 58,600 jobs had been delivered—one in five of the total employment profile for rounds 1 and 2.

To date, across all four rounds, £816 million has been paid to beneficiaries. Over 3,200 small and medium-sized enterprises have been supported through RGF programmes, meaning companies of all sizes are benefiting from the RGF.

Trade Promotion

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which firms have been included on ministerial trade missions by sector since May 2010. [176242]

Michael Fallon: The information is currently being collated and will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 46W

Treasury

Bank Services: Fees and Charges

Dr McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with banks concerning bank fees and charges. [176901]

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations as part of the usual policy making process. As with the previous Administration, this Government do not provide details of these meetings.

Business

Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an update on the development of What Works centres; and what involvement and consultation he envisages for local businesses in that process. [176318]

Mr Letwin: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

The What Works Network currently consists of five independent evidence centres covering the areas of health and social care, education attainment, local growth, crime reduction and effective early intervention. The newest centre, on local economic growth, launched last month and has two systematic reviews of evidence under way. Meanwhile, an academic consortium including eight universities has been commissioned to carry out the What Works functions of the College of Policing.

When developing each of the new What Works centres, businesses were consulted wherever appropriate—for example, in the creation of the Centre for Local Economic Growth.

Credit

Damian Hinds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what data his Department holds and at what geographical levels on the volume and value of (a) payday lending, (b) home credit, (c) logbook lending, (d) pawnbroking, (e) rent-to-own, (f) agency mail order and (g) other forms of sub-prime or high-cost credit. [176452]

Sajid Javid: The Government do not record data on consumer credit.

Credit: Databases

Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on investigating options for improving access to SME credit data to make it easier for newer lenders to assess loans to smaller businesses; and what deadline has been set for the establishment of the database. [176319]

Mr Gauke: The Government have committed to investigate options for improving access to SME credit data to make it easier for newer lenders to assess loans to smaller businesses.

The Government are currently carrying out further analysis into this issue and will provide an update in due course.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 47W

Credit: Interest Rates

Dr McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to increase awareness of the dangers in taking out multiple payday loans. [176903]

Sajid Javid: The Government have been very clear that payday lenders should only make loans to those who can afford to pay them back. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is taking over responsibility for consumer credit regulation in April 2014, and will require lenders to undertake tough affordability assessments.

The Government also strongly welcome the FCA's proposals to require that all payday loan adverts carry a 'wealth warning' about the risks of taking out payday loans, and that adverts signpost to the Money Advice Service (MAS), which provides information to support consumers to make sound borrowing decisions and helps those in financial difficulty access debt advice and support.

Departmental Co-ordination

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems are in place to ensure effective communication between officials in his Department and economists in (a) UK Trade & Investment, (b) the Department of Health and (c) other Departments. [177019]

Nicky Morgan: Treasury officials with responsibility for public spending control and promoting growth have regular contact with officials and economists in other Government Departments. There are also regular meetings of Government chief economists for all Government Departments.

Economic Growth: EU Countries

Mr Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of 0.1 per cent growth in the eurozone from June to September 2013; and if he will make a statement. [176022]

Nicky Morgan: HM Treasury monitors economic developments in key international economies on an ongoing basis as part of the normal process of policy development.

Growth in the euro area is welcome but, as in the UK, further structural reform and fiscal consolidation is needed to underpin recovery and strengthen growth.

Employee Ownership

Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many firms have made enquiries to (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) other Government Departments and agencies for information on employee shareholder status to date; and how many of these came from (i) firms wishing to use the scheme themselves and (ii) those advising other businesses on the scheme; [176316]

(2) how many firms are using employee shareholder status; and how many people are employed on this basis. [176317]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 48W

Mr Gauke: There is no requirement on any business wishing to offer an employee shareholder agreement to notify Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or any other Government Department or agency in advance. No record is available of the number of inquiries received by HMRC or other Government Departments and agencies in connection with employee shareholder status. This applies to inquiries received from both businesses and advisers.

Details of the number of businesses offering employee shareholder status or the number of employee shareholders are not available.

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in improving the energy efficiency of his Department. [175983]

Nicky Morgan: A summary of the Department's energy consumption, travel and staffing data for the last three full financial years can be found in Chapter 3 of the Treasury's Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 and Chapter 4 of the 2011-12 Report and Accounts, copies of which have been deposited in the Library.

Inflation

Mr McKenzie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference in the rate of inflation between the UK and other EU countries. [176497]

Nicky Morgan: In the UK, annual consumer prices index inflation was 2.2% in October 2013, well below the peak of 5.2% in September 2011. In the November Inflation Report, the Monetary Policy Committee judge that:

“inflation is set to fall back to around the 2% target over the next year or so.”

Inheritance Tax

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs on its policy of requiring the payment of inheritance tax from estates before probate has been granted; and if he will make a statement. [177109]

Mr Gauke: The requirement to pay any inheritance tax due on an estate before probate is granted is a very long standing feature of the inheritance tax and probate system. The Government have no plans to change it.

Loans: Arrears

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of households with loans in arrears in (a) April 2010 and (b) the latest period for which figures are available. [176100]

Mr Gauke: The Government do not collect or publish data on an aggregated basis for the number of households with loans in arrears. A number of organisations including the Bank of England collect data on household finances, which they make available publically.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 49W

The Council for Mortgage Lenders publishes data on mortgage arrears, which the Department for Communities and Local Government summarises each year on the Government website. This puts the number of households in mortgage arrears at 144,200 at the end of 2010, and at 118,400 at the end of 2012.

A table showing the last four years follows:

Payment Systems Regulator

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the likely levy amount a designated payment system would pay to fund his proposed new Payment Systems Regulator. [177116]

Sajid Javid: The new Payment Systems Regulator will set out details of the required levy payments once it is operational, and the Treasury has designated the first tranche of payment systems to be regulated. Under the new regulatory regime, the FCA will make rules requiring the payment of specified amounts for the purpose of meeting the costs of the FCA and the Payment Systems Regulator relating to the discharge of the Regulator's functions. Before making these rules, the FCA will be required to consult the Treasury. The Regulator will be required to operate a financial penalty scheme, whereby an amount equal to its enforcement costs is applied for the benefit of its regulated population, by reducing their levy the following year.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the annual costs of his proposed new Payment Systems Regulator. [177117]

Sajid Javid: The costs of the Payment Systems Regulator will be borne by the industry, in line with standard models for utility regulation. The FCA will levy the regulated population as required to fund the Payment Systems Regulator. The legislation provides that the Regulator must adopt an annual budget which has been approved by the FCA, and before adopting or varying a budget, the Regulator must consult the Treasury. The Regulator will also be required to publish its budget.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the three objectives for the Payment Systems Regulator proposed in the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill should be viewed as equally important, or if there is a hierarchy of importance. [177157]

Sajid Javid: The Payment Systems Regulator will be given three equally weighted objectives which will guide it in addressing the major issues the Government have identified in the payments market. The regulator will be required to act, so far as is reasonably possible, in a way which advances one or more of its objectives.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 50W

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what distinction his Department makes between non-party schemes and the automated inter-bank payment systems, the cheque clearing system and international three and four party card systems which will initially be designated as within the scope of the new Payment Systems Regulator. [177158]

Sajid Javid: Under the new regulatory regime, HM Treasury will designate payment systems to bring them—and system participants—into the scope of the regulator's powers. Initially, the Treasury expects to designate the main inter-bank systems, the cheque clearing system and the international three and four party card systems. However, as set out in the legislation, all retail payment systems active in the UK will be in the potential scope of regulation, meaning "no-party" schemes may also be brought into the scope of regulation, if and when they meet the criteria for designation. These criteria require that the Treasury must be satisfied that any deficiencies in the design of the payment system, or any disruption in its operation, would be likely to have serious consequences for those who use, or are likely to use, the services provided by the system. Once designated, the Payment Systems Regulator will be required to advance its objectives in a proportionate manner, which will include taking into account differences between members of the regulated population.

Personal Income: Scotland

Mr McKenzie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's fiscal policy on household incomes in Scotland. [176546]

Nicky Morgan: The Government publish distributional analysis at each fiscal event which shows how households across the income distribution are affected by this Government's tax, welfare, and public service spending.

The most recent assessment was at Spending Round 2013, which showed that the richest 20% of households continue to make the greatest contribution to reducing the deficit, both in cash terms and as a percentage of their income.

This analysis is not available for Scotland or other geographical breakdowns smaller than the UK.

Taxation: Rebates

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to prevent scam companies from charging for assistance in recovering tax rebates. [176095]

Mr Gauke: HMRC's Charter acknowledges that a third party can represent any taxpayer and many individuals and businesses authorise a tax agent to act on their behalf. This is often the case when a taxpayer wishes to determine if they are due a refund.

HMRC has recently received a report on refund organisations by the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG).

HMRC and LITRG are meeting to discuss how repayment processes could be improved for taxpayers who wish to deal directly with HMRC, rather than use the services of a tax agent.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 51W

HMRC is fully aware of the dangers that tax agents who act inappropriately or unprofessionally pose to both the Exchequer and the clients they represent. Specialist HMRC teams have been set up to deal with poor agent performance. If criminality, rather than negligence or failure to take reasonable care, is found, HMRC will seek to prosecute.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, (b) 0844 and (c) 0843 his Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls each number has received in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at the BT local rate are available in each case. [175006]

Mr Gauke: The Department does not operate 0844 or 0843 numbers.

HMRC operated 511 lines providing 0845 numbers during the last 12 months.

In the 12 months ending 31 October 2013 HMRC received 43,740,532 calls to those 0845 lines.

Between April and September 2013, HMRC has introduced alternative 03 numbers, which cost the same as those to 01 and 02 numbers, to all of its customer facing 0845 lines making the service cheaper for most customers.

During the initial roll out period, parallel running of the existing 0845 and new 03 numbers has meant that customers have a choice, though 03 numbers are usually less expensive to call. All HMRC 0845 numbers will be phased out on a rolling basis, the last line closing by April 15.

Education

After-school Clubs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many primary academies and primary free schools provide breakfast clubs; [177104]

(2) how many academies and free schools provide breakfast clubs; [177105]

(3) how many primary academies and primary free schools offer extended services; [177106]

(4) how many academies and free schools offer extended services. [177107]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education does not collect information about the number of academies or free schools in England that provide breakfast clubs or extended services.

It is for schools to decide whether to operate a breakfast club or offer extended services. We do, however, know of many examples of academies and free schools championing this approach for the benefit of pupils, families and the school itself.

Al-Madinah School

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what correspondence he has received from Derbyshire constabulary about the Al-Madinah Free School in Derby before and since the school opened. [177114]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 52W

Mr Timpson: The Department did not receive any correspondence from the police relating to the school before or since it opened.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answers of 5 November 2013, Official Report, columns 155-56W, on children: day care, how many parents responded to the survey of ratios in nurseries and other child care settings; what the breakdown of responses to the survey was; when he informed the Deputy Prime Minister about the survey; and if he will make a statement. [176371]

Elizabeth Truss: The purpose of the survey was exploratory, to identify issues with the implementation of current policy and understand the barriers to greater employment of teachers in early years. It was not a quantitative study with a representative sample and as such did not identify parents as respondents.

The Department for Education continues to work closely with the Deputy Prime Minister's office and others across the Government's child care reform agenda.

Children: Protection

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the merits of multi-agency safeguarding hubs as a method of improving child protection. [176781]

Mr Timpson: The Home Office, working in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Department of Health and the Department for Education, commissioned a project in October 2012 to improve understanding of the different multi-agency models in place to support information sharing, which included Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH). A report of the project's early findings was published in July 2013, and the final report is due to be published in the new year. The early findings report is available online¹.

The Department for Education will consider, along with the Home Office and other interested parties, how best to share good practice from the study once it concludes.

¹ www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment _data/file/225012/MASH_Product.pdf

Class Sizes

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education under what conditions a child can be counted as an excepted pupil to a class. [176801]

Mr Laws: The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 limits the size of an infant class to 30 pupils per school teacher. There are limited prescribed exceptions to this limit which are set out in the School Admissions Code 2012. These are:

1. children admitted outside the normal admissions round with statements of special educational needs specifying a school;

2. looked after children and previously looked after children admitted outside the normal admissions round;

3. children admitted, after initial allocation of places, because of a procedural error made by the admission authority or local authority in the original application process;

25 Nov 2013 : Column 53W

4. children admitted after an independent appeals panel upholds an appeal;

5. children who move into the area outside the normal admissions round for whom there is no other available school within reasonable distance;

6. children of UK service personnel admitted outside the normal admissions round;

7. children whose twin or sibling from a multiple birth is admitted otherwise than as an excepted pupil;

8. children with special educational needs who are normally taught in a special educational needs unit attached to the school, or registered at a special school, who attend some infant classes within the mainstream school.

There are no statutory limits on class sizes for older pupils.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for how long a pupil admitted to a class as an exception can remain in that class before they are no longer counted as excepted. [176802]

Mr Laws: Children admitted as an exception to the infant class size limit will remain excepted for the time they are in an infant class or until the class numbers fall back to the infant class size limit of 30.

Communication Skills

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether Ofsted has a policy of discouraging use of regional accents and dialects in schools. [176519]

Mr Laws: I have asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on schools discouraging regional accents and dialects. [176520]

Mr Laws: We want all pupils to learn to speak confidently and effectively. Our new national curriculum for English focuses on teaching all pupils to learn to speak and write fluently in standard English because this helps them to participate fully as a member of society.

The focus on fluency in standard English in the national curriculum does not impose a prescribed way of speaking and we do not expect schools to discourage pupils or teachers who speak with a regional accent or dialect.

Crimes of Violence: Females

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when a minister from his Department has attended the Inter-Ministerial Group on violence against women and girls since its inception. [177083]

Mr Timpson: I refer the hon. Member to my response of 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 732W (PQ 175719).

Disabled Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of employees in his Department have a physical or learning disability, by each Civil Service pay grade. [176657]

25 Nov 2013 : Column 54W

Elizabeth Truss: The proportions of employees with a disability in the Department, including its three executive agencies, on 31 October 2013, are shown in the following table. Not all employees choose to declare whether or not they have a disability, so the proportions are shown both as a percentage of those declaring and as a percentage of all employees.

For comparison, the corresponding proportions for the Department for Children, Schools and Families on 31 March 2009 are also shown.

Discrimination

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [176553]

Elizabeth Truss: No employment tribunals were lodged against the Department on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination in any of the last five years.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of his Department or its Executive agencies by (a) current employees and (b) prospective employees in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176570]

Elizabeth Truss: No complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity were received in any of the last five years.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department or its Executive agencies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176621]

Elizabeth Truss: The number of complaints of racial discrimination or harassment for each of the last five years is as follows:

25 Nov 2013 : Column 55W

The Department does not hold information on disciplinary action resulting from complaints.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department or its Executive agencies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176674]

Elizabeth Truss: The number of complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment for each of the last five years is as follows:

The Department does not hold information on disciplinary action resulting from complaints.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department or its executive agencies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176691]

Elizabeth Truss: The number of complaints of disability discrimination or harassment for each of the last five years is as follows:

The Department does not hold information on disciplinary action resulting from complaints.

Education: Voucher Schemes

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the use of education vouchers. [176049]

Mr Timpson: The Government do not have any plans to introduce education vouchers. Our priority is to ensure that state-funded schools are able to offer pupils high quality education which raises the educational attainment of all pupils and reduces the gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 56W

Energy

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made on improving the energy efficiency of his Department. [175994]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education has made excellent progress in improving the energy efficiency of its estate, by reducing its total operational greenhouse gas emissions by 29% in 2012-13 against a 2009-10 baseline. This has led to a reduction of about £1.1 million to the Department's annual energy bill.

Free School Meals

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether there will be more than one gluten-free menu choice available for children that require a gluten-free diet under the Government's proposed free school meals programme. [176998]

Mr Laws: The Department for Education will be consulting on a revised set of school food standards early in 2014 as part of our strategy to ensure that all schools, caterers and suppliers are providing healthy, tasty and nutritious food to pupils. Within those statutory guidelines, schools will be free to decide their school meals policy and in doing so are expected to take pupils' dietary needs into account and make reasonable adjustments accordingly. School leaders and their catering providers are best placed to make such decisions based on their individual circumstances.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provision will be in place in the Government's free school meals programme for children with special dietary needs; and what (a) training for school caterers and suppliers of school meals and (b) safeguards will be in place to ensure that gluten-free meals meet EU Regulation 1169/2011 and other necessary standards. [176999]

Mr Laws: Training for school caterers and suppliers is the responsibility of their employer. The Food Standards Agency has been working to ensure that food safety training covers food allergy and food intolerance issues. They have developed a food allergy training tool, which highlights steps that should be followed to make sure good practice is used in the manufacture and production of food. The online training offers practical advice to local authority food law enforcement officers (both food hygiene and food standards) and anyone wanting to learn more about food allergy, such as managers and staff in the manufacturing and catering industries, and is available at:

http://allergytraining.food.gov.uk/english/

The Food Standards Agency has responsibility for food aspects of food allergy and intolerance, including the implementation of Regulations (EC) 41/2009 and 1169/2011 and providing risks assessments for incidents where misleading gluten claims have been made.

The Department for Education will be consulting on a revised set of school food standards early in 2014 as part of our strategy to ensure that all schools, caterers and suppliers are providing healthy, tasty and nutritious food to pupils. Within those statutory guidelines, schools will be free to decide their school meals policy and in doing so are expected to take pupils' dietary needs into

25 Nov 2013 : Column 57W

account and make reasonable adjustments accordingly. School leaders and their catering providers are best placed to make such decisions based on their individual circumstances.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how the requirements for (a) children with coeliac disease who must follow a gluten-free diet and (b) other children with special dietary needs will be met through the free school meals programme that will be introduced in September 2014. [R] [177000]

Mr Laws: The Department for Education will be consulting on a revised set of school food standards early in 2014 as part of our strategy to ensure that all schools, caterers and suppliers are providing healthy, tasty and nutritious food to pupils. Within those statutory guidelines, schools will be free to decide their school meals policy and in doing so are expected to take pupils' dietary needs into account and make reasonable adjustments accordingly. School leaders and their catering providers are best placed to make such decisions based on their individual circumstances.

Free Schools

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps are his Department is taking to ensure that free schools are opening in areas with a shortage of school places. [176780]

Mr Timpson: Free schools are set up in response to demand from parents for a new school in their area. In assessing the merits of individual free school applications we take into account, among other things, the basic need for places, and the quality of existing schools in the area.

Seven in 10 open mainstream free schools are in areas of basic need. By September 2014, we expect 130,000 extra places will have been created by the free schools programme, with many more to come.

Over the current spending review and in addition to the free schools programme, we are spending £5 billion on addressing the shortage of places through basic need funding—more than double the amount spent by the previous Government over an equivalent four-year period.

Free Schools: Inspections

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment the Department has made of the Ofsted inspections of the first wave of free schools. [176779]

Mr Timpson: The first 24 free schools, which opened in September 2011, have now been judged against Ofsted's inspection framework. Of those, 18 were assessed as good or outstanding. One school was judged to be inadequate and we expect urgent action to be taken to bring about rapid improvement. The school is being closely monitored by Ofsted and the Department.

Kings Science Academy

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) for what reason, after he had been briefed that the police were not intending to proceed with an investigation into fraud allegations at Kings

25 Nov 2013 : Column 58W

Science Academy, Bradford, in September 2013, he did not instruct his officials to hand over the full and unredacted internal audit report to the police; [176130]

(2) for what reason, after he had been briefed on the internal audit report into Kings Science Academy, Bradford, in April 2013, he did not instruct officials to provide the police with a full and unredacted copy of the report; [176131]

(3) for what reason, after he was briefed on the internal audit report into Kings Science Academy, Bradford, in April 2013, he did not instruct officials to seek a meeting with the police in order to brief them fully about the audit report; [176132]

(4) for what reasons after learning that the police were not intending to proceed with an investigation into fraud allegations at Kings Science Academy, Bradford in September 2013, he did not instruct his officials to seek a meeting with the police in order to find out the full reasons why they were not so proceeding. [176343]

Mr Timpson: The matter was referred to Action Fraud on 25 April. Officials at the Department for Education contacted Action Fraud to inquire about progress, on 5 September, and were told that the case had been assessed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau who had decided not to take the case further.

Action Fraud notified the Department on 1 November by telephone that the information provided had been wrongly classified as an information report rather than a crime report. This error has been rectified by Action Fraud and West Yorkshire police have confirmed they are now investigating. The Department is co-operating fully with their inquiries and has provided the West Yorkshire police with an unredacted copy of the investigation report, at their request. Action Fraud has apologised to the Department for this error.

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what contact his Department had with Action Fraud concerning Kings Science Academy in Bradford from 25 April to 1 November 2013; [176281]

(2) what contact his Department has had with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau concerning fraud at Kings Science Academy in Bradford from 25 April to 1 November 2013. [176282]

Mr Timpson: All contact relating to the case has been with Action Fraud.

Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud reporting centre, providing a central point of contact for information about fraud. It is run by the National Fraud Agency which works in partnership with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). Action Fraud reports cases of fraud to the NFIB, and it was created by the police to help them catch fraudsters. All confirmed reports of fraud from Action Fraud are passed on to the NFIB.

The Department therefore contacted Action Fraud on 25 April and 5 September about matters arising from the Department's investigation into Kings Science Academy. Action Fraud notified the Department on 1 November that the information provided had been wrongly classified as an information report rather than a crime report. This error has been rectified by Action

25 Nov 2013 : Column 59W

Fraud and West Yorkshire police have confirmed they are now investigating. Action Fraud has apologised to the Department for this error.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education at what intervals his Department planned to undertake or commission independent audits of the financial accounts of Kings Science Academy, Bradford, in 2013. [176445]

Mr Timpson: Academy trusts are required by their funding agreements to ensure that their accounts are audited annually, including the regularity of income and expenditure, by independent auditors appointed under arrangements approved by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove).

Under these arrangements, all academies, including Kings Science Academy, are required to submit their next set of audited accounts, covering the period from 1 September 2012 to 31 August 2013, to the Secretary of State for Education by 31 December 2013 (and to Companies House by 31 May 2014). The accounts will be rigorously scrutinised when received by the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

Additional to these arrangements, the EFA continues to monitor Kings Science Academy's progress in implementing the agreed improvement actions, including in its systems for financial reporting, following the investigation earlier this year.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which company leased land to Kings Science Academy, Bradford; and who the chairman and vice-chairman of that company are. [176446]

Mr Timpson: Kings Science Academy opened in temporary accommodation leased from Liaqat Hussain Khalil Ur Rehman, Khadim Hussain and Haji Gulzar, trustees of Jamiyat Tabligh-ul-Islam, a Bradford mosque. The school later transferred to its permanent site secured on a lease from Hartley Property Trust Limited. Companies House lists Alan James Lewis as the chairman of Hartley Property Trust Limited. No vice-chairman is named.

Languages: Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote the teaching of foreign languages in schools. [175925]

Elizabeth Truss: The English Baccalaureate is already encouraging more young people to take a language at GCSE level. The number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 (ages 14 to 16) in England entered for a modern foreign language GCSE increased by over 20% from 2012 to 2013.

We have made study of a foreign language compulsory at key stage 2 (ages seven to 11) as part of the new national curriculum which comes into force from September 2014. Schools will be able to teach any modem or ancient foreign language.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 60W

Mathematics: Education

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will meet teachers' and parents' representatives about the possibility of continuing with November entry for mathematics for Year 11 students. [175978]

Elizabeth Truss: Department for Education Ministers have met representative groups, including the Association of School and College Leaders and the National Association of Head Teachers, to discuss the changes to the way that qualifications count towards performance measures. Ministers have also met with a number of individual head teachers.

Our decision to count only a pupil's first entry does not prevent schools from entering pupils for GCSE mathematics in November, if they believe they are adequately prepared to gain the best possible result. The changes will make sure that schools do not enter pupils early when it is not in the pupil's best interests.

Evidence published by the Department for Education in 2011 showed that pupils who enter early do worse than pupils who do not, even when taking prior attainment into account. A report by Ofsted corroborated many of these concerns, raising issues with the impact of early entry on students.

The Department's announcement on early entry, and both reports, can be accessed at the following web address:

www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-early-entry-at-gcse

National Curriculum Tests

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2013, Official Report, column 607W, on National Curriculum Tests, how many schools reported exceptional circumstances (a) on and (b) after the deadline. [176459]

Elizabeth Truss: Before the deadline, six schools reported IT issues to the Standards and Testing Agency which could not be resolved by the deadline.

After the deadline, three schools reported that serious tragedies had occurred during the pupil registration period which had affected their ability to register children for the tests. A further 19 schools reported that they had completed pupil registration by the deadline but that there were clerical errors which needed to be corrected.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [176428]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education and its executive agencies receive the Parliamentary Television Service, which provides Ministers with access to Parliament TV. This service includes access to Sky Sports 1 and 2, but there is no additional fee to the Department for receiving these channels.

25 Nov 2013 : Column 61W

Pupil Exclusions

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils have been permanently excluded from schools in (a) Ribble Valley

25 Nov 2013 : Column 62W

constituency,

(b)

Lancashire and

(c)

England in each of the last five years. [177053]

Elizabeth Truss: Information on permanent exclusions in Ribble Valley constituency, Lancashire local authority and England is shown in the following table:

Pupils: Bullying

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to support anti-bullying week; and if he will make a statement. [176509]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department is providing over £4 million funding over two years from 2013 to four anti-bullying organisations—Beatbullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the National Children's Bureau consortium—and through social media is directly supporting their campaigns during anti-bullying week. The Department fully supports the Anti-bullying Alliance's call for a national debate on cyber-bullying. This would provide an opportunity to bring together all parties including industry, the voluntary sector, parents, schools and pupils to identity creative solutions to combat the issue of cyber-bullying.

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with (a) internet providers, (b) social media platforms and (c) search engines about (i) the ability to report cyber-bullying and (ii) providing information on the effects of cyber-bullying and where to get support. [176722]

Elizabeth Truss: Government Ministers have regular meetings with internet providers, social media platforms and search engines on matters related to internet safety, including cyber-bullying. Ministers from the Department for Education, Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport also co-chair the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) which brings together a range of experts across Government, law enforcement, industry, academia and charities to consider the best ways to minimise the risk of harm to children when online.

The Government believe that internet providers, schools, and parents all have a role to play in keeping children and young people safe online. The Prime Minister has called for responsible behaviour from website owners and expects all social media to have simple mechanisms for reporting abuse, to take action promptly when abuse is reported and to make it easier for users to turn off anonymous posts.

All schools must have a behaviour policy which includes measures to prevent all forms of bullying, including cyber-bullying. Schools have the flexibility to develop their own measures to prevent and tackle bullying, but are held to account by Ofsted.

In addition, the Government recognise that educating young people about online safety is key to tackling cyber-bullying. From September 2014 pupils in all four key stages will be taught about e-safety as part of the new curriculum. This will empower young people to tackle cyber-bullying through responsible, respectful and secure use of technology, as well as ensuring that pupils are taught age-appropriate ways of reporting any concerns they may have about what they see or encounter online.

The Department is also providing £4 million of funding over two years from 2013 to four anti-bullying organisations. These are Beatbullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the National Children's Bureau consortium. While this funding has been awarded to specific projects to reduce bullying in general, this can, and does, include work to tackle cyber-bullying.