House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 04 Dec 2013 (pt 0004)

Table 3: 2012-13
		Q1²		Q2²		Q3²		Q4²		Annual²
		Points¹	Value (£)	Points¹	Value (£)	Points¹	Value (£)	Points¹	Value (£)	Points¹	Value (£)
Altcourse	Failure to comply with procedures	205	⁶—	15	⁶—	10	⁶—	50	⁶—	92	⁶—
	Incidents	20	⁶—	60	⁶—	50	⁶—	30	⁶—	529	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Total	225	35,168	75	0	60	0	80	0	621	28,740

Forest Bank	Failure to comply with procedures	60	⁶—	70	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Incidents	25	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	20	⁶—	185	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Total	85	0	70	0	0	0	20	0	185	0

Bronzefield	Failure to comply with procedures	120	⁶—	80	⁶—	70	⁶—	35	⁶—	110	⁶—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	93.5	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	25	⁶—	15	⁶—	15	⁶—	15	⁶—	415	⁶—
	Total	145	16,478	95	4,580	85	2,169	50	0	618.5	78,504

Peterborough	Failure to comply with procedures	115	⁶—	40	⁶—	20	⁶—	0	⁶—	121	⁶—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	15	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	125	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Total	115	1,360	55	0	20	0	0	0	246	0

Ashfield—YJB	Failure to comply with procedures	10	⁶—	35	⁶—	5	⁶—	5	⁶—	35	⁶—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	30	⁶—	20	⁶—	112	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	20	⁶—
	Total	10	0	35	0	35	0	25	0	167	6,889

Parc—Part YJB	Failure to comply with procedures	15	⁶—	65	⁶—	5	⁶—	200	⁶—	27	⁶—
	Incidents	60	⁶—	20	⁶—	40	⁶—	60	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Total	75	0	85	0	45	0	260	16,519	27	0

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4 Dec 2013 : Column 732W

Dovegate	Failure to comply with procedures	85	⁶—	35	⁶—	10	⁶—	40	⁶—	80	⁶—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	10	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Total	85	0	35	0	20	0	40	0	80	0

Rye Hill	Failure to comply with procedures	730	⁶—	295	⁶—	200	⁶—	105	⁶—	288	⁶—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	10	⁶—	275	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	60	⁶—
	Total	730	99,775	295	32,005	200	16,961	115	5,059	623	57,607

Lowdham Grange	Failure to comply with procedures	135	⁶—	105	⁶—	50	⁶—	70	⁶—	198	⁶—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	20	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—
	Total	135	0	105	0	50	0	90	0	198	0

Doncaster	Failure to comply with procedures	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	—	⁶—	—	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	—	⁶—	—	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	13	⁶—	3	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Total	0	0	0	0	13	5,672	3	1,260	^4,6—	^4,6—

Wolds	Failure to comply with procedures	125	⁶—	455	⁶—	455	⁶—	220	⁶—	203	⁶—
	Incidents	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	40	⁶—	20	⁶—	13	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	0	⁶—	20	⁶—
	Total	125	583	455	24,657	495	27,648	240	9,075	236	4,279

Oakwood	Failure to comply with procedures	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	7	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Incidents	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	0	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	90	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Total	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	97	45,299	^4,6—	^4,6—

Thameside	Failure to comply with procedures	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	66	⁶—	86	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Incidents	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	0	⁶—	255	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	55	⁶—	79	⁶—	^4,6—	^4,6—
	Total	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	^3,6—	121	263	420	28,253	^4,6—	^4,6—

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Birmingham	Failure to comply with procedures	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	0	⁶—
	Incidents	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	0	⁶—
	Failure to comply with prison regime	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	135	⁶—
	Total	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	^4,6—	135	95,135
¹ Total points accrued. Note: data excludes credit points awarded. Financial penalties only apply if baseline targets exceeded. ² Periods relate to contractual periods not financial periods. ³ Prison not in operational service. ⁴ Performance measure not applicable. ⁵ No data. ⁶ Indicates brace.

Reoffenders

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the rate of reoffending was for all 18 to 21 year olds released from young offender institutions in each of the last five years; [176851]

(2) what the rate of reoffending was for all adults released from full adult prisons in each of the last five years. [176852]

Jeremy Wright: Most young adults (over 18 and under 21 years old) who are held in custody are accommodated in young offender institutions. Young offender institutions are either single or dual designated as both a prison and a young offender institution. Reoffending statistics are collected for each establishment. We cannot separate reoffending rates for dual designated institutions so cannot enable direct comparisons.

Statistics on proven reoffending are published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis in the ‘Proven Re-offending Statistics Quarterly Bulletin’ at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/proven-re-offending-quarterly-january-to-december-2011

Proven reoffending rates for adult offenders in England and Wales who were released from adult prison and young offender institutions, can be found in Table 22a (less than 12 month sentences) and b (12 months or more sentences) of the Proven Re-offending Statistics Quarterly Bulletin, January to December 2011.

A proven re-offence is defined as any offence committed in a one year follow-up period resulting in a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow-up. Following this one year follow-up, a further six month waiting period is allowed for the offence to be proven in court.

Reoffending rates for young adults remain stubbornly high. The Government published the Transforming Management of Young Adults in Custody consultation document on 7 November to outline plans to introduce a fresh approach.

Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average proportion of determinate sentences actually served in custody by (a) men and (b) women was in the latest period for which figures are available. [179203]

Jeremy Wright: The legislation governing standard determinate sentences provides for automatic release at the halfway point with the second half of the sentence served in the community. The Government have introduced extended determinate sentences for dangerous offenders which provide for at least two thirds of the custodial term to be served in custody, with extended periods served on licence on release. It is also legislating to ensure that all sentenced prisoners will be released on licence and subject to supervision for at least 12 months. The Government have also announced plans to end automatic release from prison for offenders who receive standard determinate sentences for certain serious child sex offences and terrorist offences.

Some offenders may serve more than half of their custodial term in prison if they have received added days as a consequence of disciplinary proceedings in prison. Some offenders may be released earlier than the halfway point on home detention curfew (HDC). A greater proportion of female offenders are eligible for HDC because, generally, the offences they have committed are less serious and therefore the length of sentences they receive are shorter than those received by male offenders.

The information requested is contained in table 3.2 of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly bulletin:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/253958/discharge-tables-q2-2013.xls

This shows that for quarter ending June 2013, the percentage of time served, including remand, for all determinate sentences was 52%—52% for males and 48% for females.

Sexual Offences: Prosecutions

Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what proportion of children prosecuted for sexual offences plead guilty; [176275]

(2) what proportion of adults prosecuted for sexual offences plead guilty. [176279]

Jeremy Wright: Our laws in these areas are robust and clear. The Government take very seriously all matters

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relating to sexual abuse and also any material which may appear to be derived from or to encourage such activity.

The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales, This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. Plea data for cases heard entirely at the magistrates courts is not centrally held.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, and the number of defendants tried at the Crown court, by plea, for sexual offences, by age group, in England and Wales, in 2012 (the latest available) can be viewed in the following table.

Court proceedings for the calendar year 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.

Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts01, and number of defendants tried at the Crown Court, by plea, for sexual offences, by age group, England and Wales, 2012<2,(3)
Age group	Proceeded against	Tried at the Crown court	Of which: Pleaded guilty	Proportion of Crown court trials where defendants pleaded guilty (%)
Aged 10 to 17	672	200	86	43.0
Aged 18 and over	8,741	6,258	2,409	38.5
¹ Plea data for magistrates court not available. ² The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. ³ Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Television: Data Protection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with television manufacturers on the collection and transmission of private and personal data gathered by smart TVs. [179283]

Mr Vara: Ministry of Justice Ministers have not had any discussions with television manufacturers on the collection and transmission of private and personal data gathered by smart televisions. The Government take both the protection of personal data and the right to privacy extremely seriously.

However, the Information Commissioner's Office, as the independent body set up to enforce the Data Protection Act, would be best placed to investigate these matters.

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Education

Charitable Donations

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to encourage its employees to make tax-free donations direct from their salaries. [179638]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education runs a charitable giving scheme, which enables employees to give tax-free donations to a charity or charities of their choice through the payroll system. Information on the scheme is available to all employees through the Department's intranet.

Children: Day Care

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of how many childcare places need to be created by September 2014 to fulfill the Government's commitment to extend the offer of free childcare to disadvantaged two year olds. [176909]

Elizabeth Truss: Since 1 September 2013 local authorities have been under a statutory duty to secure a place for any eligible two-year-old. Around 92,000 two-year-olds are already accessing a place—70% of the way towards the 130,000 places planned for the first year.

The entitlement will be extended to around 260,000 children from September 2014, which equates to 130,000 full-time places. The last Department for Education Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey reported that there were around 300,000 early years vacancies.

The Government are putting in place a number of measures to support growth in provision across the country including:

1. creating new childminder agencies

2. making it easier for schools to take two-year-olds and to offer out-of-school-hours facilities

3. simplifying the regulatory framework and planning rules so nurseries can expand more easily

4. improving the funding system to increase consistency across local authorities and maximise the funding that reaches the frontline.

The Government have also provided £100 million capital funding to support a growth in high quality places and will continue to monitor take-up closely.

Child Protection

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will request that Ofsted provides detailed calculations as to why the response from Sir Michael Wilshaw dated 7 November 2013 and deposited in the Library indicates that providing significant incident notifications can only be done at disproportionate cost. [175941]

Mr Laws: Ofsted is a separate independent non-ministerial Government Department. However, Sir Michael Wilshaw has now commented further on the question of costs to the Procedure Committee, explaining the basis for his response. A copy of his letter has been placed in the House Library.

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Kings Science Academy

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2013, Official Report, column 1090W, on Kings Science Academy, (a) what the critical information supplied to Action Fraud was and (b) what other information was requested by Action Fraud. [179303]

Mr Timpson: All the critical information in the Education Funding Agency's report, including the detail and value of the invoices which were believed to have been fabricated, was supplied to Action Fraud.

Action Fraud asked a series of questions, such as how much money had been paid to the academy, all of which were answered.

Ofsted

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what advice he has given to Ofsted on a potential conflict of interest on the part of those overseeing the organisation who are also members of academy chains; and if he will make a statement. [179628]

Mr Laws: Ofsted's published corporate governance framework sets out clear expectations for members of the board, including requirements to abide by the principles of public life, to register interests that are or may be perceived as being relevant or material to the business of Ofsted, and to disclose personal interests. Where a board member has a prejudicial interest in any business of Ofsted they must withdraw from all involvement in discussions and decisions relating to that business.

The separation of powers between the Ofsted board and Her Majesty's chief inspector ensures that neither the Chair, nor individual members, have any influence over specific inspection judgments.

Primary Education: Croydon

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide additional funding for new primary school places in the London borough of Croydon; and if he will make a statement. [179598]

Mr Laws: Since 2011, we have allocated over £95.3 million of basic need funding to Croydon to help the local authority create additional school places, including just under £63.3 million for the financial years 2013-15. Croydon's pupils will also benefit from £48.7 million invested through the Targeted Basic Need programme, which will support the local authority to build five new schools and expand three existing schools, creating a total of 4,090 new places.

This brings the total funding allocated for new school places during the period 2011-15 to £144 million, compared to £17.7 million provided to Croydon during 2007-11. Three new free schools due to open in 2014 will also provide an additional 2,410 school places in the area.

We have improved the way that basic need funding is, allocated, to target money at the areas that need new school places the most. We have secured a good settlement for the next spending period and expect to announce further funding shortly.

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Pupils: Bullying

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to support Stonewall's Education for All campaign to prevent and tackle homophobic bullying in schools and colleges in England; and if he will make a statement. [179202]

Elizabeth Truss: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), is a public supporter of the excellent work that Stonewall does to campaign against homophobic bullying in schools. He spoke at their annual Education for All Conference in July 2013, condemning the pejorative use of the word 'gay' in schools.

The Department for Education's guidance to schools makes it clear that tackling bullying, including homophobic bullying, is a top priority for this Government and should never be tolerated. All schools must have a behaviour policy with measures to prevent bullying, including bullying based on prejudice against any particular groups, on the grounds of, for example, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. It is up to schools to develop their own specific strategies to prevent bullying, as they are best placed to do so in the context of their pupils' needs. Ofsted holds schools to account for their effectiveness at preventing bullying.

Our advice to schools on prevention and tackling bullying includes signposts to organisations such as Stonewall, Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH) and School's Out, where schools can access specialist information and advice on dealing with issues such as homophobic bullying. The Department will continue to work closely with these organisations, including Stonewall, to ensure that our bullying advice is up-to-date.

We are also supporting a piece of work at the Government Equalities Office, on homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in secondary schools. This will involve a review of evidence and practices currently in place in schools to tackle homophobic bullying.

Schools

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools moved from a three tier to a two tier system during 2012-13; how many schools are committed to making such a change during 2013-14; and how many schools are engaged in consultations concerning the possibility of making this change at some point in the future. [179572]

Mr Laws: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

We are unable to comment on the number of schools that are currently consulting on the possibility of making such a reorganisation of their educational provision in the future. This is because local authorities and schools are able to consult and engage with their local communities on this issue without first notifying the Department.

Schools: Bradford

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many existing schools in the Bradford Education Authority area are planning to meet increased demand for school places by increasing their current capacity. [179420]

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Mr Laws: The Department for Education collects information from each authority on school capacity in state-funded primary and secondary schools (except special schools) through the annual School Capacity Collection in the academic year of the survey. The Department has not previously collected information from local authorities on the number of schools that are planning to meet increased demand for school places by increasing their current capacity. This information has been collected for the 2013 survey and will be available in the next quarter.

Schools: Greater London

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has provided to (a) open new secondary schools, (b) expand existing secondary schools, (c) open new primary schools and (d) expand existing primary schools in London in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [179597]

Mr Laws: For the period 2011-15, we have allocated £1,632 million to London local authorities, to create new school places where they are most needed. Local authorities use this funding to expand existing primary and secondary schools, and to open new schools.

During this period, we have also allocated £306 million to London local authorities through the Targeted Basic Need programme. This programme alone will create around 26,574 new places in London by September 2015.

In total over the current spending review period, we have allocated £1,938 million to London local authorities, more than three times the £619 million in the preceding four-year period under the previous Government.

Special Educational Needs

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many special needs schools for (a) two to nine year olds, (b) nine to 16 year olds and (c) over 16 year olds were in operation in each of the last six years. [179199]

Mr Timpson: The Department does not hold this information for all the age ranges specified and also does not hold this information on a historical basis.

Currently there are a total of 1,548 special schools in England. The numbers of special schools with a statutory age range within age ranges two to nine, nine to 16, two to 16 and two to over 16 are given as follows. A further table showing the number of special schools for other statutory age ranges is also given.

Schools for two to nine-year-olds
Statutory age range	Number of special schools¹
2 to 5	1
2 to 6	2
2 to 7	1
3 to 5	2
Total	6

Schools for nine to 16-year-olds
Statutory age range	Number of special schools¹
9 to 16	12
10 to 16	19

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11 to 14	1
11 to 16	201
12 to 16	4
13 to 16	5
14 to 16	17
15 to 16	1
Total	260

Schools for over 16-year-olds
Statutory age range	Number of special schools¹
16 to 19	1
Total	1

Schools where the age range spans two or more of the defined categories
Statutory age range	Number of special schools¹
0 to 11	1
0 to 12	1
1 to 18	1
2 to 11	68
2 to 12	5
2 to 14	3
2 to 16	16
2 to 17	4
2 to 18	5
2 to 19	166
3 to 11	38
3 to 14	1
3 to 16	15
3 to 18	7
3 to 19	110
4 to 11	40
4 to 12	3
4 to 13	1
4 to 16	37
4 to 17	1
4 to 18	7
4 to 19	44
5 to 11	31
5 to 12	12
5 to 13	2
5 to 14	9
5 to 16	46
5 to 17	3
5 to 18	7
5 to 19	54
6 to 10	1
6 to 11	3
6 to 12	1
6 to 13	3
6 to 16	13
6 to 17	1
6 to 18	2
6 to 19	9
7 to 11	6
7 to 12	1
7 to 13	4
7 to 14	5
7 to 15	1
7 to 16	47
7 to 17	5
7 to 18	19

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7 to 19	32
7 to 22	1
8 to 16	23
8 to 17	5
8 to 18	15
8 to 19	26
9 to 17	3
9 to 18	6
9 to 19	14
10 to 17	3
10 to 18	34
10 to 19	12
10 to 23	1
11 to 17	19
11 to 18	57
11 to 19	144
12 to 17	4
12 to 18	. 6
12 to 19	4
13 to 17	:2
13 to 18	2
13 to 19	4
14 to 17	2
14 to 19	1
14 to 25	2
Total	1,281
¹ Includes Academy Special Converter; Academy Special Sponsor Led; Community Special School; Foundation Special School; Free Schools Special; Non-Maintained Special School and Other Independent Special School. Source: EduBase 30 November 2013

Teachers: Training

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of trainee teachers in (a) the School Direct programme and (b) tertiary institutions are disabled. [179188]

Mr Laws: Provisional data on new entrants to initial teacher training programmes in the academic year 2013/14 was collected as part of initial teacher training census. The disability statistics were not included in the published data, but are as follows:

1. 6% of new entrants on School Direct (Fee) programmes have a declared disability, and 4% of new entrants on a School Direct (Salary) programme have a declared disability.

2. 7% of new entrants on a Provider led¹ programme have a declared disability.

¹Note:

Provider led includes University and School-centred initial teacher training providers.

Communities and Local Government

Betting Shops

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps he is taking to prevent the proliferation of betting shops near areas with high levels of deprivation; [179616]

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(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to permitted development rights on the number of betting shops on the high street. [179617]

Nick Boles: Local authorities already have a range of powers available in regard to betting shops.

Where there are permitted development rights to allow change of use, a local planning authority can consult on and make an article 4 direction to require a planning application to be submitted where it is necessary to protect local amenity. These powers are well known to local authorities, and some have chosen to take forward an article 4 direction in regard to betting shops. For example, the London borough of Barking and Dagenham has been consulting on an article 4 direction and associated supplementary planning guidance to address the proliferation of betting shops in the local area.

A betting shop must comply with its licensing conditions, and where they are breached the local licensing authority has powers to intervene including removing the licence to operate.

Council Housing: Waiting Lists

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are on the housing waiting list; and how many such people have been on the list for over two years in (a) Southampton City Council area, (b) Havant Borough Council area, (c) Fareham Borough Council area and (d) Gosport Borough Council area. [179519]

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 554W.

Families: Disadvantaged

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 82W, on disadvantaged families, what payments have been made to each local authority listed in the table referred to in the answer from the troubled families budget since the start of that programme; and if he will make a statement. [179232]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 2 December 2013]: The details of all payments made to local authorities on the Troubled Families programme are published as part of DCLG's transparency data. Our approach to transparency is explained here:

https://www.gov.uk/search?tab=government-results&q=dclg+transparency

For payments relating to the results paid in September 2013, these can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/254351/TP_DCLG_September_2013_for_Publication.xls

(click on Troubled Families under the Expenses Area heading).

For payments relating to the attachment fee payments made in August 2013, these can be found at:

4 Dec 2013 : Column 743W

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/245298/TP_DCLG_August_2013_for_publication.xls

(scroll down to Troubled Families under the Expenses Area heading).

For payments relating to attachment fees and Troubled Families Co-ordinator payments made in June 2013, these can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225554/TP_DCLG_June_2013_for_publication.xls

(click on Troubled Families under the Expenses Area heading).

For payments relating to the results paid in March 2013, these can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222112/TP_DCLG_March_2013_for_publication.xls

(click on Troubled Families under the Expenses Area heading).

For payments relating to the attachment fee and Troubled Families Co-ordinator payments made in July 2012, these can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7548/2215991.xls

(click on Troubled Families under the Expenses Area heading).

For payments relating to the attachment fee and Troubled Families Co-ordinator payments made in May 2012, these can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/5806/2169202.xls

(click on Troubled Families under the Expenses Area heading).

Fire Services: Cleveland

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 83W, where details of meetings that may have been held between officials in his Department and representatives of Cleveland fire authority have been published. [179251]

Brandon Lewis: Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on my Department's website.

Departmental officials meet with representatives from local fire and rescue authorities from time to time on a range of matters. As was the case under the last Administration, details of such informal meetings by officials are not routinely published.

More broadly, I refer the hon. Member to my speech in the Adjournment debate, at which he attended, of 13 May 2013, Official Report, columns 470-76, which sets out the Government's position on mutuals very clearly.

Homelessness

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many night shelters there were in each of the last 10 years. [179349]

Kris Hopkins: The information requested is not centrally held.

4 Dec 2013 : Column 744W

London Finance Commission

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the London Finance Commission's report, Raising the Capital, published May 2013; [177826]

(2) what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the recently published report of the London Finance Commission entitled Raising the Capital; and if he will make a statement. [179423]

Brandon Lewis: We welcome the report's contribution to the ongoing public debate on the scope for further decentralisation.

Notwithstanding, as I outlined in my evidence to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee on 24 June (HC 213), we have no current plans to transfer more powers to the Greater London Authority, given we have recently just devolved a range of responsibilities and funding through the Localism Act 2011 and decentralised local government finance through the Local Government Finance Act 2012.

Decentralisation should be to the lowest appropriate level-not just to the Greater London Authority, but also down to London boroughs, parishes and neighbourhoods, community groups and local residents.

New Towns

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) with reference to the Government's Housing Strategy launched in November 2011, what the outcome was of the competition to promote the development of a wave of larger-scale housing projects; [179344]

(2) what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in other Government Departments on garden cities; [179361]

(3) what recent (a) discussions and (b) meetings (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Department have had with stakeholders regarding garden cities; [179362]

(4) how many meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in other Government Departments regarding garden cities; [179363]

(5) how many meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with third parties regarding garden cities. [179364]

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 84-5W, which outlines how the Government are supporting locally-led development, in contrast to the last Administration's failed eco-town programme and top-down regional strategies.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with colleagues from other Government Departments on a range of matters. Ministerial meetings with external organisations are routinely published on my Department's website.

Representatives of the Department routinely meet a range of interested parties with involvement in locally-led large-scale development, including schemes bidding for support through the Local Infrastructure Fund.

4 Dec 2013 : Column 745W

Planning Permission: Hillingdon

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations his Department has received from the London Borough of Hillingdon about delays by the Planning Inspectorate in determining appeals within that borough. [179474]

Nick Boles: Neither my Department nor the Planning Inspectorate have received any such representations.

Written Questions

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what proportion of named day questions his Department provided a substantive reply by the named day in each year since 2005. [179360]

Brandon Lewis: Information from departmental records on the numbers of named day parliamentary questions answered by the Department tabled in each year since 2005 is as follows:

	Named day questions	Number answered on time	Percentage answered on time
2005	493	371	75
2006	543	315	58
2007	681	335	49
2008	791	538	68
2009	862	708	82
2010	733	621	85
2011	614	440	72
2012	700	485	69
Total	5,417	3,813	70

International Development

Tuberculosis

8. Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of trends in global incidence of tuberculosis. [901425]

Lynne Featherstone: The World Health Organisation estimates that 8.6 million people developed tuberculosis (TB) in 2012. TB cases have been falling worldwide for a decade; however the rate of decline is slow. Resistance to TB drugs is a growing threat and there is a risk of resurgence.

Central African Republic

9. Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic. [901426]

Lynne Featherstone: The humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is acute. The UN estimates the whole population (4.6 million people) is affected by this conflict and 1.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. A DFID team returned

4 Dec 2013 : Column 746W

from an assessment mission over the weekend. The International Development Secretary announced on 29 November a £10 million package for CAR to meet unmet humanitarian needs.

Yemen

10. Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment her Department has made of the performance of its programmes in Yemen. [901427]

Mr Duncan: Six of the eight Yemen projects reviewed in the last 12 months met or exceeded their targets. Results achieved as a direct result of British aid over the last year include providing 480,000 people with emergency food aid and 165,000 people with access to clean drinking water.

Aid Dependency

11. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of her Department's effectiveness in promoting economic development in developing nations as a means of ending dependency aid. [901428]

Justine Greening: We know that economic development is essential for sustained poverty reduction. Growth reduces poverty through job creation and raised incomes. It also raises tax revenues which allow Governments to deliver improved public services such as health and education, and ultimately graduate from aid.

Sierra Leone

12. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to improve governance in Sierra Leone. [901429]

Lynne Featherstone: Improving governance is a top priority in our aid programme in Sierra Leone. We are helping improve transparency and accountability, strengthening justice and democracy, and working to stamp out corruption.

Kenya

13. Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work her Department is undertaking in Kenya. [901430]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID’s work in Kenya supports Kenya’s own development blueprint, Vision 2030, focusing in three areas (i) promoting stability and security (ii) stimulating economic growth, creating jobs to reduce poverty and aid dependency; and (iii) improving service delivery including humanitarian support.

Development: Business Engagement

14. Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to engage UK businesses in international development. [901431]

4 Dec 2013 : Column 747W

Justine Greening: DFID works with businesses to promote growth and reduce poverty in developing countries. I regularly meet UK businesses to discuss the contribution they can make. I recently visited Tanzania with representatives from British companies already investing there or exploring investment opportunities with an impact on poverty.

Bedouin

15. Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to meet the humanitarian needs of Bedouin who are forcibly removed from their traditional lands. [901432]

Mr Duncan: The UK Government have raised concerns about forced relocation of Bedouin with the Israeli authorities, with a view to agreeing a satisfactory solution to this complex issue. DFID supports vulnerable communities including the Bedouin in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to reduce their risk of displacement.

ICT

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people are employed within centralised IT departments or teams in her Department; and if she will make a statement. [179171]

Mr Duncan: There are 119 employees within DFID's central IT department.

Palestinians

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects were funded by the Conflict Pool in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [179539]

Hugh Robertson: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

In the financial year 2009-10 we funded 20 projects through the Conflict Pool in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, costing £3,966,639; in 2010-2011 we funded 16 projects costing £3,486,373; in 2011-2012 we funded 22 projects costing £3,137,012; in 2012-2013 we funded 14 projects costing £3,624,641.

Philippines

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Government aid to the Philippines will be distributed; and how this aid will be monitored to ensure that it reaches those most in need. [179415]

Justine Greening: The British Government have committed more than £50 million to assist with disaster relief efforts currently under-way in the Philippines. UK funding is provided through international aid partners and organisations that have demonstrated the ability to deliver aid effectively to those in need. This includes British charities, the United Nations, and the Red Cross Movement.

4 Dec 2013 : Column 748W

My Department has a team working in the Philippines. Agencies receiving UK funds will be closely monitored by officials. We require regular reporting by recipient organisations and my officials will visit projects at key points during implementation.

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what comparative information her Department holds on donations made by other member states of the EU towards alleviating suffering as a result of Typhoon Haiyan. [179499]

Justine Greening: The UK, and all EU member states, are required to input financial information relating to humanitarian responses through the EU's European Emergency Disaster Response Information System. This in turn informs the global humanitarian Financial Tracking Service overseen by the UN. The information held in both of these systems is available for the public to access at:

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/hac/

and

http://fts.unocha.org/

Business, Innovation and Skills

Engineering: Skilled Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the skills shortages in the engineering industry; and what recent discussions he has held with education leaders and employers on this matter. [179416]

Matthew Hancock: The Government fully recognise the importance of the supply of skilled engineers to the country's current and future economic performance. On 4 November, my Department published a Review of Engineering Skills by the BIS Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor John Perkins. Professor Perkins' assessment is that it would benefit the economy to substantially increase the supply of engineers entering the labour market and identified a number of practical measures to improve that supply. As part of the Government's response to the Perkins review, we will provide up to £30 million for proposals from employers to develop engineering skills in sectors suffering acute shortages.

In developing his review, Professor Perkins consulted a wide range of stakeholders including employers, educators and professional bodies. I and my colleagues frequently meet education leaders and employers on this matter, including this week.

Education and Skills are devolved matters and the recommendations in the review apply to England, although the improvement to engineering skills should benefit employers across the UK.

Higher Education: Private Sector

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will stop the recruitment of students for higher national diploma and higher national certificate courses by private colleges for the remainder of 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [179464]

4 Dec 2013 : Column 749W

Mr Willetts: As I announced in my written statement of 19 November 2013, Official Report, column 43WS, 'Student Support in England' we have taken action to deal with those providers who have undertaken aggressive recruitment in 2013/14 in advance of formal number controls coming into force. HNCs/HNDs are valuable qualifications but, in order to manage their growth, my officials have written to the 23 alternative providers that are expanding most rapidly to instruct them to recruit no more HNC/HND students for 2013/14. All other alternative providers are free to continue to recruit students to all courses designated for student support for the remainder of the 2013/14 academic year provided that the number of students they recruit does not exceed their planned recruitment as notified to HEFCE. This includes HNDs and HNCs.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place controls on the number of students enrolling for higher learning qualifications at private colleges. [179465]

Mr Willetts: We announced in March 2013 that full-time student number controls would apply to alternative higher education providers from the 2014/15 academic year. In the announcement we stated that the controlled numbers would be based on recruitment in 2012/13. As I announced in my written statement of 19 November 2013, Official Report, column 43WS, 'Student Support in England' we have taken action to deal with those providers who have undertaken rapid expansion in 2013/14 in advance of formal number controls coming into force.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of students expected to enrol on courses at private colleges awarding higher national diplomas and certificates in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2016-17. [179466]

Mr Willetts: We have made no estimate of the number of students expected to enrol on HND and HNC courses that are designated for student support at private providers. Higher education institutions are autonomous; we do not specify the number of students they may recruit to a particular qualification aim. Alternative providers will be expected to recruit no more students to their courses than the student number controls that will be placed upon them from 2014/15 onwards, and may recruit no more HNC/HND students in 2013/14 than previously notified to HEFCE.

New Businesses: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many start-up loans have been granted to businesses in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency and (b) Cumbria in the last five years. [179434]

Matthew Hancock: We do not hold data on the number of start-up loans granted to businesses by constituency area.

From the data available, the following are drawn down loans:

Cumbria: 22 loans with a total value of £168,700 since the start of the scheme in September 2012.

4 Dec 2013 : Column 750W

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burma

Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pre-conditions he has set before the UK will provide training to the Burmese army. [179427]

Mr Swire: The Burmese military remain a core political force in Burma and will be key to the process of political reform. It will only be through engagement with all actors, including the military, that we will see greater democracy in Burma. The focus of our defence engagement in Burma will be on adherence to the core principles of democratic accountability, international law and human rights.

As part of this policy of engagement, in January 2014 a civil-military team from the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, in collaboration with Cranfield University, will deliver a tailored version of the Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context course in Burma to 30 students, drawn from Government and the Burmese military. The course will educate participants on effective governance and management in support of a civilian government within a democratic framework. The programme will also include an examination of the legal framework by which defence and security operations are legitimised and controlled in line with international human rights and humanitarian law. We have made clear that training delivered to the Burmese military will not contain any combat or combat related elements.

Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on the case of Bauk Ja. [179428]

Mr Swire: On 22 November, I raised the issue of political prisoners with Minister for the President's Office, Tin Naing Thein, and made clear our concern about the political prisoners who are still detained in Burma. While I did not raise the individual case of Daw Bawk Ja, we continue to follow her case closely. Officials from the embassy in Rangoon raised Daw Bawk Ja's case with senior members of the Burmese Government in August, and remain in touch with local Burmese organisations which support her and the many other political prisoners who remain detained.

Cuba

Mr Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the US as part of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement on the blockade of Cuba and existing sanctions on the EU businesses trading with that country. [179213]

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has discussed the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with Secretary Kerry and both are keen supporters of this Free Trade Agreement, worth up to £l0 billion to the UK economy. They have not covered Cuba in these discussions.

4 Dec 2013 : Column 751W

EU Enlargement

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which member states of the European Union are founding members of its predecessor organisation, the European Economic Community; and for those which were not founding members, what the (a) year was that the initial formal applications for member state status was made, (b) year was that application was formally accepted by the European Council, (c) time elapsed in months and years between (a) and (b) was, (d) year the terms of membership were formally agreed by the European

4 Dec 2013 : Column 752W

Council was,

(e)

time elapsed between

(b)

and

(d)

was,

(f)

year was when the ratifications process of the relevant accession treaty was concluded,

(g)

time elapsed in years and months was between

(d)

and

(f)

and

(h)

what the year of accession if different from

(f)

. [179343]

Mr Lidington: The following table contains the technical dates and details as requested. The data in the table refer to Council processes rather than European Council processes as the treaties provide that applications for membership must be addressed to the Council and not the European Council.

Country	(a) Application for membership	(b) Council consideration of membership application	(c) Time between (a) and (b)	(d) Council Decision on accession of new countries	(e) Time between Council consideration and Council decision on accession (years)	(f) Final ratification of Accession Treaty	(g) Time between Council Decision and final ratification (years)	(h) Date of Accession
Croatia	20 February 2003	14 April 2003	2 months	5 December 2011	8.5	21 June 2013	1.5	1 July 2013
Romania	22 June 1995	17 July 1995	1 month	25 April 2005	10	20 December 2006	1.5	1 January 2007
Bulgaria	14 December 1995	29 January 1996	1 month	25 April 2005	9	20 December 2006	1.5	1 January 2007
Czech Republic	17 January 1996	29 January 1996	Less than 1 month	14 April 2003	7	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Estonia	28 November 1995	4 December 1995	Less than 1 month	14 April 2003	7.5	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Hungary	31 March 1994	18 April 1994	Less than 1 month	14 April 2003	9	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Poland	5 April 1994	18 April 1994	Less than 1 month	14 April 2003	9	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Slovenia	10 June 1996	16 July 1996	1 month	14 April 2003	7	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Latvia	27 October 1995	30 October 1995	Less than 1 month	14 April 2003	8	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Lithuania	8 December 1995	29 January 1996	1 month	14 April 2003	7	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Slovakia	27 June 1995	17 July 1995	Less than 1 month	14 April 2003	8	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Malta	16 July 1990	17 September 1990	2 months	14 April 2003	13	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Cyprus	3 July 1990	17 September 1990	2 months	14 April 2003	13	21 April 2004	1	1 May 2004
Austria	17 July 1989	28 July 1989	Less than 1 month	16 May 1994	5	30 December 1994	0.5	1 January 1995
Sweden	1 July 1991	29 July 1991	Less than 1 month	16 May 1994	3	30 December 1994	0.5	1 January 1995
Finland	18 March 1992	6 April 1992	Less than 2 months	16 May 1994	2	30 December 1994	0.5	1 January 1995
Spain	28 July 1977	20 September 1977	Less than 2 months	11 June 1985	7.5	27 December 1985	0.5	1 January 1986
Portugal	28 March 1977	5 April 1977	Less than 1 month	11 June 1985	7.5	27 December 1985	0.5	1 January 1986
Greece	12 June 1975	24 June 1975	Less than 1 month	24 May 1979	4	25 June 1980	1	1 January 1981
UK	2 May 1967	10 July 1967	Less than 3 months	22 January 1972	4.5	29 December 1972	1	1 January 1973

4 Dec 2013 : Column 753W

4 Dec 2013 : Column 754W

Ireland	10 May 1967	10 July 1967	2 months	22 January 1972	4.5	29 December 1972	1	1 January 1973
Denmark	11 May 1967	10 July 1967	2 months	22 January 1972	4.5	29 December 1972	1	1 January 1973

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