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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance

Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much revenue has been raised from (a) council tax and (b) business rates in each year since the introduction of council tax. [175178]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 12 November 2013]:Historical figures on council tax and business rates revenue can be found in the annual publication, “Local government financial statistics England”, copies of which can be found online and which are also presented to Parliament each year further to section 168(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-government-finance-statistics-england

Local Government: Tower Hamlets

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what communication he has had with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets about adherence to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Publicity; [173993]

(2) how many local authorities he or Ministers in his Department have written to with regard to their observance of the Code of Practice on Local Authority Publicity. [173994]

Brandon Lewis: Ministers have corresponded on a number of occasions with councillors at Tower Hamlets, who are rightly concerned that the council continues to fail to comply with the code. Ministers recommended that the issue should be taken up with the local (district) auditor; however, it has become clear that such auditors are unwilling or unable to take action on clear breaches of the code and abuses of taxpayers’ money. Hence, we are legislating via the Local Audit and Accountability Bill.

When the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity was revised in March 2011 my officials wrote to all local authority chief executives drawing their attention to the code. My officials wrote to all local authority chief executives again in April 2013, enclosing a copy of the Government's consultation document on proposals to give the code greater force.

Non-domestic Rates: Public Houses

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to promote the take-up of rural rate relief by public houses when they are the last public house in the village. [175615]

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Brandon Lewis [holding answer 18 November 2013]:This Government take every opportunity to promote take-up of all non-domestic rates reliefs. However, having noted the content of early-day motion 599 sponsored by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol North West (Charlotte Leslie), we will be writing to local authorities to remind them of their powers in relation to rural rate relief. Information on rural rate relief is also included in the gov.uk advice to firm on business rates, at

www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief

More generally, we have also made it easier through the Localism Act 2011 for ratepayers to claim small business rate relief and have temporarily doubled the level of discount. We also continue to encourage local authorities to consider using the powers which we have given them to grant local discounts as well as discretionary hardship rate relief. Central Government automatically fund 50% of the costs of discounts granted.

Planning Permission

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent guidance his Department has given to local authorities on tackling unauthorised development. [176234]

Nick Boles: My Department published a guide entitled “Dealing with illegal and unauthorised encampments: a summary of available powers” in August 2013, at

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227492/130807_Dealing_with_illegal_encampments_format_and_ISBN.pdf

which includes planning enforcement powers.

In addition, as set out in the Budget, the Government have fundamentally overhauled planning practice guidance to ensure this provides up to date, easily accessible advice on planning. This is in line with the recommendations of Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (December 2012), providing much needed simplicity and clarity that will better support planning delivery and growth. This includes guidance on ensuring effective enforcement.

The new draft guidance suite was open on the internet for informal comment until 14 October 2013; all contributions made during this time will be taken into consideration in finalising the guidance.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to improve the procedures for using article 4 directions to protect residents from development under permitted development rights. [176238]

Nick Boles: The process for making an article 4 direction is well known and was simplified in 2010. 43 local authorities having consulted their community and put a direction in place this year.

We have recently revised our guidance to ensure it provides up to date, easily accessible advice. The detailed guidance on making article 4 directions is available on the beta site of the National Planning Practice Guidance:

http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/when-is-permission-required/what-are-permitted-development-rights/#paragraph_034

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Planning Permission: Liverpool

Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons he has called in Liverpool city council's consideration of proposals for Welsh Streets in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. [176162]

Nick Boles [holding answer 21 November 2013]:Save Britain's Heritage and a number of other interested parties made a request that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government call in for his own decision the demolition and redevelopment of the Welsh Streets area of Liverpool. On 24 September, the Secretary of State issued his decision calling in the application having considered the proposal carefully against the call-in indicators set out in the written ministerial statement of 26 October 2012, Official Report, columns 71-72WS. The call-in decision letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many private sector employees have been seconded by the private sector to his Department; what the name was of the company from which they were seconded; and whether any of those employees have worked on drafting legislation. [175645]

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ 175814 today, to the hon. Member for Derby North (Chris Williamson).

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff have been seconded to his Department over the last two years; for how long they were seconded; and from which organisation. [175814]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 18 November 2013]: The Department seconds staff in to the organisation in order to help bring in external expertise across the Department's responsibilities such as for local government, housing, planning and communities. Since November 2011, 37 staff were seconded into the Department, details of these are in the following table.

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Social Rented Housing

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many families living in the social rented sector moved home within that sector in each year since 2008 for which data are available. [177238]

Kris Hopkins: The number of households with children taking up a general needs social letting having moved from within the social sector is shown in the following table.

Social lettings to households within children make up around 35-40% of all general needs social lettings each year.

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Home Department

Animal Experiments

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce the number of animals used in experiments; and if she will make a statement. [174598]

Norman Baker: 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 (3R's) more broadly, putting them at the heart of a science-led approach.

We will be publishing a Delivery Plan imminently that will set out how the Government is supporting and encouraging these advances and the programmes and policies through which Government will continue to deliver its commitment. The consequence will be accelerated take-up of the 3R's both domestically and internationally, set on the tenets of good science, good animal welfare and good for the UK and economic growth.

The commitment is being delivered through a science-led programme led by the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), an organisation with a strong record in reducing animal use.

The NC3Rs closely involves Government Departments and agencies, the Home Office Inspectorate, the research community in both academia and industry, and others with relevant animal welfare interests.

Consultants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many consultants were engaged by her Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date; which companies were used; and what the cost was in each year. [176120]

James Brokenshire: The Home Department's commercial objectives require consultancy services to be commissioned in terms of defined output, not in terms of individuals assigned by the firms to deliver that output. Therefore, the Department does not employ individuals under contracts for consultancy services or keep records of how many individuals are working on each consultancy engagement. Carrying out an exercise to obtain these numbers would incur disproportionate cost.

The names of the consultancy companies that were used by the Home Department are listed as follows:

Consultancy supplier list: Consultancy companies used by the Home Office during 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Actica Consulting Ltd

Advantage Technical Resourcing

Ahmad El Terk

Alchemica

Alpinair

Altius Consulting Ltd

Always Thinking Associates

Amtec Consulting Group

Analysys Mason Ltd

Andriana Nadoo Consulting Services

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Asb Action Ltd

Ashridge Consulting Ltd

Ask Europe plc

Aspire Recruitment Consultants Ltd

Assessment & Development Consultants Ltd (A&DC)

Atkins Management Consultants

Barco Control Rooms GMBH

Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

Birnberg Peirce & Partners

Bramble CC Ltd

Brian Robson

Bristol Muslim Cultural Society

Broadcasting Support Services

Business in the Community

Butler & Young

Capgemini UK plc

Capita Resourcing Ltd

Capital Quality Ltd

Cargyll Consultants

Centre for Accessible Environments (The)

Centre for International Forensic Assistance (CIFA)

CGMS Consulting

Channel 3 Consulting Ltd

Colliers CRE Clients Account

Collyer Rose

Concerto Partners LLP

Conscious Solutions

Cordis Bright Ltd

CT International Solutions Ltd

Cubiks Ltd

Dame Sue Street DCB Ltd

Dashwood Consulting Ltd

David Birch Consulting

DBI Consulting

Deloitte MCS Ltd

Detica Ltd

Digital Public Ltd

DMA Consultancy Ltd

Drivers Jonas Deloitte

Dulani Kulasinghe

Duncan Macquarrie Associates Ltd

Ecctis Ltd

EDSL Ltd

Emerging Technology Serv Ltd

Emergn Ltd

ENDC Accounting and Consultancy Ltd

Ernst and Young LLP

Evolve Business Consultancy Ltd

Experis Ltd

Faithful & Gould

Fast Future Research Ltd

Forensic Telecommunications Services Ltd

Gardiner & Theobald

GDA Ltd

Global Freight Services Ltd

GNS-Inspire Ltd

Gosling Consultancy Ltd

Grant Thornton

Harmer Consulting

Haverstock Associates

Hays IT

ICMPD

Info-Assure Ltd

iO1 Ltd

Ionann Management Consultants

IRN Consultants Ltd

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Isos Partnership

J L Consultancy

Jonathan Spencer Consultants Ltd

Jones Lang Lassalle

Judith Gardner Independent Consultants

Key Forensic Services Ltd

KIS Solutions Ltd

Knowledgeable Ltd

KPMG LLP

Lokahi Foundation

M & M Research Ltd

Mantech Solutions and Technologies

Mark Veljovic T/A CT International Solutions Ltd

Matrix Research and Consultancy Ltd

Metafore Partners LLP

Metaltech Consulting Services

Methods Consulting Ltd

MJMNI

Mott Macdonald

Mouchel Management Consulting Ltd

Navigation Consulting Ltd

Newsfury Ltd

Nichols Group Ltd

Novare Consulting Ltd

Olorin Consulting

PA Consulting Services Ltd

Paul Martin Associates

PCUBED

Pendragon Global Consulting Ltd (in administration)

Pentarch Consulting Ltd

Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International Ltd.

Peter Tickner Associates Ltd

PMMS Consulting Group Ltd

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

QBM

QI Consulting

Qinetiq Ltd

Quadrangle Group LLP

Quask AG Ltd

Reply Ltd

RJG Management Consulting Ltd

Robin Ryde Consulting

Roke Manor Research Ltd

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RQ Consulting

Safety Net Associates Ltd

Sandhill Consultants Ltd

Sandy Brown Associates LLP

SAS Drivers Jonas (France)

Saville Consulting UK Ltd

Schellekens Consultancy (The)

Scott Blinder

Scott Wilson Ltd

Serco Ltd

Servoca Resourcing Solutions Ltd

Seven Questions Consulting Ltd

Shared Intelligence

SHD Consulting Ltd

Smart Consulting

Smartsourcing plc

Spring Technology

SQW Consulting

Stanton Marris

STI Consultancy Ltd

Stonecourt Consulting Ltd

Synergy Group

Systems Consultants Services Ltd

Tam Support Services Ltd

Tangram Architects & Designers

The Oxford Group

Thompson Aviation

TMP (UK) Worldwide

Tonic Consultants Ltd

Tony Hurrell Consulting

Tracker Network UK

Trenton Consultants Ltd

Tribal Helm

UCL Consultants Ltd

Vega Consulting Services Ltd

Verdant Consulting Ltd

Walker-Cox Ltd

Warwick Business Consultancy Ltd

Winckworth Sherwood

WOR Consultancy Ltd

WT Partnership

X-Net

Ziona Strelitz Associates

Zircon Management Consulting Ltd.

The cost for consultancy for the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 to date is as follows:

The cost of consultancy continues to fall year-on-year since 2010-11.

Corruption

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the resources dedicated to the combating bribery and corruption within the newly announced National Crime Agency represent a net increase in total spending by the Government on efforts to combat bribery and corruption. [172179]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 24 October 2013]: As set out in the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy published on 7 October, the National Crime Agency has a range of resources focused on combating bribery

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and corruption. Information on cross-Government spending on efforts to combat bribery and corruption is not held centrally.

Deportation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were removed from the UK between January 2004 and May 2013 by detainee custody officers working as overseas escorts who were not properly certified and accredited by her Department in accordance with the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and if she will make a statement. [175447]

Mr Harper: The information requested cannot be provided without collation and examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

Detainee Custody Officers who are employed as overseas escorts are accredited by Home Office Immigration Enforcement in accordance with Detention Services Order 4/2011 which is available at:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/detention-services-orders/

—detainee custody officer certification.

In order to receive their accreditation, officers receive compulsory training on issues including welfare, first aid and control and restraint.

Discrimination

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of her 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; [176573]

(2) how many complaints of age discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her Department or its Executive agencies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many of those complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [176607]

(3) how many complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her 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; [176624]

(4) how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her 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; [176677]

(5) how many complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her 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; [176694]

(6) how many complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her Department or its

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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. [176711]

James Brokenshire: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Drugs: Imports

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to restrict the import of new psychoactive substances. [175106]

Norman Baker: In response to the Government's Drugs Strategy, the detection of new psychoactive substances is a high priority target for Border Force, alongside existing priorities in respect of cocaine and heroin. Border Force deploys its resources according to risk, using established intelligence and targeting techniques. Border Force also works closely with other agencies, including the Police.

Entry Clearances: Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) business and (b) visit visas were issued to Yemenis by UK overseas posts in (i) Abu Dhabi, (ii) Dubai and (iii) Cairo in each year since 2010. [176792]

Mr Harper: The visa section in Dubai was closed in 2009, so the following statistics only cover visas issued in Abu Dhabi and Cairo. The figures under ‘visit’ are for all visit visas issued, including business visit visas. The figures under ‘'visit—business’ are solely for business visit visas issued. The figures for 2013 are for visas issued from January to June 2013.

Female Genital Mutilation

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland of 11 September 2013, Official Report, column 744W, on female genital mutilation, which (a) Government Minister and (b) civil servants were represented at the Home Office Ministerial Roundtable on female genital mutilation on 18 July 2013. [175425]

Norman Baker [holding answer 18 November 2013]:Ministers from the Home Office, Department for International Development and Department for Education

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attended the Roundtable on 18 July 2013. Also in attendance was the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Metropolitan Police Service Commander for Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, and the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on female genital mutilation.

Policy Officials were present from the Home Office, Department for International Development, Department for Education, Ministry of Justice and Department of Health. Representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service, Royal College of Midwives and the Metropolitan Police Service were also in attendance.

The non-Government organisations represented were the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Equality Now and the Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development.

Human Trafficking

Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates she has made of the number of victims of modern day slavery in (a) Dorset, (b) the South West and (c) the UK in each of the last three years. [176082]

James Brokenshire: The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying potential victims of human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate protection and support.

946 cases were referred in 2011 and 1,186 in 2012, of which 28 and 32 respectively were from the south-west. Data are not available for Dorset specifically, nor for the south-west prior to. 2011. Further information is available in the 2013 Human Trafficking Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group report available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251487/9794-TSO-HMG_Human_Trafficking.pdf

Immigration

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Harrow West to receive a reply to his letters of 5 September and 17 October 2013 to UK Visas and Immigration regarding Ms Suchita Dubla of Harrow. [175583]

Mr Harper [holding answer 18 November 2013]: UK Visas and Immigration wrote to the hon. Member on 20 November 2013.

Immigration Controls: Ports

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions passengers disembarking from ships originating (a) in the EEA and (b) outside the EEA have been allowed to enter the UK without having their passports checked at UK sea ports in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date. [169307]

Mr Harper [holding answer 8 October 2013]: Prior to 2012 Border Force risk assessed ships entering the UK, meeting only a proportion of them. Records were not kept of ships that were not checked. As such it is not possible to provide figures in response to the question

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for 2010 and 2011. Following the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s, statement in the House on 7 November 2011 the practice was reformed in 2012. Since then Border Force has been working under a clear operational mandate and a requirement to record deviations from those processes.

Immigration checks completed on passengers arriving in the UK on ships vary depending on the type of ship and the nature of its voyage. In line with the Border Force Operating Mandate, some passengers are therefore currently subject to checks that do not include the physical examination of their passports. The number of these passengers is not recorded.

There were five occasions in 2012 where ship passengers were allowed to enter the UK without having their passports checked, despite this being mandated. In addition, there was a two month period in 2012 during which a single port failed to comply with the Operating Mandate. Cruise ships which were in transit for 24 hours or less were subject to security checks but there was no physical examination of passengers' passports. All passengers were checked against Home Office systems.

Following this, all regions conducted a thorough assurance process to confirm that Border Force operational staff are fully compliant with the Operating Mandate. From the beginning of 2013 to the end of August 2013 there have been no recorded events where ferry or cruise ships were allowed to enter the UK without the appropriate checks.

Immigration officers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers were made redundant and then re-engaged in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date. [176118]

Mr Harper: The Home Office has not made any immigration officers compulsorily redundant for the period 2010 to date.

Independent Monitoring Board

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make the Independent Monitor subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [175944]

James Brokenshire: The Independent Monitor of the Disclosure and Barring Service is excluded from Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and, as such, is exempt from freedom of information requests. There are no plans to have the Independent Monitor added to this Schedule to the Act.

Internet: Offences against Children

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to tackle the spread of child abuse content online. [176907]

Damian Green: The Government take very seriously the spread of child abuse images online, and has taken action to tackle it.

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We have made real progress to block child abuse and other illegal content and to prevent offenders from accessing it. The UK has a clear process by which criminal images of child sexual abuse can be reported and for websites containing such images either to be removed completely or to be blocked by internet service providers. In 2012 the Internet Watch Foundation removed 9,550 child sexual abuse web pages worldwide.

Internet search engines have made changes to their search functions. National Crime Agency testing of these new measures shows that they have been effective in making it harder to access child abuse images, videos or pathways.

To take further action, Britain and the US have joined up to target child abuse online through a new UK-US taskforce to work with industry to counter online child sexual exploitation.

In 2012, 255 individuals were found guilty of the principal offence of possessing prohibited images of children or of possessing indecent photographs.

In the same year, 1,315 individuals were found guilty of the principal offence of taking, permitting to be taken, making, distributing or publishing indecent photographs of children.

Investigatory Powers Tribunal

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions in each year of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal's (IPT) existence a public body has made a representation to the IPT that it did not disclose information to a complainant; and whether each such representation was (a) upheld and (b) overruled; [176454]

(2) on how many occasions in each year of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal's (IPT) existence the Government have (a) objected to and (b) opposed an IPT proposal to hold an open hearing. [176455]

James Brokenshire: Neither the Government nor the Investigatory Powers Tribunal centrally record the information requested.

Under rule 6 of the Tribunal Rules (Statutory Instrument 2000 No.2665) the Tribunal cannot disclose to a complainant anything that a public body has provided to the Tribunal, without the consent of the person who provided the information.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual (a) budget and (b) total spend of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has been in each year since its establishment. [176487]

James Brokenshire: For financial year 2013-14, the budget of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and the secretariat that supports it is £296,558 and the total spend in the year to date is £177,296.37. The information sought in respect of previous years is not available as the budgets were not allocated in that way.

Overseas Students: Private Rented Housing

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cost-benefit assessment she has made of her proposal in the Immigration Bill to require that landlords check the immigration status of

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international students before allowing them to rent accommodation; how she will ensure that legitimate students are not refused permission to rent accommodation because landlords are concerned about potential fines; and what steps she plans to take to ensure compliance with data protection regulations if unregulated landlords routinely collect citizenship information from overseas students. [175953]

Mr Harper: An impact assessment, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of the scheme has been published and is available in the House of Commons Library.

The checks will be straightforward and quick for law-abiding landlords and tenants to comply with. Codes of Practice governing the scheme are being developed and landlords who comply with the Codes of Practice may have confidence that they will not incur a penalty. These Codes and wider guidance made available, will also remind landlords of their obligations to comply with data protection legislation.

Purpose built student accommodation is exempted from the scheme. Private landlords of student accommodation will be able provisionally to agree tenancies with overseas applicants as they do now provided that original documents are verified once the student arrives in the UK.

Overseas Visitors: EU Nationals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions are in place to prevent foreign nationals who have previously been served with an anti social behaviour order within the UK from returning to the UK from another EU country. [170538]

Mr Harper [holding answer 14 October 2013]: Foreign Nationals arriving at our borders are checked against watch list data that contain information on criminals who have committed offences in the UK and abroad. These data are drawn from a variety of sources, including the police and other Government Departments. Anyone considered to present a serious threat to public safety may be prevented from entering the country. An antisocial behaviour order within the UK if part of a pattern of wider and more serious criminality in the UK and abroad would lead to a case by case consideration of a refusal of entry to the UK.

Police: Dogs

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the future of police working dogs who are to retire or are no longer required; what advice she has given to each police force authority on that matter; and if she will make a statement. [177183]

Damian Green: The retirement of police dogs is an operational decision for police forces.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals are in prison (a) in the UK and (b) on the Isle of Wight; what the nationality of such prisoners is; and how

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many foreign prisoners of each nationality (i) were automatically deported, (ii) were eligible for deportation but not deported and (iii) were not eligible for deportation since 2010. [175741]

Mr Harper [holding answer 18 November 2013]:The information on number of foreign nationals in prison in the UK and in the Isle of Wight can be found in the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin in the following link in table 1.5 and 1.6.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/253955/prison-population-tables-Q2-2013.xls

It is our policy not to disclose the countries to which we remove or deport foreign national offenders as this could jeopardise our diplomatic relations.

(i) The total number of foreign national offenders who were deported between January 2010 and September 2013 is 13,495. This is broken down as follows:

Total foreign national offenders (FNOs) removed by Criminal Casework (January 2010-September 2013) 13,495.

(ii) A total of 3,210 foreign national offenders were eligible for deportation but not deported between January 2010 and September 2013. This is because of allowed appeals against deportation and human rights grounds.

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(iii) National Offender Management Service are requested to refer FNOs to the Home Office who meet the following criteria:

For non-EEA nationals

A custodial sentence of 12 months or more either in one sentence or as an aggregate of two or three sentences over a period of five years, or a custodial sentence of any length for a drug offence (other than possession).

A court recommendation (only for those over 17 years of age)

For EEA nationals

A custodial sentence of 12 months or more for an offence involving drugs, violent or sexual crimes or a custodial sentence of 24 months or more for other offences.

There is no central mechanism in place for recording the number of FNOs who have served a custodial sentence but do not meet the above criteria for deportation.

These average figures are based on internal management information and are subject to change.

Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the (1) Home Department what proportion of employees in her Department is (a) white British and (b) black, Asian and from other minority ethnic groups, by each Civil Service pay grade; [176642]

(2) what proportion of employees in her Department are (a) female and (b) male, by each Civil Service pay grade. [176590]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office data showing the proportion of (a) female and (b) male staff by each Civil Service pay scale are shown in the table A.

The Home Office data showing the proportion of (a) white British and (b) black, Asian and minority ethnic staff, by each civil service pay are shown in table B.

Attorney-General

HowToCorp

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service was contacted by police for (a) pre-charge advice or (b) pre-charge decision on fraud allegations made against the company HowToCorp. [177332]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service has not been contacted by the police in relation to the HowToCorp allegation requesting either pre-charge advice or a pre-charge decision.

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Offenders: Foreign Nationals

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many non-UK nationals have been prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last six months; and for what offences these prosecutions were brought. [177316]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain centrally held data that would enable defendants to be identified as UK nationals or not. Such information could be obtained only through a manual search of records which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Public Sector: Procurement

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions since 2006 the Serious Fraud Office has sought to have a company barred from public sector procurement contracts in the UK as a result of (a) bribery, (b) fraud, (c) money laundering and (d) terrorism. [177348]

The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigates and prosecutes cases of serious fraud, bribery and corruption. Where appropriate, it seeks a range of criminal and/or civil sanctions. Disbarment from public procurement contracts may be a consequence of successful prosecution but it is not a matter for the SFO. However, individuals have been banned from acting as company directors following SFO action in several cases.

The Public Contracts Regulations (2006) set out criteria for rejection of economic operators, including for the reason that they have been convicted of fraud, bribery or money laundering.

Northern Ireland

Disabled Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of employees in her

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Department have a physical or learning disability, by each Civil Service pay grade. [176662]

Mrs Villiers: As of October 2013, four employees in my Department, equal to 4.2% of staff, have declared that they have a disability. Given the small numbers involved, it would not be appropriate to provide any further breakdown as to do so would risk the identification of the individuals concerned.

Discrimination

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of her Department or its non-departmental public bodies by (a) current employees and (b) prospective employees in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176575]

Mrs Villiers: Because of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010 and subsequent reconfigurations of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost. Since 12 April 2010, no complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of my Department.

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 such bodies are independent of Government, the hon. Member may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters—contact details are set out as follows:

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of age discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her Department or its non-departmental public bodies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many of those complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176609]

Mrs Villiers: Because of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010 and subsequent reconfigurations of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost. Since 12 April 2010, no complaints of age discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of my Department.

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 such bodies are independent of Government, the hon. Member may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters—contact details are set out as follows:

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Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her Department by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176626]

Mrs Villiers: Because of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010 and subsequent reconfigurations of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost. Since 12 April 2010, no complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of my Department.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her Department or its non-departmental public bodies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176679]

Mrs Villiers: Because of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010 and subsequent reconfigurations of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost. Since 12 April 2010, no complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of my Department.

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 such 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:

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her Department and non-departmental public bodies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176696]

Mrs Villiers: Following the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010 and subsequent reconfigurations of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost. Since 12 April 2010, no complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of my Department.

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 such bodies are independent of Government, the hon. Member may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters—contact details are set out here:

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of her Department or its non-departmental public bodies by (a) employees and (b) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action. [176713]

Mrs Villiers: Because of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010 and subsequent reconfigurations of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost. Since 12 April 2010, no complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of my Department.

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 such bodies are independent of Government, the hon. Member may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters—contact details are set out here:

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Driver and Vehicle Agency: Coleraine

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she has taken to retain jobs at the DVA centre in Coleraine; and what progress she has made in achieving that end. [176973]

Mrs Villiers: The decision on the future of the vehicle licensing work carried out at the DVA in Coleraine is the responsibility of the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr Goodwill). I have discussed the matter with him and his predecessor at length on a number of occasions. I have made clear to him the concern felt about the potential loss of these posts and emphasised that it is very important to look at the wider economic impacts of any possible decision that would involve removing work from the DVA. My hon. Friend will also need to weigh efficiency issues for Department for Transport and the need to deal with the deficit as well as considering the best way to ensure that drivers in Northern Ireland can access the same level of electronic and web-based services to licence vehicles that is available in GB.

Employment Tribunals Service

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims at employment tribunals have been lodged against her Department on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination in each of the last five years; and how many such cases were found against her Department. [176558]

Mrs Villiers: No employment tribunals have been lodged against my Department on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination in the last five years.

Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of employees in her Department are (a) female and (b) male, by each civil service pay grade. [176592]

Mrs Villiers: As at November 2013, the proportion of female and male employees in my Department, by pay grade, is as set out as follows. These figures do not take account of the civil servants seconded to my Department from the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of employees in her Department is (a) white British and (b) black, Asian and from other minority ethnic groups, by each civil service pay grade. [176644]

Mrs Villiers: As of October 2013, 30 employees in my Department, equal to 31.6% of staff, were recorded as white British. Two employees, equal to 2.1% of staff, were recorded as black, Asian or from other minority ethnic groups. Given the small numbers involved, it would not be appropriate to provide any further breakdown as to do so would risk the identification of the individuals concerned.

Terrorism

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Northern Ireland Justice Minister requested additional Police Service Northern Ireland officers to tackle dissident republicanism. [176899]

Mrs Villiers: The Minister for Justice and I meet regularly to discuss a range of issues, including those relating to security and policing. The Government have provided additional funding of £231 million to the PSNI until 2015-16 to support their efforts in tackling the threat from terrorism in Northern Ireland.

Transport

Cycling: Accidents

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what benchmarking statistics his Department holds on (a) traffic accidents and (b) related injuries in pedestrianised town centre areas where there are (i) discrete cycling lanes and (ii) co-mingling of cycles and pedestrians. [176836]

Mr Goodwill: The Department collects statistics on reported personal injury road accidents that occur on public highways. No information is collected on damage only accidents. The statistics collected are published in an annual report entitled ‘Reported Road Casualties Great Britain’, a copy of said publication has been deposited in the Libraries of the House. The publication is also available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-accidents-and-safety-statistics

The publication contains a copy of the variables collected by the police (known as STATS19 data).

Tables containing the strategic framework for road safety key outcome indicators are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/ras41-reported-casualties-rates

The Department does not hold any information specifically on accidents in pedestrianised town centre areas.

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Disabled Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of employees in his Department have a physical or learning disability, by each civil service pay grade. [176665]

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Stephen Hammond: The tables show the number and proportion of employees in post at 31 March 2013 who declared a disability within the Department and its six agencies. The Department does not have details on the type of disability. Staff on long-term leave (eg maternity leave, secondment etc) have not been included.

Driving Tests

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of his Department’s procurement process in respect of the driving theory test contract after 2014; what agreements were made with Pearson Vue and Learn Direct for that procurement; and what costs were incurred in the procurement process. [176789]

Mr Goodwill: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) acting on behalf of the Government Procurement Service (GPS) has completed a competition to award a new framework agreement for the supply of computer-based testing for Government. The outcome was an award of the framework to Learn Direct Ltd on Friday 18 October 2013. The DSA and the Driver and Vehicle Agency Northern Ireland have agreed that the driving theory test, the largest contract under this framework, will be provided by Learn Direct Ltd from September 2016 and that Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd will continue to provide the driving theory test until that date. The cost of running the procurement process is estimated to have been £510,380. This covers pay costs of £350,865 and £159,515 non pay costs, which consists primarily of professional fees.

East Coast Railway Line

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Office of Rail Regulation about the 4.2 per cent cancellation rate set for the East Coast main line for the next five year control period. [176750]

Stephen Hammond: Regulatory targets have been set by the Office of Rail Regulation for Network Rail for punctuality on East Coast services by 2019, as part of the Office of Rail Regulation's Final Determination for the Control Period 2014-19. The Final Determination takes into account the outputs set out in the Secretary of State's rail investment strategy for the same period.

Following its consultation with user groups and the rail industry on its Draft Determination, the Office of Rail Regulation concluded that it should lower the Public Performance Measure targets it had initially proposed for punctuality for long distance services, and toughen the corresponding targets for cancellations and significant lateness. This reflected customers' and operators' views that long-distance rail users are particularly disadvantaged by serious lateness and cancellations, and that in the Office of Rail Regulation's view it was sensible to rebalance targets to focus on these areas of particular concern. The revised targets are at least as challenging for Network Rail to deliver as the original Public Performance Measure targets.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the higher level of cancellations and seriously late trains on the East Coast main line for the next five year control period is in accordance with the high level output specification. [176751]

Stephen Hammond: The target level set by the Office of Rail Regulation for cancellations and seriously late trains on the East Coast main line for the next five year control period is, taken together with targets for other operators' services, consistent with the Department's high level output specification.

The target level for East Coast is more challenging then the level originally proposed in the Office of Rail Regulation's consultation with the industry.

Employment Tribunals Service

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) 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; [176561]

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(2) 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; [176578]

(3) how many complaints of age 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 of those complaints resulted in disciplinary action; [176612]

(4) 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; [176629]

(5) 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; [176682]

(6) 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; [176699]

(7) how many complaints of homophobic or transphobic 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. [176716]

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is in the following table:

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The data underpinning this parliamentary question are not held centrally in all cases by the Department and its Executive Agencies for the time period of the last five years. The Department has sought to provide an answer where possible from the information it does hold. The data available are as follows:

Department for Transport (Central)—data has only been, centrally held from March 2013 which has been provided.

Marine and Coastguard Agency—No data centrally held for this period.

Highways Agency—Data provided for the full period.

Driving Standards Agency—data has only been centrally held from 2011 to 2013 which has been provided.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency—No data centrally held.

Vehicle Certification Agency—No data centrally held.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency—Data provided for the full period.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [176438]

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not subscribe to Sky Sports or any other equivalent premium sports television service.

Railways: South West

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2013, Official Report, column 45W, on railways: south west, for what reasons lease costs for rolling stock are considered to be commercially sensitive. [176544]

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Stephen Hammond: The leasing costs for rolling stock are the result of negotiations between two private sector commercial entities, the train operating company and the rolling stock leasing company. Putting such information in the public sphere would give advantage to each party's competitors and hinder future negotiations between such commercial entities throughout the industry.

Speed Limits

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which 20 mph zones in urban areas are (a) complied with by private motorists, buses and taxis and (b) enforced by police; and what statistics his Department collects on such matters. [176743]

Mr Goodwill: I have made no such assessment. Local traffic authorities are responsible for setting speed limits, including 20 mph zones and for ensuring that limits are appropriate for their roads. Speed limits should be evidence led and encourage self compliance. It is for

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local authorities to gather evidence on the effectiveness of 20 mph zones. Enforcement of 20 mph zones is a matter for relevant police forces and the Department does not collect statistics on this issue.

However, the Department is planning an assessment of 20 mph limits and zones which will cover a range of issues including their effectiveness. I am also aware that the police are currently undertaking some research in 20 mph roads in order to design the most appropriate speed awareness course.

Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of employees in his Department are (a) female and (b) male, by each Civil Service pay grade. [176595]

Stephen Hammond: The following tables show the number and proportion of female and male employees in post as of 31 March 2013.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [176647]

Stephen Hammond: The following tables show the number and proportion of white, black, Asian, and employees from other minority ethnic groups in post in the Department for Transport on 31 March 2013. Staff on secondment and maternity leave are not included.