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Written Answers to Questions

Monday 2 December 2013

Defence

Afghanistan

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of additional security measures which were given consideration but not adopted at Camp Bastion before September 2012; [170637]

(2) what the annual running cost of providing security at Camp Bastion has been in each year since 2010; [170648]

(3) what additional expenditure his Department has incurred on increased security measures at Camp Bastion since September 2012; [170660]

(4) what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department had with military leaders responsible for security at Camp Bastion on security measures at the base prior to the attack of 14 September 2012; [170661]

(5) what changes have been made to the security arrangements at the Camp Bastion base since the attack on the night of 14 September 2012; [170662]

(6) how many and what proportion of the guard towers at Camp Bastion were empty on the night of 14 September 2012 immediately prior to the attack on the base; [170663]

(7) what internal investigations his Department will be undertaking regarding the actions of British officers responsible for security at Camp Bastion on the attack on the base on the night of 14 September 2012; [170680]

(8) how many of the British officers responsible for security at Camp Bastion in September 2012 have since been promoted; [170683]

(9) if he will provide details of the current security measures at Camp Bastion. [170684]

Mr Francois: The Chief of Defence Staff is currently reviewing the findings of the US report on the review of security at Camp Bastion. Once this is complete, I will write to the hon. Member with the information he has requested.

Substantive answer from Mark Francois to Kevan Jones:

I undertook to write to you in response to the recent questions you tabled in the House on the subject of the attack on Camp Bastion in September 2012.

I am sure you understand that my reply is constrained by the fact that, for reasons of operational security, I cannot describe specific force protection measures publicly.

In the aftermath of such an attack, it is important to take a clear-eyed, dispassionate approach to the analysis of the circumstances in order that the right lessons are identified and learnt, and that is exactly what we have done in detail. However, much of the media reporting on this subject has omitted the fact that United States Marine Corps and UK personnel (from 51 Sqn RAF Regiment, 5 RAF Force Protection Wing) responded to the incursion decisively

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and with great courage. Having contained the insurgent assault, this combined force counter-attacked and proceeded to clear the airfield, killing 14 of the 15 attackers and capturing the remainder. During this brave action in difficult circumstances, two US personnel were killed and 17 US and UK personnel were wounded. Their sacrifice undoubtedly prevented greater loss of life and equipment.

Turning to your questions. Security of all our overseas bases is a key focus for the Staff and the Defence Ministerial team. In this specific case, over the last 13 months, there has been a considerable amount of activity devoted to increasing understanding of what happened during the attack, the reasons why the attack was partially successful and what action was needed to prevent a recurrent. The UK has played its part in this activity to the full, both in conducting its own reviews and contributing to work carried out by ISAF and the US. As the recently published US Review acknowledges, much has been done to strengthen force protection measures at Camp Bastion since September 2012; as a direct result of this work. I can confirm that these measures have cost in the region of £3.0M¹, are considered by our Force Protection experts to be appropriate to the assessed level of threat, and that threat is kept under constant review.

In response to your question about the manning of the watch towers at Camp Bastion at the time of the attack, I can confirm that 11 of the 24 guard towers were manned. This was a similar level of manning as that in operation on the US side of the camp, where a 50% manning profile was used. This information is available in the published version of the US Review.

You asked how many British officers responsible for security at Camp Bastion at the time of the attack have since been promoted. In answering this, I have defined “security at Camp Bastion” as referring to those activities around the Camp perimeter and without the confines of the base that contribute to the security of the Camp perimeter. Using this definition we assess the number of officers to be around 20 of which less than half have been promoted in the last 13 months.

You also asked about the cost of providing security at Camp Bastion. Security at the base has been progressively strengthened since the base was established in 2006 and a range of options has been considered over the period to meet our developing assessment of the threat, not least as we have moved back from a network of bases across Central Helmand to a single Main Operating Base and as the Insider Threat has developed. In terms of specific physical security measures, it has not been practicable to review all decisions in order to identify options not followed up; for most upgrades, there was an evolving case that refined understanding of the threat and the measures appropriate to meet this, assessing the relative benefits of a range of options to address the threat, against cost, practicability and time to deliver.

In terms of running costs, we have not been able to identify manpower costs from Financial Year (FY) 2009-2010. From 2010, the annual manpower costs² for the security element at Bastion, covering the base itself but excluding the broader area-protection, has been:

The costs of maintaining security structures and of running and maintaining security related systems cannot be broken out separately and are not included.

I note that the question of the cost of security upgrades at Camp Bastion has been something of a focus for recent press reporting of the US Review. I am pleased, therefore, to take this opportunity to point out that the US report contains an erroneous assertion that specific risk mitigation measures identified following a security incident on the Bastion flight line in March 2012 were rejected by the UK chain of command. In fact, not only were the improvements made by the US and UK staffs in theatre at the time, they were also fully supported by the Permanent Joint

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Headquarters. We make a firm commitment to our Armed Forces that we will provide them with the equipment appropriate to the job we ask them to do.

You asked some questions about the US Review and subsequent UK action. While the US Review was intended to examine US actions only and not those of coalition forces, the UK has carefully considered its findings. As a result, the Chief of the Defence Staff is confident that all significant lessons have been identified and acted upon.

I hope this is helpful.

¹ These measures do not include those taken over the period in response to our assessment of increased risks from Indirect Fire and Improvised Explosive Devices.

² The marginal extra costs of the personnel involved in perimeter security.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the presence of British forces in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in reducing the production of opium in that country. [177386]

Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence has made no formal assessment of the direct correlation between British Forces in Helmand and the production of opium in Afghanistan. The main effort of British Forces is in training, advising and assisting the Afghan security forces as they take the lead for security. Until August 2013, this included two military advisors in the Provincial Reconstruction Team (Lashkar Gah) who were involved in capacity building in the provincial Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan and Ministry of Counter Narcotics.

Armed Forces: Bullying

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of beasting or other bullying have been reported in relation to recruits at AFC Harrogate and ATFC Winchester in each of the past five years; and what action was taken in each such case. [177898]

Anna Soubry: The term ‘beasting' is not clearly defined or formally recognised. At the former Army Technical Foundation College (ATFC) Winchester, 16 instances of assault were recorded in the last five years. 13 instances involved assault or battery of a junior soldier by one or more other junior soldiers. Three instances involved permanent staff, including one incident of bullying of one member of permanent staff by another. All cases resulted in sanction through service law, with the exception of one case of assault on a junior soldier by a member of permanent staff, which resulted in appropriate warning and sanction.

All training for junior entrants transferred from ATFC Winchester to Army Foundation College (AFC) Harrogate in 2012. ATFC Winchester was renamed Army Training Regiment, Winchester and now trains senior entrants only. AFC Harrogate is now the sole location for junior entrant training. All incidents described above predate this move, with the exception of the incident involving permanent staff only, which occurred in December 2012.

At AFC Harrogate, records show that there were five incidents of discipline involving permanent staff in the last five years: two involving battery and three involving ill treatment. Four cases resulted in warning and sanction and one case of ill treatment was dismissed.

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An allegation of an incident involving junior soldiers only at AFC Harrogate in May 2012 was fully investigated and for details of this incident I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), on 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 4W, to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Cathy Jamieson).

Where there is any accusation of ill treatment involving permanent staff, the relevant staff member is suspended, pending investigation by the Royal Military Police.

Armed Forces: Civilians

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians have completed the condensed Initial Officer Training course; how many such civilians are currently serving in the armed forces; and what roles they have. [177251]

Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence holds no information which would indicate that civilians have completed any condensed Initial Officer Training courses. However, there are five AirTanker Sponsored Reservists who have undertaken the Reserve Officer Initial Training course. A further two are scheduled to take this course in March 2014. RAF Voyager is a pioneering example of the integration of RAF Reserves alongside full-time Squadrons. It includes a dedicated team of Sponsored Reservist pilots and engineers who are recruited and employed by AirTanker.

Armed Forces: Coroners

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to restrict the use of narrative verdicts in inquests into deaths of members of the armed forces. [179099]

Mr Francois: Coroners are independent judicial office holders and it would therefore not be appropriate for Ministers to comment on their judicial decisions, Coronial law and policy is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, with judicial oversight and guidance provided by the Chief Coroner.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will take steps ensure that long-serving members of the armed forces, who have been scheduled for redundancy very shortly before their 18-year pension entitlement date, will be allowed to pass that date before being required to leave; [175219]

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of armed forces personnel who have been scheduled for redundancy on dates falling within (a) one week, (b) one month and (c) six months of reaching their pension entitlement dates. [175220]

Anna Soubry [holding answer 18 November 2013]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my predecessor, the Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois) on 1 March 2013, Official Report, columns 716-18W, to my hon. Friend the Member for South Swindon

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(Mr Buckland), the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham), the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones), and the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy).

For Other Ranks who are members of Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75), the normal requirement to serve for 22 years before receiving an immediate retirement income is reduced to 18 years on redundancy, a concession of four years. Officers on AFPS 75 will still qualify for an immediate income after 16 years. Personnel on Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 will continue to receive early departure payments after serving for 18 years, provided that they have reached the age of 40.

In order to ensure that the redundancy programme is fair to all involved, clear selection criteria have been published by each of the Services. While rank and seniority are factors which are reflected in selection fields, length of reckonable service (which is closely associated with age) is not. It is therefore possible that individuals might be made redundant either just before or just after the length of service at which they qualify for an immediate pension. Allowing those who fall short of the 18-year service point to remain in service until they had passed that point would not resolve the issue of discharge in proximity to their immediate pension point (IPP), as there would still need to be a time limit defining who will qualify. Wherever we draw that line somebody will always be just over it, and facing the possibility of perceived disadvantage. Changing where the line falls to encompass those close to it will simply mean others fall close to the new line.

The armed forces redundancy schemes recognise those who miss out on immediate incomes by paying them significantly enhanced tax-free redundancy compensation lump sums. On average, this figure is around £73,000 and for an Army Major it can on average be around £100,000. Where people leave before the qualification point, any pension rights that have been earned will also give them preserved pensions and further tax-free lump sums which they will receive at age 60 or 65, depending on the pension scheme of which they are members.

No estimate has been made of the numbers of personnel falling short of their IPP in the time periods specified.

Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have been made redundant within six months of their scheduled retirement date since May 2010. [175237]

Anna Soubry: The scheduled retirement date for those members of the armed forces selected for compulsory redundancy is, for applicants, six months from the day of notification of being selected, and 12 months for non-applicants. The scheduled retirement date may not be the same as the date at which an individual will be eligible to receive an immediate retirement income. However the armed forces redundancy scheme recognises these individuals by paying them an enhanced tax free compensation lump sum.

An individual can ask to bring their exit date forward, subject to agreement by their Service. Since May 2010, some 40 personnel have left the armed forces on compulsory redundancy in the six months preceding their scheduled retirement date.

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Army

Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many regular infantry and reserve infantry battalions there will be (a) before and (b) after the introduction of Army 2020; and if he will make a statement. [177774]

Mr Francois: Under Army 2020 the number of regular infantry battalions will reduce from 36 to 31. The number of reserve infantry battalions will not change and remains at 14.

Conditions of Employment

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proposed changes to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations will be applied to the transfer of staff to a government-owned, contractor-operated organisation under the Defence Reform Bill. [177630]

Mr Dunne: The Materiel Strategy programme is currently in the assessment phase and is considering two options; Defence Equipment and Support Plus (DE&S+) and a Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) model. A final decision on which option will be taken forward is currently due in summer 2014. If a GOCO is the chosen option, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations in place at the time of transfer would apply to those Ministry of Defence civil service staff in-scope for transfer of their employment to the GOCO.

Defence Equipment and Support

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the assessment phase of DE&S-Plus provides for consideration of recruitment of civil servants into key positions on the basis of specialism rather than grade. [177629]

Mr Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 36W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff).

Defence: Procurement

Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons-learned exercises have been conducted following the (a) cancellation of MRA4, (b) cancellation of Forward Rapid Effects System and (c) reversal of Joint Strike Fighter decision back to VSTOL variant; and if he will publish any reports from such exercises. [177552]

Mr Dunne: The rationale behind each of the decisions cited was different, although they all represent examples of where the Government have had to make difficult decisions to focus resources where they are most needed and balance the Defence budget. They are also examples where we had a clear understanding of the problems which allowed us to take those decisions. As we said when we published the Defence Equipment Plan 2012, we now have the assurance of a stable, well managed budget with disciplined processes, and confidence that the equipment programme is affordable and deliverable.

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The MRA4 project suffered from repeated delays and cost overruns and only one airframe had been delivered to the RAF, but it was the aircraft's projected future support costs that ultimately contributed to the decision not to bring it into service. The Strategic Defence Security Review (SDSR) did assess the options for reducing the fleet size, but found that the significant fixed costs meant that only limited savings could be realised by reducing the fleet compared with those from not bringing it into service at all.

The FRES programme was not cancelled but our strategy for delivering the capability has evolved as our understanding of the requirement has matured. During the campaign in Afghanistan a wide range of new vehicles have been purchased for the Army and a large number are now being brought into the core programme. In addition the Scout SV, considered as part of the FRES programme, is progressing with its demonstration phase.

The policy decision taken in the 2010 SDSR to purchase the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter was right, based on the information available at the time. But more detailed technical work subsequently revealed that the costs had spiralled, from £950 million to £2 billion, risks had increased and the delivery timescale for a converted carrier would be longer than previously anticipated. In light of that assessment we took the decision to revert to the Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Firing Ranges: Tipner

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preparations his Department has made for relocating activities currently held at Tipner firing range to an alternative site; when he expects that relocation to begin; and if he will make a statement. [177615]

Dr Murrison: Preparatory work to scope alternative facilities for Tipner Ranges has only just commenced and it is therefore too early to say when the relocation of activities currently undertaken at the ranges will begin. In the meantime the ranges remain in regular defence use.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Voyager aircraft crews will be civilians. [177249]

Mr Francois: For military registered RAF operated Voyager aircraft of 10 Squadron and 101 Squadron the planned number of RAF and AirTanker Sponsored Reserve air crews is set out in the following table:

For military air transport tasks, there are also 14 sets of RAF cabin crew and six sets of all civilian cabin crew.¹

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Under the terms of the Voyager contract, AirTanker Services also operate aircraft on the civil aircraft register under a Civil Aviation Authority Air Operator Certificate. Crewing of these civil registered aircraft would be a matter for AirTanker.

¹ A cabin crew consisting of approximately eight personnel.

Military Aircraft

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2013, Official Report, column 202W, on military aircraft, how many recorded laser-related events have resulted in accidents taking place. [179238]

Mr Francois: None of the laser-related events referred to in my response of 6 November 2013, Official Report, column 202W, resulted in accidents.

Ministers’ Private Offices

Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he (a) has appointed or (b) intends to appoint an enlarged ministerial office. [177511]

Mr Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 398W, by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude).

Philippines

Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of his Department's budget is committed to assistance in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan; and if he will make a statement. [177772]

Mr Francois: None of the Ministry of Defence's budget is committed specifically to assistance in the Philippines. Under the terms of an existing memorandum of understanding concerning humanitarian relief after natural disasters, the net additional costs of military support to the Philippines will be met from the budget of the Department for International Development. Net additional costs are those which the Department would not have incurred had the operation not taken place.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of his Department's civil servants have been seconded to (a) the private sector and (b) trades unions in each year since 2010; [177710]

(2) how many secondees from (a) trades unions and (b) the voluntary sector have worked in his Department since 2010. [177733]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has seconded eight employees to the private sector, two in 2011, five in 2012 and one in 2013. No one has been seconded to a trades union. We have had no inward secondees from either trade unions or the voluntary sector.

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Wales

Older People: Crime Prevention

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the recommendations of Age Cymru's Scams and Swindles campaign. [177592]

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office is very supportive of the work being undertaken by Age Cymru to address financial scams and their impact on older people.

My noble Friend Baroness Randerson hosted a roundtable event on 25 November to explore in more detail how partners across Wales can work together to address such scams. A range of organisations attended, including Age Cymru, the Police, Royal Mail, British Telecom, Trading Standards, and Citizens Advice, and agreed to look at how their organisations can change current working practices as well as agreeing to support next year's Scams Awareness Month headed by Age Cymru.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of his Department's civil servants have been seconded to (a) the private sector and (b) trades unions in each year since 2010. [177726]

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office has had no civil servants seconded to (a) the private sector and (b) trade unions since 2010.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many secondees from (a) trades unions and (b) the voluntary sector have worked in his Department since 2010. [177749]

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office has had no secondees from (a) trade unions and (b) the voluntary sector working in the Department since 2010.

Northern Ireland

Energy: Prices

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she is having with (a) the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) her Irish counterpart on the effect of changes in the cost of energy on older people in Northern Ireland. [179249]

Mrs Villiers: These are devolved matters and have not therefore been raised with me by Executive Ministers.

The Northern Ireland Executive published its fuel poverty strategy in March 2011 which runs until March 2015. Under the plans £31 million will be spent in energy efficiency improvements and a boiler replacement scheme will further help those in greatest need.

Until March 2015, £16.5 million will be spent on the Warm Homes Scheme which has helped in excess of 80,000 households with insulation since it started in 2001. In certain circumstances Warm Home Plus can provide up to £6,500 per household.

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The strategy introduced new schemes-such as the pilot Boiler Replacement Scheme, a Benefit Uptake campaign and oil stamp saving schemes.

In addition, the UK Government have kept their pledge to protect winter fuel payments of up to £300 for 12.7 million pensioners in more than 9 million homes across the UK. We have increased funding for cold weather payments by £50 million so that they are now worth £25 a week. As a result of our triple lock we have delivered a £650 increase in the basic state pension.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of her Department's civil servants have been seconded to (a) the private sector and (b) trades unions in each year since 2010. [177721]

Mrs Villiers: No civil servants in my Department have been seconded to the private sector or trade unions since 2010.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many secondees from (a) trades unions and (b) the voluntary sector have worked in her Department since 2010. [177744]

Mrs Villiers: No secondees from trade unions or the voluntary sector have worked in my Department since April 2010.

Staff

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of staff of each grade in her Department work in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland. [179105]

Mrs Villiers: Based November 2013 data, the breakdown, by rank, of staff in my Department working in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland is as follows:

These figures include both staff employed by my Department and those on inward secondment.

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Prime Minister

Gibraltar: Spain

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the situation on the Spanish-Gibraltarian border. [179245]

The Prime Minister: I raised the issue with Prime Minister Rajoy when we met in Vilnius on 29 November and made clear our deep concern about the incident in which British Government bags containing official correspondence and communications were opened by Spanish officials while in transit.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to his letter to Sir John Chilcot of 5 November 2013, to which Government Departments he refers when mentioning the scale of the declassification task; and what the reasons are for the time taken to conclude the Government's response to the disclosure requests. [177778]

The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add.

Transport

Cycling

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote cycling proficiency for the deaf community. [179288]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport promotes "Bikeability" cycle training in England. Bikeability is “cycling proficiency” for the 21st century, giving people the skills and confidence to cycle safely and competently in modern road conditions. Bikeability is underpinned by the National Standard for Cycle Training. The National Standard is built upon similar principles to training for motorcycle riders and car drivers, teaching the importance of assessing the likely risks faced by road users.

To supplement the National Standard, the Department has published guidance called “Delivering Inclusive Cycle Training—A good practice guide for disability cycle training”. The guidance provides advice to National Standard instructors on how to help people with a disability, including hearing impairments, achieve National Standard cycle training outcomes.

The Department provides £11 million per annum grant funding for Bikeability training for children in England (outside London), enabling training for around 275,000 children. Some local authorities also provide free or subsidised cycle training for adults.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place between HS2 Ltd and the Coal Authority on mining subsidence and unreported bell pits along the proposed route of High Speed 2. [R] [177557]

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Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd has obtained historical mapping from the Coal Authority which helped inform the route selection for Phase One. In addition, HS2 Ltd has also liaised with Network Rail and the Highways Agency regarding planning for HS2 in areas of historic mining activity. Once Phase Two of the project moves into the hybrid Bill development stage, which is due to commence in early 2015, further engagement with the Coal Authority as well as detailed geotechnical studies will be undertaken for this stage of the project.

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties in the entire safeguarded area for phase one of High Speed 2 are not to be demolished. [179222]

Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd estimate the number of properties within the safeguarding zone for HS2 phase one, which are not to be demolished as a result of construction or operation, is 3,730.

Of this number, some 3,450 are within sub-surface safeguarding, which normally means that the route is in tunnel at that point.

Note:

Safeguarding numbers were calculated using Royal Mail data cross matched with HS2 Ltd's mapping information.

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Deloitte LLP was paid for producing the HS2 Property bond option report; and whether this report was reviewed by either an external independent panel or his Department. [179223]

Mr Goodwill: Deloitte LLP was paid £66,447.42 inclusive of VAT to produce the HS2 Property bond option report. The report was not reviewed by an external independent panel. The report was, however, reviewed internally to inform the current consultation on long-term property compensation measures for Phase One of HS2. The output from that internal review is incorporated into chapter 5 of the Property Compensation Consultation.

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Deloitte LLP and Robert Colley were appointed to the new HS2 Ltd Economic Advisory Panel; and whether Deloitte had been commissioned to undertake any work for (a) HS2 Ltd and (b) his Department before this date. [179224]

Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd appointed Rob Colley to the HS2 Ltd Economic Advisory Panel on 26 September 2012. At the time of appointment, Rob Colley worked for Deloitte LLP.

(a) Prior to 26 September 2012, Deloitte LLP had been commissioned under the HS2 Ltd Estates Professional Services Framework for the following contracts, to provide re-location and acquisition advice:

Work Package 2-TNT

Work Package 3-UK Mail

Deloitte LLP has not been commissioned to undertake any economic advisory work.

(b) The Department for Transport has not commissioned any work from Deloitte in relation to HS2 before this date.

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Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what involvement Robert Colley had in Deloitte LLP's report on a property bond option for High Speed 2. [179225]

Mr Goodwill: Robert Colley helped to proof-read and sense-check Deloitte Real Estate's compulsory purchase team's technical reporting. He also assisted in crafting and proofing the words for a non-technical summary. He did not advise on the design of the scheme or the mechanics of implementation.

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a tendering process was undertaken to determine who would produce the report into a property bond option for High Speed 2. [179226]

Mr Goodwill: The report on a property bond option for High Speed 2 was undertaken through an existing contract and not subject to a separate tendering process.

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department will provide (a) financial support and (b) advice to individuals and communities petitioning against the HS2 Hybrid Bill. [179315]

Mr Goodwill: Petitioning is a parliamentary process and as such guidance and contact information can be found can be found on Parliament's website:

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/HS2-leaflet.pdf

This guidance leaflet has already been provided to individuals who received landowner's notices when the Hybrid Bill was deposited.

The Department has no plans to offer financial support to petitioners. The only cost that a petitioner needs to incur is the £20 fee to cover the administration costs to the House authorities of the petitioning process.

ICT

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed within centralised ICT departments or teams in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [179173]

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport and its six executive agencies employ 522 people within centralised ICT departments or teams. In full-time equivalents this is 509.4 posts.

Motor Vehicles

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of foreign vehicles which have entered the UK to date. [179374]

Mr Goodwill: The Department does not have an estimate of the number of foreign registered vehicles that have entered the UK to date.

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of foreign registered vehicles there are on UK roads. [179375]

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Mr Goodwill: The Department does not have an estimate of the number of foreign registered vehicles that are on UK roads.

Offshore Industry

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which air fields in the UK are used by companies contracted to provide transportation services for the offshore oil and gas industry in the North Sea; how many helicopters are licensed for transportation services at each facility; which models of helicopters are based at each facility; and how many offshore workers were transported to and from each facility in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [177855]

Mr Goodwill: The following is a table of operating bases providing commercial air transport services in support of the oil and gas industry in the North sea by UK Air Operators. Alongside each is the number of aircraft of each type operated from that base.

For each base, the number of passengers carried to and from offshore facilities was as follows:

Neither the Department nor the Civil Aviation Authority does not hold passenger data for North Denes as it does not meet the criteria to report passenger data to the CAA.

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) review of offshore helicopter operations in the North Sea to be published; and whether the CAA have met with (a) ministers, (b) officials and (c) representatives of his Department's executive agencies as part of this review. [177856]

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Mr Goodwill: The CAA review of North Sea helicopter operations is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2014. The CAA has met with officials of the Department for Transport, the Transport Select Committee, and is liaising with the Scottish Government.

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on a public inquiry into the fatal helicopter crash in the North Sea on 23 August 2013; and what his general policy is on holding a public inquiry into this incident and its effect on the offshore energy sector. [179124]

Mr Goodwill: The Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Scottish Government on a public inquiry into the fatal helicopter crash in the North Sea on 23 August 2013.

The Government thinks that it is premature to call for a public inquiry when the outcome of the ongoing Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation and Civil Aviation Authority Review are not known.

Parking: Urban Areas

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to his Department's press release entitled Eric Pickles calls for more town centre parking spaces, published in August 2013, what safeguards he has put in place to prevent integrated transport schemes being used by some local authorities to introduce anti-car measures. [177761]

Mr Goodwill: The joint Department for Transport and Department for Communities and Local Government press release emphasised the importance of appropriate parking policies for the vitality of our town centres. It also highlighted that councils should not be using parking policies as an anti-car measure.

Equally, the Department believes that integrated transport schemes have an important role to play in providing choice to the travelling public. The Department's ‘Door to Door Strategy’, published in March 2013 sets out this objective, and calls for an inclusive transport system that works for everyone, including motorists.

Ultimately it is the role of local authorities and relevant highway authorities to determine how best to address the specific needs of their communities.

Railway Stations: Parking

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the average increase in station car parking charges in each English region since 2009. [177810]

Stephen Hammond: The car parking charges at stations are a commercial matter for the station operator. The Department does not generally hold information with regard to costs of parking and any rises in that cost.

Railways: Finance

Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public subsidies each train operating company received in each of the last five years. [179096]

2 Dec 2013 : Column 508W

Stephen Hammond: The required figures for the last four years are published (under the heading ‘subsidy per passenger mile Excel file’) by the Department at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-subsidy-per-passenger-mile

while all years are published by the Office of Rail Regulation at:

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1528

Railways: Franchises

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account was taken of the Rail Franchising Competition Guide in designing the Invitation to Tender for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern passenger franchise. [179353]

Stephen Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the reply provided on 4 November 2013, Official Report, column 44W, when I answered this question.

Rescue Services

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hours of shift time were staffed below risk-assessed level at (a) Humber, (b) Belfast, (c) Liverpool and (d) Swansea maritime rescue coordination centres in September 2013. [179371]

Stephen Hammond: During September 2013 the following Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) were staffed below risk assessed levels for the following amount of 'shift time':

(a) Humber—408 Hours (34 out of 60 Shifts)

(b) Belfast—408 Hours (34 out of 60 Shifts)

(c) Liverpool—240 Hours (20 out of 60 Shifts)

(d) Swansea—84 Hours (seven out of 60 Shifts)

Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard are using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Rescue Services: Liverpool

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff of Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre have so far signalled intention to transfer to another MRCC upon the Liverpool centre's closure; how many new staff have been recruited at that centre in the last 12 months; and what the current level of staffing is compared to its risk-assessed level. [179368]

Stephen Hammond: Five members of staff at Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) have indicated that transferring to the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) or a Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) is one of the options they would consider upon the closure of Liverpool MRCC.

Four members of staff have been recruited at Liverpool MRCC in the last 12 months.

During October 2013 Liverpool MRCC was staffed at below risk assessed levels on 20 of 62 shifts. These situations are mitigated by MRCC pairing where each MRCC is connected to at least one other MRCC which

2 Dec 2013 : Column 509W

is available to provide mutual support. In respect of Liverpool MRCC mutual support is available through a fixed link from Holyhead MRCC and dial up links from the MRCCs at Milford Haven, Swansea, Belfast or Aberdeen.

Rescue Services: Portland

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff of Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre have so far signalled intention to transfer to another MRCC upon the Portland centre's closure; how many new staff have been recruited at that centre in the last 12 months; and what the current level of staffing is compared to its risk-assessed level. [179370]

Stephen Hammond: Eight members of staff at Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) have indicated that transferring to the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) or a Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) is one of the options they would consider upon the closure of Portland MRCC.

Three members of staff have been recruited at Portland MRCC in the last 12 months.

During October 2013 Portland MRCC was staffed at below risk assessed levels on 16 of 62 shifts. These situations are mitigated by MRCC pairing where each MRCC is connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support. In respect of Solent MRCC mutual support is available through a fixed link from Solent MRCC and dial up links from the MRCCs at Falmouth, Brixham, Dover or Thames.

Rescue Services: Solent

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff of Solent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre have so far signalled intention to transfer to another MRCC upon the Solent centre's closure; how many new staff have been recruited at that centre in the last 12 months; and what the current level of staffing is compared to its risk-assessed level. [179369]

Stephen Hammond: 15 members of staff at Solent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) have indicated that transferring to the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) or a Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) is one of the options they would consider upon the closure of Solent MRCC.

Three members of staff have been recruited at Solent MRCC in the last 12 months.

During October 2013 Solent MRCC was staffed at below risk assessed levels on three of 62 shifts. These situations are mitigated by MRCC pairing where each MRCC is connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support. In respect of Solent MRCC mutual support is available through a fixed link from Portland MRCC and dial up links from the MRCCs at Falmouth, Brixham, Dover or Thames.

Rescue Services: Swansea

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff of Swansea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre have so far signalled intention to transfer to another MRCC upon the Swansea centre's closure; how many new staff have been recruited at that centre in the last 12 months; and what the current level of staffing is compared to its risk-assessed level. [179367]

2 Dec 2013 : Column 510W

Stephen Hammond: 10 members of staff at Swansea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) have indicated that transferring to the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) or a Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) is one of the options they would consider upon the closure of Swansea MRCC.

No members of staff have been recruited at Swansea MRCC in the last 12 months.

During October 2013 Swansea MRCC was staffed at below risk assessed levels on nine of 62 shifts. These situations are mitigated by MRCC pairing where each MRCC is connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support. In respect of Swansea MRCC mutual support is available through a fixed link from Milford Haven MRCC and dial up links from the MRCCs at Falmouth, Brixham, Holyhead or Liverpool.

Transport: Finance

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the name, number and amount of each grant given to local authorities by his Department for integrated transport schemes was in the last 12 months. [177760]

Stephen Hammond: In 2012-13, around £211.5 million was paid from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to deliver 95 sustainable transport projects in 11 authorities across England. This funding was granted under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, through grant determination numbers: 31/2063, 31/2067 and 31/2083. This year the Department will pay approximately £175.8 million from the fund under the same statutory arrangements but through grant determination number: 31/2178.

The Department also provides Integrated Transport Block Funding to authorities for small scale transport improvement schemes. It is allocated to all local transport authorities, in England, outside of London, by formula. The funding formula, and the amounts awarded to each authority in 2011-12 and 2012-13 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-transport-capital-block-funding

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Climate Change

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the benefits of climate change to the UK environment and food supply. [177790]

Dan Rogerson: The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment, which was laid before Parliament in January 2012, contains a full analysis of the opportunities and threats from our changing climate, including in relation to the environment and agriculture. The report is available at:

www.gov.uk

Discrimination

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of his Department

2 Dec 2013 : Column 511W

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. [176675]

Dan Rogerson: There have been no formal complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment lodged against employees of DEFRA and its executive agencies by employees or other individuals in the last five years.

The Rural Payments Agency have had no complaints formally lodged since October 2012 but to answer for the period prior to this date would be of disproportionate cost.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [176709]

Dan Rogerson: There were no formal complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment lodged against employees of DEFRA and its executive agencies by current employees or other individuals in the last five years.

The Rural Payments Agency have had no complaints formally lodged since October 2012 but to answer for the period prior to this date would be of disproportionate cost.

Dogs: Electronic Training Aids

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made on banning electric shock collars on dogs following the publication of research funded by his Department on that issue. [179281]

George Eustice: DEFRA commissioned and has published research which provides evidence that electronic training aids can have a negative impact on the welfare of some dogs. However, the evidence from these studies is not strong enough to support a ban under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Government therefore have no plans to ban such devices in England. However, we have asked the industry to draw up guidance for dog owners and trainers advising how to use e-collars properly and to develop a manufacturers' charter to ensure any e-collars on sale are made to high standards.

Employment Tribunals Service

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [176554]

Dan Rogerson: There have been no employment tribunals claims lodged against core DEFRA or its executive agencies in the last five years on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination.

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The Rural Payments Agency have had no complaints formally lodged since October 2012 but to answer for the period prior to this date would be of disproportionate cost.

Floods: Insurance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he took to consult individual Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the flood insurance provisions within the Water Bill; and if he will make a statement on the process of consultation. [179358]

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA has regularly updated Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive and has also held regular meetings with officials in the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss the flood insurance provisions within the Water Bill.

The public consultation sought views on the Government's approach to flood insurance in the summer. The Government's response to the public consultation was published on 18 November 2013.

Fly-grazing

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damien Hinds) of 21 November 2013, Official Report, column 995W, on horses, if he will make an assessment of the effect of fly grazing on the local environment. [179384]

George Eustice: There are no plans to make such an assessment. Where a landowner has a horse fly grazing on their land, it is possible under section 4 of the Animals Act 1971 for the landowner to secure reasonable costs incurred from the owner of the horse for any damage it may cause.

Food: Waste

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the amount of food waste created by the hospitality and food service industry annually. [177851]

Dan Rogerson: The total annual food waste produced across the hospitality and food service sector is 920,000 tonnes, according to recent research by the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP).

A copy of WRAP'S research is available at:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/node/17924

In order to reduce this waste, the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement has been developed with WRAP. It is a voluntary agreement between the UK and devolved Governments and the hospitality and food service sector, to prevent food waste and increase recycling. The agreement now has over 170 signatories and supporters signed up.

The Agreement has two targets:

(a) Waste Prevention: To reduce food and associated packaging waste arising by 5% by the end of 2015.

(b) Waste Management target: To increase the overall rate of food and packaging waste being recycled, composted or sent to anaerobic digestion to at least 70% by the end of 2015.

2 Dec 2013 : Column 513W

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the success of the Courtauld Commitment in reducing household waste from groceries. [179108]

Dan Rogerson: Under the Courtauld Commitment a 3.7% absolute reduction in total household food waste was achieved (270,000 tonnes per year) against a target of 4% (92% of the target was achieved). This was despite an increase of 4% in the number of households since 2007.

The final results of the second phase of the Courtauld Commitment were published on 28 November 2013:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/node/9297/

ICT

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed within centralised ICT departments or teams in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [179167]

Dan Rogerson: As at 29 November 2013, 58 employees (56.06 full-time equivalents) were employed in core DEFRA's ICT teams.

Ministers' Private Offices

Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he (a) has appointed or (b) intends to appoint an enlarged ministerial office. [177515]

Dan Rogerson: I refer the hon. Member to the Minister for the Cabinet Office's answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 398W.

Reservoirs

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2013, Official Report, column 205W, on reservoirs, if he will publish his Department's estimate of potential costs presented to HM Treasury on 12 March 2012. [179372]

Dan Rogerson: The report to which I referred to in my previous answer of 26 November 2013 will consider the costs and benefits of on-farm reservoirs. It is not Government practice to publish internal communications between Departments concerning policy formulation.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of his Department's civil servants have been seconded to (a) the private sector and (b) trades unions in each year since 2010. [177714]

Dan Rogerson: As at 31 October 2013, core DEFRA staff have been seconded to the following private sector organisations since 2010:

2 Dec 2013 : Column 514W

During the same period, no core DEFRA staff have been seconded to any trade unions.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many secondees from (a) trades unions and (b) the voluntary sector have worked in his Department since 2010. [177737]

Dan Rogerson: As at 31 October 2013, staff have been seconded into core DEFRA from the following voluntary sector organisations since 2010:

During the same period, no staff have been seconded into core DEFRA from any trade unions.

Waste and Resources Action Programme

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will announce the conclusions of its review of the Waste and Resources Action Programme's funding and function. [177852]

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA published the summary report of the review, and responses to the 'Opportunity to comment' document, on 6 November at:

www.gov.uk

This report contains the conclusions of the review. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

Work and Pensions

Annual Reports

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department's most recent annual report will be published. [179120]

Esther McVey: The Department has not yet published its 2012-13 annual report and accounts. The Department plans to lay and publish later this year, in advance of the statutory deadline on the 31 January 2014.

2 Dec 2013 : Column 515W

Debt Collection

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has referred a constituent of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, Mr Thomas Balchin, to Akinika Debt Recovery. [177628]

Mike Penning: As my answer contains personal information I am communicating privately with the right. hon. Member.

Housing Benefit

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the expenditure on housing benefit in each English region as (a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure per claimant in each year since 2009-10. [177817]

Steve Webb: The total expenditure on housing benefit in each region in England since 2009-10 for which data are available is shown in the following tables:

Details on average amount of housing benefit paid to claimants in each region in England since 2009-10 can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

2 Dec 2013 : Column 516W

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children with special educational needs live in households affected by the under-occupancy penalty. [177526]

Esther McVey: The information requested is not available.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled children live in households affected by the under-occupancy penalty. [177527]

Esther McVey: The information requested is not available.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2013, Official Report, columns 919-20W, on housing benefit: social rented housing, if he will list the geographical locations where the independent evaluation will take place. [177899]

Esther McVey: An independent consortium has been commissioned by DWP to carry out a two year monitoring of the effects of the removal of the spare room subsidy across Great Britain. The consortium is led by Ipsos-MORI and includes the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research.

The research includes effects of the measures on supply issues, impacts in rural areas as well as effects on financial circumstances and vulnerable individuals. The evaluation includes research with claimants, social landlords, local authority staff and voluntary organisations.

Case study areas have been selected to ensure a geographical spread across England, Wales and Scotland and a range of local authority and housing stock characteristics. To protect the integrity and robustness of the evaluation evidence, following advice from the independent consortium, details of the specific case study areas participating will not be identified publicly, at least not until completion of all planned fieldwork by the consortium in autumn 2014.

The evaluation is, taking place over a two year period, and commenced in April 2013. Initial findings will be available in 2014 and a final report will be published in late 2015.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the under-occupancy penalty on non-resident fathers; and if he will make a statement. [179231]

Esther McVey: A general principle of domestic social security law is to prevent double provision.

A child is taken into account in the housing benefit assessment when the claimant or partner has primary responsibility for them. This will be the person that the child normally resides with or where the child spends an equal time in different households, the person in receipt of child benefit.

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The rules relating to size criteria have been in place in the private sector since 2008 and the Government does not see why minority carers in the social sector should be treated differently to minority carers in the private sector.

ICT

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed within centralised ICT departments or teams in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [179175]

Mike Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions employs 1,633 people in its central IT functions.

Industrial Health and Safety

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the consequences for workplace health and safety of ending the requirement for written risk assessments for small and medium-sized enterprises. [179324]

Mike Penning: The Government are focused on effective and proportionate management of real safety or health risks. Written risk assessments can play a role but are not necessary in all circumstances. The Government therefore agree with the recommendation of the business-led EU task force that national Governments should have flexibility to decide when small, low risk businesses need written risk assessments.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the value of written risk assessments for small and medium-sized enterprises operating in high risk sectors. [179325]

Mike Penning: The Government are not proposing changes to risk assessment requirements for high risk activities undertaken by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Jobcentre Plus

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of separate claims processed by Jobcentre Plus centres using an 0845 number in each parliamentary constituency in 2012-13. [177537]

Esther McVey: The Department does not use any 0845 numbers to process calls for new claims to working age benefits.

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is given to Jobcentre Plus staff on dealing with people who are discharged from the armed forces on medical grounds. [177596]

Esther McVey: There is no specific training but we do have our network of armed forces champions who are there to help advisers understand the range of support available to service leavers and to actively signpost to appropriate organisations.

Specific health conditions are included as part of mainstream disability training for DEAs/ESA advisers.

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Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants' cases are currently being investigated by Jobcentre Plus (JCP) offices in Scotland for breaches of jobseeker agreements with regard to the application of retrospective sanctions, by (a) JCP office in Scotland and (b) month since May 2010. [177601]

Esther McVey: The reply assumes that the question relates to jobseeker's allowance sanctions for failure to participate in DWP's back to work schemes under the Jobseeker's Allowance (Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme) Regulations 2011 and in the Mandatory Work Activity scheme which were delayed as a result of the Reilly v. the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions judicial review.

As a result of the High Court and Court of Appeal judgments in that case, the DWP had to stockpile sanction referrals for failures to participate in these schemes where no decision had been made at the time of those judgments.

The passing of the Jobseekers (Back to Work Schemes) Act 2013 allowed DWP to make decisions on these cases and this process was completed in the summer of 2013.

Official statistics covering this time period will not be available until early 2014.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the savings accrued to the Exchequer as a result of the fall in the number of people (a) in total and (b) aged 18 to 24 years old who claimed jobseeker's allowance in the last 24 months; and if he will make a statement. [177600]

Esther McVey: The estimated total reduction in spending on jobseeker's allowance between September 2011 and September 2013, compared to a position where the jobseeker's allowance caseload stayed at 2011 levels, is:

(a) £226 million for all claimants

(b) £295 million for claimants aged 18 to 24.

This estimate does not take account of the effects on spending on other benefits, tax credits or tax and national insurance revenue, as it is not possible to estimate these with any degree of certainty.

Savings for ages 18 to 24 are higher than those for the total caseload because the 18 to 24 caseload falls further from September 2011 levels than the overall caseload. The estimated saving is summed over 24 months and due to seasonality the starting month can have a large impact on this.

The estimate assumes any reduction in the caseload is evenly spread across the distribution of payments of jobseeker's allowance.

Notes and sources:

Office for National Statistics claimant count, Great Britain, non-seasonally adjusted.

Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, and internal DWP projections, of the age breakdown, and average amounts of benefit.

DWP accounting data.

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Jobseeker’s Allowance: Barrow and Furness

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time in receipt of jobseeker's allowance is for current claimants in Barrow and Furness constituency who are (a) women, (b) men, (c) aged between 16 and 24 and (d) aged over 50. [179317]

Esther McVey: Statistics on the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants in Barrow and Furness, by age, sex and duration of claim can be found at:

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

Guidance for users can be found at:

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

Means-tested Benefits

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working households are also claiming means-tested benefits. [177751]

Esther McVey: There are 4,200,000 families (benefit units) in the United Kingdom in receipt of at least one income-related benefit in which at least one person in the family is in work in 2011-12.

Entitlement to some benefits is based on the circumstances of an individual, while others are based on the circumstances of a benefit unit. Therefore it is more appropriate for the analysis requested to be presented at benefit unit level rather than at household level.

Income related benefits includes the following: housing benefit, council tax credit,

pension credit, jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance, income support, maternity grant from social fund, funeral grant from social fund, community care grant from social fund, return to work credit, working tax credit, child tax credit.

Working benefit units include all benefit units in which at least one member of the benefit unit is either an employee or self-employed in full-time or part-time work. This includes those doing unpaid work in their own business or a business that a relative owns.

The FRS is known to under-record benefit receipt. Please see table M.6 in the methodology section for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206887/frs_2011_12_report.pdf

Following standard FRS practice, the figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. This would result in a number between 50,000 and 149,999 being rounded to 100,000 while a number between 150,000 and 249,999 would be rounded to 200,000.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total amount of means-tested benefits paid to claimants in working households was in the latest period for which figures are available. [177752]

Mike Penning: The information requested is shown in the following table:

2 Dec 2013 : Column 520W

Housing benefit and council tax benefit figures are based on claimants not in receipt of any other DWP benefit. All of in-work credit expenditure is included.

The Family Resources Survey has been used to estimate how much spending on the other benefits in the table is on claimants who are in benefit units where at least one person is in work.

A benefit unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple and any dependent children. An adult is defined as those individuals aged 16 or over, unless defined as a dependent child. An individual may be defined as a child if aged 16 to 19 years old and they are not married nor in a Civil Partnership nor living with a partner; and living with parents; and in full-time non-advanced education or in unwaged Government training.

The Family Resources Survey is a nationally representative sample of UK households. The figures from the Family Resources Survey are based on a sample of households which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which align the Family Resources Survey to former Government Office Region population by age and sex. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-response error.

Entitlement to many benefits is based on the circumstances of a benefit unit, rather than the individual. Therefore it is more appropriate for the analysis requested to be presented at benefit unit level rather than individual level.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to inform people of pensionable age of their entitlement to benefits. [179153]

Steve Webb: The Government are committed to ensuring pensioners receive the benefits they are entitled to.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) makes information available in various locations (for example, our website at www.gov.uk. and leaflets available from our DWP Information Line on 0845 7313233) to ensure that people are aware of the benefits to which they may be entitled and how to claim them. In addition DWP's

2 Dec 2013 : Column 521W

National Partnerships Team works with over 4,400 customer representative organisations, both nationally and locally, to provide a wide range of advice and support for pensioners.

For contributory pensions, the Department writes to people at the address held on record up to four months before they reach their state pension age explaining their options, including how to claim their state pension or how to defer receiving it until later. State pension can be claimed online, by phone, or by submitting a claim form.

With respect to income-related benefits, when a customer makes a claim to state pension or reports a change in their circumstances, a customer adviser also discusses a pension credit application with those who may be entitled. There is also a visiting service available to support vulnerable customers who are unable to access services through other channels, such as telephony, post or online. Furthermore, a web-based pension credit toolkit:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/pension-credit-toolkit/

also provides customer representative organisations with all the information needed to talk to pensioners about pension credit. This includes members of the Age Action Alliance and UK Advisory Forum on Ageing, who work at local level with older people and providers of services to older people. Pensioners can, where eligible, claim housing benefit alongside pension credit in a single phone call, without the need for a signed claim form. Calls to the 0800 claims number from a BT landline or from the six largest mobile phone networks are free.

With respect to disability benefits, attendance allowance is available to severely disabled people aged 65 and over. Attendance allowance is widely referenced in the information products referred to above, particularly those directed at older people. People receiving disability living allowance or personal independence payment when they reach age 65 or state pension age, whichever is the later, can retain that entitlement rather than being required to claim attendance allowance so long as they continue to meet the entitlement conditions.

For winter fuel payments, warm home discounts and cold weather payments, in most cases the Department provides automatic payment based on records it already holds.

Further information on benefits is also available on the Department's website:

https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's civil servants have been seconded to (a) the private sector and (b) trades unions in each year since 2010. [177727]

Mike Penning: The records held centrally do not enable us to identify whether the individual is seconded out to a private sector organisation or a trade union. In general secondments out of the Department are usually to local authorities, county councils, educational bodies or charitable organisations.

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Information from payroll records, indicate that as at 20 November 2013 DWP has 66 employees who are currently on an outward secondment that commenced in 2010 or later.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many secondees from (a) trades unions and (b) the voluntary sector have worked in his Department since 2010. [177750]

Mike Penning: The information on secondees into DWP is not held centrally therefore we cannot state how many there are. Secondees into DWP from any external organisation do not have a civil service contract and are not paid through the Department’s payroll.

Skilled Workers: Training

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to provide support and training for those who have been made redundant so that they can return to high skilled occupations. [177559]

Esther McVey: The Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service provides support to people in a redundancy situation to help them move into alternative work without the need to claim welfare benefits. The support includes advice, guidance and signposting to sources of help relevant to individual circumstances. Where appropriate, funding may be provided by Partners or Jobcentre Plus to enhance transferrable skills aligned to jobs in the local labour market. Partners will vary according to location and the specific requirements of each redundancy situation, but may include: Skills Funding Agency, Skills Development Scotland (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment), Welsh Assembly Government—Redundancy Action Scheme, ACAS, HMRC, Money Advice Service, local colleges.

Unemployment

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the total cost to (a) the Exchequer and (b) individuals caused by lost earnings and youth unemployment in (i) each year between 2005 and 2010 and (ii) each region. [179118]

Esther McVey: The available information is shown in the following tables. Young people who were unemployed have been classified as people aged under 25 claiming jobseekers allowance. Housing benefit expenditure data split by region are not available prior to 2008-09.

On this basis the cost to the Exchequer and the cost to individuals is the same.

Calculating the total cost caused by lost earnings is not possible. This is because it would require making assumptions on salary if the youth were in employment, and assumptions about the circumstances of other members of the benefit unit.

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