Food: Low Incomes

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 379W, on food: low incomes, whether the short research project was put out to open tender; and who has peer-reviewed this project. [178228]

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George Eustice: The research project to review publicly available evidence on the landscape of food aid provision and access in the UK was put out to open tender online, in accordance with Government procurement policy.

All Government-funded research projects are required to go through the necessary review and quality assurance processes prior to publication. The project is subject to review by a range of people both internally and by external experts.

Pay

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the median gross pay is of staff in his Department and its executive agencies in each pay band who are identified as (a) white British and (b) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups; [178175]

(2) what the median gross pay of (a) men and (b) women is in each pay band in his Department. [178193]

Dan Rogerson: The median gross pay of declared White and Black, Asian and other minority ethnic employees (BAME) in Core DEFRA in each pay band as at 30 June 2013:

Answers have only been provided for Core DEFRA. Information relating to the executive agencies could be provided only at disproportionate cost because the data are not held centrally. There is only one pay region for SCS staff, therefore the data are only provided once.

The data provided only cover employees who have declared their status.

We do not analyse data across ethnic and nationality lines together so are not able to show data on White British as requested.

Where any category contains fewer than five people, data are listed as n/a for data protection reasons.

The median gross pay of male and female employees in Core DEFRA in each pay band as at 30 June 2013:

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There is only one pay region for SCS staff, therefore the data are only provided once.

Where any category contains fewer than five people, data are listed as n/a for data protection reasons.

Potatoes

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support potato growers in the UK. [178052]

George Eustice: DEFRA supports potato growers in a number of ways, including through research, funding through the EU common agricultural policy and EU Rural Development Programme, plant health inspections, plant protection product licensing and water abstraction reform. DEFRA funds strategic research to improve the productivity and sustainability of UK farming. Research topics relating to potatoes have included plant genetics, water resource efficiency, pest and disease management and post-harvest storage.

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the EU ban on potato imports on the UK crisp industry. [178071]

George Eustice: There is no ban as such. The EU plant health directive (2000/29/EC) permits fresh potato imports from countries which comply with the relevant EU import requirements. These exist to protect all sectors of the EU potato industry, including companies producing crisps. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of retaining freedom from plant diseases, such as ring rot. In most years, the UK produces sufficient potatoes to meet the needs of the crisp industry.

Rabies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to prevent rabies occurring in the UK. [178307]

George Eustice: Every dog, cat and ferret entering the UK must be vaccinated against rabies, with the details of the treatment recorded in an EU pet passport or third country certificate. Animals entering from the EU or from lower risk (‘listed’) countries must wait 21 days after vaccination before travelling. More stringent rules are in place for those coming from higher risk (‘unlisted') countries. These include a blood test 30 days after vaccination followed by a three month wait before travelling.

The UK operates a robust checking regime to make sure that animals entering the UK do not pose a risk to animal and human health. Ferry, rail and air operators are licensed to carry pets on the basis that they check every pet travelling with its owner for compliance with the rules of the EU pet travel scheme. Pets brought into the UK for sale or rehoming are subject to risk-based

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post import checks. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency carries out audit checks on carriers and pet checkers, and liaises with them on a regular basis to assess their compliance.

The risk of an animal with rabies coming into the UK is assessed to be very low and the risk of rabies being passed from a pet to a person is lower still.

Recruitment

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 were (a) men and (b) women. [178155]

Dan Rogerson: Since 5 May 2010, 46% of staff recruited to core DEFRA were men and 54% were women.

Water Charges

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average water bill paid by households in each region of the UK was in each of the last five years. [178292]

Dan Rogerson: I have placed a table in the Library of the House which sets out the average charges for each water and sewerage and water only company for the past five years.

Water: Meters

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of households in (a) Barrow and Furness constituency and (b) England have water meters. [178298]

Dan Rogerson: United Utilities is the company that serves Barrow and Furness. 32% of household customers in United Utilities’ area of service are metered. Water companies’ areas of appointment are regional; United Utilities does not collate figures on metering on a constituency basis. Currently, 41% of all household customers in England have water meters.

Communities and Local Government

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects the result of the review of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement. [179355]

Kris Hopkins: The Government announced a package of measures on 16 October to help hard-working tenants get a better deal when they rent a home, including a review into property conditions in the private rented sector. The review will consider whether landlords should be required to install smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. Following the review, we will publish a summary of the key findings in due course.

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Charitable Donations

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to encourage its employees to make tax-free donations direct from their salaries. [179635]

Brandon Lewis: The Department has a permanent ‘Give as you earn’ intranet page, which has links to the Charity Aid Foundation and allows employees to donate to any charitable organisation in the UK (including places of worship). We also issue a ‘Give as you earn’ donor instruction form to every new employee of the Department. This allows employees to make regular or permanent donations or open a ‘Charities Aid Foundation’ account.

Council Tax Reduction Schemes

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the localisation of council tax support on (a) carers and (b) disabled people; [179747]

(2) if he will assess the effect of the localisation of council tax benefit on carers; [179748]

(3) how many local council tax reduction schemes provide an exemption for working age carers from council tax payment; [179749]

(4) what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) carers and (b) disabled people who will pay additional council tax as a result of the localisation of council tax benefit. [179750]

Brandon Lewis: These are local schemes, and it is for local authorities to ensure that the effect on specific groups of council tax payers is proportionate and fair. We made a £100 million transition grant available in 2013-14 to help councils develop well-designed schemes and maintain incentives to work.

An independent review of the policy will be carried out within three years. We are working with local authorities to identify the right data sources for that review.

Families: Disadvantaged

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many families supported under the Troubled Families programme have a family member affected by drug or alcohol misuse. [178429]

Kris Hopkins: We do not currently have national numbers on the proportion of families affected by these issues, but as part of the independent national evaluation of the programme we are collecting data on drug and alcohol misuse, drawing on locally held information as well as interviews with families themselves.

Housing: Construction

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of (a) building starts and (b) building completions under the one for one replacement element of the Right to Buy scheme. [176492]

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Kris Hopkins: The most recent figures on building starts under the Right to Buy scheme were published on 21 November. These show that in the second quarter of this year, building starts were up significantly on previous quarters to 753. The figures are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259931/LT693.xls

The Department does not collect data on completions under the Right to Buy scheme. While there will invariably be a certain time lag between the Right to Buy sale and the construction of the new build home, I would simply note that the reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme is helping social tenants become new home owners; levers in new finance to increase construction and house building; and assists new people into affordable housing who would otherwise be on a housing waiting list.

Local Government Finance

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with which local authorities Ministers in his Department have met to discuss the Local Government Finance Settlement 2014-15; what the date of each such meeting was; and who attended on each such occasion. [178094]

Brandon Lewis: I have regular meetings with local authorities and others to discuss the full range of issues that affect local authorities. Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on my Department's website. We will publish the provisional Local Government Finance settlement for 2014-15 for consultation later this month.

Local Government: Press Releases

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions his Department has issued draft press releases to local authorities for them to complete using local statistics since May 2010. [178225]

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many staff in his Department work on producing template press notices for local authorities; [178423]

(2) how many template press notices his Department has issued to local authorities since May 2010. [178574]

Brandon Lewis: As part of our award-winning public safety Fire Kills campaign, the Department produces monthly themed communications packs for local fire and rescue authorities, our partners in Fire Kills. These packs include a template press release(s). We encourage partners to adapt and use these templates to promote messages locally around the importance of regularly testing smoke alarms and tips for fire safety.

Some of the smaller fire and rescue authorities have no communications resource at all and are very grateful for these packs. The production of this material is a fraction of a job split between communications and policy staff. A total of 38 packs have been sent out since May 2010.

A template press release was also developed for local authorities as part of our right to buy campaign. The template is part of a wider toolkit and support offered

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to local authorities and other social housing landlords to help raise awareness about recent changes to the scheme. Councils (with council housing) have a legal duty to explain how tenants can exercise their right to buy, and this practical resource helps save councils' time and money by reducing duplication. As with Fire Kills the production of this material is one of the wider responsibilities of one member of the marketing team.

People are four times more likely to die in a fire in their home if there is no working smoke alarm. I am placing in the Library of the House, a copy of a recent Fire Kills pack to illustrate how we are working with local fire and rescue authorities to save lives.

I would observe that under the last administration, the Department also produced similar communications material and templates.

Notwithstanding, I refer the right hon. and hon. Members to my answer of 13 June 2013, Official Report, column 386W, which outlines how my Department has cut spending on communications and reduced the number of communications staff, compared to the excessive level under the last administration.

Mobile Homes

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether he intends that the licence fees for park home owners will be paid by the site owners or by those holding properties on each site; [178054]

(2) which criteria will be used by local authorities to set the level of licence fees for park owners; and if he will make a statement. [178055]

Stephen Williams: Park home owners will not pay licence fees to local authorities. Such fees (where they are charged) will be payable by site owners. In relation to annual fees for administration and monitoring of licences site owners will be able to recover the charge from home owners through pitch fees at the first review following 1 April 2014. No subsequent demands for annual fees (or any increase) can be recovered through an increase to pitch fees.

Local authorities who propose to charge licence fees for park home sites must do so in accordance with their published fee policy. In fixing fees local authorities must have regard to the matters in subsections (3) and (4) of section 10A of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. Advice on setting fees is being prepared by the park home site licensing working group, comprised of local authority practitioners and industry trade bodies. This advice will be published shortly.

The Mobile Homes Act 2013 will better protect the rights and health and safety of park home residents, enable local authorities to more effectively ensure sites are properly managed and maintained and will reduce the opportunity for exploitation by unscrupulous site operators.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library any risk assessment, impact assessment or

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other similar assessment of the effects on house prices of

(a)

the Help to Buy equity loan scheme and

(b)

the Help to Buy mortgage guarantees. [179721]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 5 December 2013]: HM Treasury has responsibility for the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme. The Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts, including house price forecasts. It will publish the next Economic and Fiscal Outlook at autumn statement.

I would also refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow North (Ann McKechin) on 25 March 2013, Official Report, column 902W.

Private Rented Housing: Coventry

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of international students residing in the private rented sector in Coventry. [178026]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 5 December 2013]: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect data on the nationality of students residing in the private rented sector in Coventry. However, it is possible to produce national estimates using the English Housing Survey.

In 2011-12, there were an estimated 308,000 non-British or Irish full-time students (aged 16+) residing in the private rented sector in England.

Social Rented Housing: Hampshire

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many social housing units have been built in the New Forest district council area in each of the last three years; [179436]

(2) how many social housing units have been built in the Test Valley borough council area in each of the last three years. [179437]

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 November 2013, Official Report, column 337W.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the possession of substantial assets by Traveller and Gypsy communities is a factor taken into account in the assessment of planning applications made on behalf of such communities. [178029]

Nick Boles [holding answer 5 December 2013]: Planning law requires that planning applications for Traveller sites must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Material considerations must be genuine planning considerations and should relate to the development and use of land in the public interest. Although it is difficult to imagine that the possession of substantial

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assets by Travellers would meet this test, material considerations will be for the decision-maker and will depend on the individual circumstances of the case.

Work and Pensions

Documents

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints that

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submitted paperwork had been lost by the Department have been made to his Department in each of the last five years. [178289]

Esther McVey: Each year, DWP serves around 22 million people through a network of about 870 delivery units.

Information is only available for the last two complete years following changes made in 2011 to the way DWP collects and categorises complaints. Information is as follows:

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals have been asked to submit the same paperwork to the Department more than once despite the individual claiming that it had already been sent in the last 12 months. [178290]

Esther McVey: DWP does not collate this information.

Employment and Support Allowance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answers of 3 December 2013, Official Report, column 648W, on employment and support allowance, if he will make it his policy to collect such information in future. [178606]

Esther McVey: There are no plans to routinely publish this information.

Employment: Young People

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) with reference to the answer from the hon. Member for Wirral West of 20 November 2013 to question 537 at the Work and Pensions Select Committee, HC 479-vi, how many people aged between 18 and 25 have undertaken work experience and entered paid employment after (a) three and (b) six months in (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland; [178100]

(2) pursuant to the answer from the Minister of State for Employment to question 537 at the Work and Pensions Select Committee evidence session on 20 November 2013, HC 479-vi, how many people aged between 18 and 25 have entered paid employment after (a) three and (b) six months on work experience in (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland. [178446]

Esther McVey: Between January 2011 and May 2013, there were 115,320 starts on work experience placements in Great Britain by 18 to 25-year-olds and 10,700 starts by the same age group in Scotland.

Data for the number of work experience participants that have entered paid employment after six months are not readily available. However, analysis on the early impacts of work experience, published in April 2012, found that five months after starting a work experience placement, 35% of participants were in paid employment. This compares to 27% for a matched group of non participants. At three months after the start of a placement, 31% of participants were in paid employment, compared with 24% for the non-participants.

Hewlett-Packard

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to support those who will lose their jobs as a result of the recently announced redundancies at Hewlett Packard; and if he will make a statement. [178572]

Esther McVey: Jobcentre Plus has an employer relationship with Hewlett Packard (HP) as a large national employer through the National Employer Service Team (NEST). In regard to recent announcements, engagement is ongoing at both a national and local level (in those areas to be affected by redundancy). Jobcentre Plus is working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to ensure that we offer a co-ordinated joint approach. An offer of support from Jobcentre Plus including its Rapid Response Service (RRS) has been made to Hewlett Packard. (RRS is a national and local support service provided by Jobcentre Plus and partners which offers bespoke solutions for employers redundancy situations as and when they arise). At this point in time Jobcentre Plus awaits clarification from the employer on their situation. Once their position is defined Jobcentre Plus will progress suitable support.

High Speed 2

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions there have been between the Health and Safety Executive and HS2 Ltd. [178425]

Mike Penning: Since September 2012 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has met with HS2 Ltd on three occasions. These meetings explored HS2 Ltd's plans for managing health and safety risks during the construction phase. HSE also provided information to HS2 Ltd in response to a consultation on its proposed methodology for environmental impact assessment.

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Housing Benefit

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on calculating entitlement to discretionary housing payment. [178276]

Steve Webb: Local authorities have discretion in determining discretionary housing payments (DHP) at a local level, based on the circumstance of each individual case.

DWP provides local authorities with a guidance manual regarding DHPs, along with a good practice guide which offers advice on how DHPs can be used to provide support to claimants affected by some of the key welfare reforms. This information can be accessed through the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/233096/discretionary-housing-payments-guide.pdf

This year, the Government contribution to discretionary housing payments has been increased to £180 million. As part of this, local authorities are able to bid for funding from a £20 million reserve fund. The scheme is open to bids until 3 February 2014.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of mass summonses issued by local authorities to enforce rent arrears owing to the implementation of the under-occupancy penalty. [178022]

Esther McVey: The information is not available.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission an investigation into possible links between the under-occupancy penalty and cases of suicide. [178033]

Esther McVey: Every suicide is a deeply sad and tragic personal event and a matter for the relevant authorities to investigate.

Jobcentre Plus

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that (a) Jobcentre Plus carry out an assessment of claimants' levels of computer literacy before requiring them to search for jobs online and (b) those claimants are not sanctioned as a result of being unable to search for jobs online. [178010]

Esther McVey: All JSA claimants are required to do all they can reasonably be expected to give themselves the best prospects of securing employment. At the outset of the claim, all claimants see a personal adviser to discuss and agree what they can reasonably be expected to do, taking into account their individual circumstances; and to provide access to help that may be needed to improve employment prospects.

This process involves assessing things we know increase the chances of finding and getting work, which include being able to identify and apply for jobs, many of which

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are now available through on line recruitment channels. Where searching and applying for jobs online is important, but the claimant lacks the ability or means of doing so, help will be provided. Claimants are expected to take advantage of that help, but nobody is expected to undertake, or be sanctioned for failing to undertake, an activity that is simply unreasonable.

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 517W, on Jobcentre Plus, what estimate he has made of the number of separate claims that did not relate to new claims processed by Jobcentre Plus centres using an 0845 number in 2012-13 by parliamentary constituency. [178585]

Esther McVey: Figures for specific locations cannot be provided in isolation. The Department does not record the geographic location of individual calls made to its centres and to do so would be a disproportionate cost.

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 517W, on Jobcentre Plus, what estimate he has made of the mean and median average number of calls per claimant processed by Jobcentre Plus centres using an 0845 number in (a) the UK, (b) Birkenhead constituency and (c) each parliamentary constituency. [178586]

Esther McVey: Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013, the average calls per claimant answered by Jobcentre plus centres in England, Scotland and Wales using an 0845 telephone number equated to 0.41 calls per claimant, per month.

The median for this same period is 0.40 calls per customer, occurring in February and March 2013.

Figures for specific locations cannot be provided in isolation. The Department does not record the geographic location of individual calls made to its centres and to do so would be a disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Chelmsford

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time in receipt of jobseeker's allowance is for claimants in Chelmsford constituency who are (a) women, (b) men, (c) aged between 16 and 24 and (d) aged over 50. [178352]

Esther McVey: The information requested on the median duration for those currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in Chelmsford constituency who are (a) women, (b) men, (c)aged between 16 and 24 and (d) aged over 50 can be found in the following table:

Average claim duration for those currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance by sex and age in Chelmsford constituency October 2013:

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Jobseeker's Allowance: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether and in what circumstances a young person receiving jobseeker's allowance who has told their adviser that they cannot attend a jobcentre appointment because it clashes with a university entrance interview will be sanctioned for not attending the appointment. [178426]

Esther McVey: A jobseeker's allowance claimant who notifies in advance that they cannot attend a Jobcentre appointment will have that appointment rearranged if they have a good reason, in the opinion of their adviser, for not being able to attend. Good reason is not defined in legislation, and should be given its every day meaning. Although I would not expect a sanction to be applied in these circumstances, the individual circumstances of each particular claimant will be looked at to ensure that they continue to meet the conditionality requirements for receipt of JSA.

Personal Independence Payment

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) applied for personal independence payment, (b) received a decision and (c) received a negative decision in (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland to date. [178059]

Mike Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 516W, to the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green).

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who have applied for personal independence payment have requested a face-to-face assessment conducted in their own home; and how many such requests have been agreed to to date. [178347]

Mike Penning: Personal independence payment started from April 2013 and although limited data have started to feed through, we need to wait until the Department has quality assured, meaningful figures for publication.

The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish Official Statistics on Personal Independence Payment from spring 2014.

In order to manage the gap between personal independence payment go-live and the first release of Official Statistics in spring 2014, we are assessing whether we can release some information by early 2014. If the

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quality assurance of this information shows that it is sufficiently robust and reliable then we aim to pre-announce and publish it via an ad-hoc statistical release.

Sickness Absence

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2013, Official Report, column 595W, on sick leave, what new integrated approaches the Government are exploring across the mental health and employment system. [179743]

Mike Penning: The Government have commissioned RAND Europe to explore how we can achieve better outcomes for people with mental health problems, in and out of work. The Psychological Wellbeing and Work project explores how to better align mental health and employment services for people with common mental health problems to achieve improved employment outcomes. The project report will be published shortly. The advice will inform thinking about next steps not only for government but for all who have a role to play including employers, commissioners, service providers and individuals.

The Government will also be publishing an employment strategy for disabled people and those with health conditions, including mental health conditions, before the end of this year.

Social Security Benefits

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who have exited the benefits system without securing employment in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [177944]

Esther McVey: The Department uses off-flow rates to measure its effectiveness in moving people quickly off benefit. It is not feasible for the Department to capture the destination for each of the people that leave benefits, as it would be very costly and time-consuming to undertake.

The Department does seek to match its off-flow admin data with data from HMRC to calculate the number of people who we know have moved into employment; however that process does not give a true indication of the likely volumes. The HMRC data only contain people with a P45/46 record, and not everyone leaving benefits earns enough income to have this record, thus under-reporting the number moving into work.

Using departmental datasets we can isolate the number of people who immediately returned to benefit once they “off-flowed”. The latest 12 months for which we have data (using the on-flow cohorts August 2011 to July 2012) show that of the 3.22 million people that flowed on to JSA 89.4% (2.88 million) had left by a year later.

Of that 2.88 million:

23.2% (667,000) flowed back on to benefit or left the active labour market (e.g. retired);

18.5% (534,500) found work;

the remainder (1.68 million) went into “potential employment”, where we do not have a definite destination but these could include those that moved into employment.

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Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to support people who have difficulty accessing the benefits system. [177947]

Esther McVey: The Department is keen to ensure that all people, however complex their needs, are able to access its services and we take a variety of steps to provide help and support to enable individuals to engage with DWP and access the benefit system. The support we offer is tailored to the personal needs of the individual and depends on which service is being used or which benefit is being claimed.

Some of the products and services we offer are underpinned by legal requirements. For example the Equality Act 2010 states that disabled people need to be identified so that DWP can meet its obligations as a provider of goods and services by:

giving access to specialist disability service help if needed, as a result of a person's disability; and

making reasonable adjustments to its services for disabled people.

The support offered by DWP includes a variety of communication methods: face to face contact on our premises; home visits; telephony; online services; and written communications in alternative formats such as large text. We also provide aids such as textphones and audio loops, as well as interpreting services. Our customers can use a representative or intermediary to help them to engage with us.

A range of guidance, learning and development opportunities, advice and information is available for our staff to help them provide additional support for individuals with complex needs or those that require additional support to enable them to access benefits and use our services.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what emergency support is available for people who have experienced delays that are not their fault in claiming benefits. [178291]

Esther McVey: Once a claim to benefit has been received by the Department, a short term benefit advance may be available to those in financial need who cannot manage until their first payment of benefit.

However, 92% of benefit claims are processed on time (within 16 days): 6 percentage points higher than in 2009-10.

Social Security Benefits: Immigrants

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an estimate of the total cost to the public purse of welfare claims by Bulgarian and Romanian migrants in the last year for which figures are available. [178661]

Esther McVey: Information on the number of Bulgarian and Romanian nationals in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance, carer's allowance, income support and disability living allowance is not available. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has the responsibility for child tax credit.

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We currently check the nationality and immigration status of benefit claimants to ensure the benefit is paid properly and to prevent fraud. While this information is used, it is not recorded as part of the payment administrative systems.

The Government are looking at ways to record the nationality and immigration status of migrants who make a claim for universal credit so that we have more robust information about our claimants.

Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to support mental health service users throughout the process of their claim for benefits. [177946]

Esther McVey: The Department is keen to ensure that all people, including those with mental health conditions, are able to access its services and we take a variety of steps to provide help and support to enable individuals to engage with DWP. The support we offer is tailored to the personal needs of the individual and depends on which service is being used or which benefit is being claimed.

People with mental health conditions may be able to access specialist disability services (if appropriate) and adjustments may be made to the way services and support are provided to facilitate their access.

The support offered by DWP includes a variety of communication-methods: face to face contact on our premises; home visits; telephony; online services; and written communications in a range of formats. Customers with mental health conditions may wish to use a representative or intermediary to help them to engage with us.

A range of guidance, learning and development opportunities, advice and information is available for our staff to help them provide additional support for individuals with complex needs or those that require additional support to enable them to access benefits and use our services.

All Jobcentre Plus advisers are trained to have the skills required to identify the right support for a range of customers, including those with health conditions or disabilities, including mental health conditions. The approach to helping people back to work is based upon providing personalised support. As part of this, the adviser will provide information about and access to the range of support available to help improve job prospects and overcome things, such as a mental health condition, that may make it harder to find work.

Standard of Living

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions entitled Quality of Life in Europe: subjective well-being, published on 7 November 2013. [178011]

Esther McVey: DWP analysts are active members of the cross-government Social Impacts Task Force which shares research and approaches for considering subjective well-being in policy. The Department has published a

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number of relevant research reports and policy evaluations over the last year on this subject particularly looking at the subjective well-being of jobseekers and employment interventions, and developing an innovative life course model. We have a programme of ongoing work and welcome reports such as this which contribute to our thinking.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans that the integrated risk intelligence system for universal credit will be implemented. [178229]

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the universal credit IT system’s anti-fraud module will become operational. [178570]

Esther McVey: Enhanced security and counter-fraud controls are being progressively developed to support universal credit as it is rolled out.

Within the current universal credit service there is already risk assessment of all claims received. This is delivered using a rule-based data matching service built on existing technology that directs the requirement for any additional documentary evidence or specialist attention where indicated. Once in payment all claims are regularly checked for the potential for heightened risk based on unreported changes and new information being available, and referred for specialist intervention where required.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the business case for an outsourced fraud and error checking service for universal credit. [178235]

Esther McVey: We currently have no plans to outsource the fraud and error checking service.

Our benefit integrity centres have been successful in examining claims and putting them right, and we have delivered £1,185 million of savings over the SR10 period, from the start of activity to the end of September 2013 as a result.

We will always look to ways of improving delivery of our services and therefore this position is always open to review.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in removing from universal credit the costs of supported housing services which do not meet the current definition of exempt accommodation. [178274]

Steve Webb: Regulations to protect residents of supported “exempt” accommodation who are already recipients of universal credit came into effect in October this year. Officials continue to work closely with stakeholders to extend similar protection to providers that do not meet the precise definition from unintended consequences of reform while recognising the necessary legislative and financial constraints.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the savings to his Department from reduced fraud and error as a result of the introduction of universal credit. [178275]

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Esther McVey: We estimate that the savings to the Department from reduced fraud and error once universal credit is fully rolled out will be £1.3 billion per annum.

Note:

This figure is in 2012-13 prices.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the additional annual cost to the Exchequer would be of increasing the savings threshold for universal credit from £16,000 to £25,000. [178427]

Esther McVey: The additional annual cost to the Exchequer of increasing the upper capital limit within universal credit is estimated at £70 million.

Notes:

1. The analysis consistent with the Autumn Statement 2013, and is based on universal credit in steady-state.

2. The figures given are in 2013-14 prices.

3. This analysis has been modelled using the Department’s Policy Simulation Model, using data from the Family Resources Survey, 2010-11.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual cost to the Exchequer would be of reducing the universal credit withdrawal rate by one percentage point. [178428]

Esther McVey: The additional annual cost to the Exchequer of reducing the taper rate within universal credit from 65% to 64% is estimated at £300 million.

Notes:

1. The analysis consistent with the Autumn Statement 2013, and is based on universal credit in steady-state.

2. The figures given are in 2013-14 prices.

3. This analysis has been modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model, using data from the Family Resources Survey, 2010-11.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of recipients of universal credit in April 2014. [178569]

Esther McVey: Universal credit is now operating in seven areas and we remain on track to roll out in Bath, Harrogate and Shotton by next spring. We announced our plans for the next stage of implementation on 5 December, and these were set out in a written ministerial statement. The WMS can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/universal-credit-progress

Official statistics on universal credit were published on 3 December and can be found at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/UC/Universal_Credit.html

Work Capability Assessment: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people underwent work capability assessments who had a (a) musculo-skeletal condition and (b) mental health condition in each (i) county and (ii) parliamentary constituency in Wales to date. [178012]

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Mike Penning: We cannot provide a break down of the information in the way requested, as it is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

However, we can provide information on the number of new claims for employment and support allowance

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(ESA) by claimants with a musculo-skeletal condition and a mental health condition in Wales. This is shown in the following table;

Work Programme

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) with reference to the answer from Neil Couling of 20 November 2013 to question 559 to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, HC 479-vi, how many people have completed the Work Programme in each month since June 2013 in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland; and how many such people have stopped claiming either jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance. [178099]

(2) pursuant to the answer from the Work Services Director, Department for Work and Pensions, to question 559 at the Work and Pensions Select Committee evidence session on 20 November 2013, HC 479-vi, how many people have completed their time on the Work Programme in each month since June 2013 in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland; and how many of these groups have stopped claiming either jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance in (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland. [178483]

Esther McVey: The information requested on the number of people who have completed the Work programme since June 2013 will be derived from the Management Information shared by Neil Couling with the Work and Pensions Select Committee and will be included in the next quarterly release.

Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development. Northern Ireland statistics can be found at:

http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research.htm

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the work programme for people claiming employment and support allowance. [179613]

Esther McVey: Almost 200,000 ESA claimants have been referred to the programme. Over 6,000 (3%) of them have found lasting work (of at least three months). Industry data show that around 15% of the ESA jobseekers who have been on the programme for the longest have got a job.

ESA claimants in the Work Related Activity Group are expected to move closer to the workplace, which work related activity helps them to do.

While the Work programme has made some good progress with this group, focusing on giving some of the hardest to help people two years of support, and offering providers higher prices for working with these claimants, we recognise the programme needs to do better. That is why we have asked every single provider to come to us with a clear plan, setting out the steps they are going to take to improve performance for this group.

In addition, the independently chaired Work Programme Building Best Practice Group has been set up to help organisations delivering the Work programme find the best ways to support the harder to help and to share knowledge of what works.

Work Programme: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations his Department has received from (a) hon. Members and (b) other sources on the interaction of the Work programme and Jobs Growth Wales. [178023]

Esther McVey: Department for Work and Pensions officials hold regular meetings with officials from the Welsh Government to discuss policy.

The Welsh Affairs Committee addressed the issue of the interaction between the Work programme and Welsh Government programmes.

On 21 November 2013, I spoke to Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in the Welsh Assembly Government where we discussed the Work programme and Jobs Growth Wales.

Following the publication of the Welsh Affairs Committee report, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith) also met the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd West (Mr Jones).

We have received parliamentary questions from the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane).

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Work programme providers have expressed disappointment that Work programme participants are currently excluded from Welsh Assembly funded opportunities available to other unemployed people in Wales, citing the difference in England where Work programme participants can access complementary support from other agencies. The Department has also been contacted by interested parties in relation to specific instances where claimants have been unable to access support.

We are working with the Welsh Government to see if this situation can be improved.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Afghanistan

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2013, Official Report, column 391W, on Shaker Aamer, what the outcome was of his talks with his US counterpart on (a) the closure of Guantánamo Bay and (b) the release of prisoner Shaker Aamer. [178330]

Hugh Robertson: The British Government continue to engage in discussions with the US regarding Mr Aamer’s case. Following the Prime Minister’s representations to President Obama in June, the Deputy Prime Minister raised Mr Aamer’s case with Vice-President Biden in September. We are confident that the US Government understand the seriousness of the UK’s request for Mr Aamer’s release. It is necessary for the UK Government to keep the details of diplomatic discussions with the United States Administration confidential. Any breach of the United States Administration’s expectation of confidentiality would likely hinder UK efforts to secure Mr Aamer’s release and return. We remain committed to assisting the US in its aim to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and maintain an active dialogue with the US on this issue.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the hunger strike in Guantánamo Bay; and if he will make a statement. [178331]

Hugh Robertson: The British Government continue to note reports regarding the hunger strike at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. We maintain an active dialogue with the US Government regarding humanitarian issues at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and remain committed to assisting the US in its aim to close the facility.

Charitable Donations

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage its employees to make tax-free donations direct from their salaries. [179641]

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is a strong supporter of the Payroll Giving and Give as you Earn schemes. To promote the schemes the FCO has detailed messaging on our internal website, explaining to staff the benefits of the schemes and how they can apply. We regularly circulate reminders to staff

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and run workshops on the operation of the schemes. The number of staff using these schemes has risen by approximately 10% from January 2012 to summer 2013.

Egypt

Mr Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the new laws on protests signed by the acting Egyptian president on 24 November 2013; and if he will make a statement. [R] [178579]

Hugh Robertson: We are aware that the protest law has been signed by Interim President Mansour. We believe it is important for the Egyptian Government to engage with the concerns raised by the UN Secretary-General and others. We will continue to follow developments closely.

Human Trafficking: EU Action

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the EU Commission and the European Parliament on human trafficking and modern day slavery. [179654]

Mr Lidington: Human trafficking and modern slavery are abhorrent crimes which destroy the lives of their victims. We routinely engage with the European institutions including the Commission and Europol, where the UK leads the strand of work on the trafficking in human beings threat. As part of the Government's international engagement, we work closely with other governments including European partners, to disrupt supply routes.

Israel

Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answers of 11 June 2012 and 17 December 2012, what recent contact and discussions the British Ambassador to Israel has had with the Negev Coexistence Forum. [179673]

Hugh Robertson: Officials from the British embassy in Tel Aviv met with the head of the Negev Coexistence Forum on 28 November.

Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Ministers in his Department plan to visit the unrecognised Bedouin villages of the Negev. [179674]

Hugh Robertson: My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), visited unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev in January 2012.

Syria

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with its international partners to seek greater humanitarian access to families trapped in besieged areas of Syria whose vulnerability is increased by the onset of winter. [178042]

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Hugh Robertson: We are actively engaging with our international partners to bring about a negotiated political transition in Syria to end the conflict and alleviate Syria’s humanitarian crisis. We have intensified our efforts with partners on the UN Security Council, in the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN-led High Level Group on Humanitarian Challenges in Syria chaired by Baroness Amos (UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs) in pushing for full implementation of the UN Security Council Presidential statement of 2 October which called on all parties to allow unfettered access for humanitarian aid. The High Level Group, which was attended by UK officials, met for the first time on 26 November and will meet again on 19 December. We also maintain a regular dialogue with the humanitarian agencies active in the region to monitor developments on the ground.

Ukraine

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 36WS, on Eastern Partnership summit, which EU member states did not express disappointment that Ukraine was not signing its association agreement with the EU. [178101]

Mr Lidington: The statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 36WS, reported back on the Eastern Partnership summit. Due to the restricted nature of the meeting, I am unable to report individual member states’ views to the wider public. I refer my hon. Friend to the Joint Declaration, endorsed by all EU member states and the eastern partners, which clearly sets out a consolidated view on progress made by the Eastern Partnership. The Joint Declaration can be found using the following link at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/139765.pdf

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts from NATO member states on Ukraine. [179589]

Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), attended the NATO Foreign Ministerial meeting on 3 December. Along with other NATO Foreign Ministers, he made clear his concerns to hear reports of violence being used to break up a peaceful demonstration in Ukraine and the need for the incident to be fully investigated. A NATO statement was adopted which condemned the violence used against demonstrators while also recognising the value of Ukraine's contributions to international security:

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_105435.htm

At the Eastern Partnership summit on 28 and 29 November, the Prime Minister also discussed Ukraine with his counterparts including many NATO members.

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Justice

Child Maintenance

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what support he offers parents who are bound by an out-dated court order which demands that child maintenance is paid until the child has ceased full time education but does not clarify the definition of full time education. [179685]

Mr Vara: Under the provisions of schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 it is possible to apply to the court for an order for maintenance of a child. Any order would not normally extend beyond the child's eighteenth birthday unless there are special needs (such as disability) or if the child is in education or training.

The definition of education or training in paragraph 2 (a) of schedule 1 to the 1989 Act is “receiving instruction at an educational establishment or undergoing training for a trade, profession or vocation, whether or not while in gainful employment”.

The Government believe this definition is sufficiently wide and necessary to cover the needs of children who are in full-time education or training for whom applications are made to court for maintenance. Court forms and court leaflets provide some assistance in making applications.

Coroners

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department takes to ensure that Regulation 28 coroners' investigations and the implementation of recommendations of those investigations are carried out in a timely and efficient manner. [179651]

Mr Vara: A person or organisation that receives a Prevention of Future Death (PFD) report under regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 must respond to the coroner within 56 days. The response must detail the action the person or organisation has taken or will take and the timetable for this, or must explain why no action is proposed. The coroner must send the Chief Coroner a copy of every PFD report and response, which the Chief Coroner may then publish.

On 4 September 2013 the Chief Coroner published guidance for coroners on PFD reports:

http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/Resources/JCO/Documents/coroners/guidance/guidance-no5-reports-to-prevent-future-deaths.pdf

In that guidance the Chief Coroner said that he intends to consult on areas of concern highlighted by PFD reports and, where appropriate, recommend action in the form of advice to organisations or individuals.

Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 the Chief Coroner must include details of PFD reports in his annual report to the Lord Chancellor, which is then published and laid before Parliament.

Courts: Domestic Violence

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2013, Official Report, columns 379-80W, on domestic violence, where the nine domestic violence courts that were closed

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were located; where the two new courts will be located; and on what date the decision was taken to open the two new courts. [179100]

Mr Vara: The locations of the closed special domestic violence cases (SDVC) courts are as follows: Tamworth, Lewes, Hemel Hempstead, Barry, Salford, Rochdale, Knowsley, Andover and Alton. Most of the domestic violence cases from these closed courts were moved to other existing SDVC schemes.

The location of the two new SDVCs will be at existing courts sites at Basingstoke and Aldershot. These courts are currently going through the accreditation process.

The National Steering Group (made up with members from the Home Office, CPS, NOMS and HMCTS) will decide when to award these two sites with SDVC accreditation. The Steering Group is due to meet in December 2013 to discuss SDVC accreditation for Basingstoke, and September 2014 for Aldershot.

Curfews

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of eligible (a) men and (b) women were released on home detention curfew in the latest period for which figures are available. [179205]

Jeremy Wright: The home detention curfew (HDC) scheme enables a managed transition to the community in suitable cases, using electronically monitored curfew to provide some structure for lower risk offenders as they leave prison and reintegrate into society. In 2012 the overall HDC release rate was 25% of those in the eligible group. For men it was 24% while for women it was 40%. There are a number of factors which may contribute to female prisoners being more likely to be released on HDC but overall it is because they are more likely to pass the required risk and suitability assessment. A smaller proportion of female offenders are serving sentences for sexual and violent offences and women have lower reconviction rates compared to men and are, therefore, more likely to be assessed as likely to comply if released.

The proportion of eligible male and female prisoners released under the home detention curfew (HDC) scheme is published in table A3.4 of the Offender Management Statistics Annual Tables which may be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offender-management-statistics-quarterly--2

Electronic Tagging

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice to what body the cost of the PricewaterhouseCoopers inquiry into irregularities in performance of the electronic monitoring contracts held by Serco and G4S will be charged. [177649]

Jeremy Wright: The two suppliers have agreed to meet the cost of this work.

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Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of the PricewaterhouseCoopers inquiry into irregularities in performance of the electronic monitoring contracts held by Serco and G4S has been to date. [177650]

Jeremy Wright: We do not yet have a final figure, as the audit is still in progress. As at the end of September 2013, the cost of this work by PricewaterhouseCoopers had come to a total of approximately £3.2 million.

The total cost will be recovered from G4S and Serco.

EU Law

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what EU directives within his Department's areas of responsibility have come into force without the need for an opt-in decision in each financial year since May 2010; on what dates each such directive came into force; and if he will make a statement. [175519]

Mr Vara: Details of all EU legislation, including full details of all EU directives that have come into force since May 2010, can be found on the Commission's website:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/RECH_legislation.do

Legal Aid Scheme

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed changes to legal aid and judicial review on parents' (a) ability to use the judicial review process and (b) ability to access legal aid when they believe that their local authority is failing in its duties to a child; and if he will make a statement. [179400]

Mr Vara: On 6 September 2013 the Government published the ‘Judicial Review; Proposals for Further Reform’ consultation. The Government are concerned about the time and money wasted in dealing with unmeritorious judicial reviews which may be brought simply to generate publicity or to delay implementation of a decision that was properly made. We also remain concerned that legal aid funds weak cases which are not permitted by the court to proceed beyond the permission stage.

Our proposals are intended to ensure that judicial review continues to act as a critical check on the state and that limited legal aid resources are properly targeted where they are needed most. We do not consider that our proposals would limit parents' or other individuals’ ability to use the judicial review process or access legal aid in meritorious cases.

As part of the consultation we published an assessment of impacts and equalities impacts which is available at:

https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/judicial-review

and sought further information on potential equalities implications.

The consultation closed on 1 November 2013 and the Government will have carefully considered all responses, including on potential equalities impacts, before setting out how they intend to proceed.

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Offenders: Rehabilitation

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on offender behaviour programmes in each of the last five years; and what spend is projected in each of the next three years. [175212]

Jeremy Wright: The overall spend for the last five years on the delivery of offender behaviour programmes (both accredited and other interventions) in the community and custody is not available and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Figures are available that show that the direct cost of delivering accredited offending behaviour programmes in the community was £43.6 million in 2011-12 and £40.3 million in 2012-13. No figures are available prior to 2011-12. This figure does not cover the expenditure on all interventions aimed at tackling offending behaviour. From 2012-13, the targeting of accredited offending behaviour programmes was towards higher risk offenders as the evidence suggested that these offenders were the most likely to respond to this type of intervention. This meant that there were fewer accredited programmes delivered overall but those that were delivered were the more intensive programmes aimed at higher risk offenders. For those offenders who were no longer targeted for accredited programmes, probation trusts have developed a wider range of activity requirements which incentivised the development of innovative approaches to reducing reoffending and which were targeted at lower risk offenders.

Equivalent costs for delivering programmes in prisons are not available. The National Offender Management Service's central accounting system does not record separately expenditure on each offender behaviour programme in prisons in England and Wales. To establish such costs in each of the last five years would require an individual prison survey to identify all the offender behaviour programmes delivered and associated costs. This would be a significant exercise and could be done only at disproportionate cost.

It is not possible at this stage to state the projected spend on programmes for the next three years. The current commissioning round is still in progress and we therefore do not yet know how many programmes and of what type will be commissioned for 2014-15. However, the very clear intention is not to disinvest in programmes.

Police Custody: Wrexham

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he discussed Wrexham Magistrates' Court and police cells in Wrexham with the Chair of the Wrexham Magistrates at meetings in the last year; and what steps he took following any such discussion. [179493]

Mr Vara: There have been no departmental meetings between the Secretary of State and the chair of the Wrexham Magistrates about Wrexham magistrates court and police cells in Wrexham in the last year.

Prison Service

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to ensure that families of prisoners are able to access up-to-date contact details of prisons online. [177869]

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Jeremy Wright: Prison information is available on the Ministry of Justice's website and gov.uk. A prison finder allows users to search for prisons by name, type and region and includes contact details as well as general information on the regime and visiting information for each prison.

Prison Governors are responsible for ensuring that contact details are up to date for the public. NOMS writes to all prison governors periodically asking them to review their online information and this was last done in March 2013.

NOMS also ensures that all online information is updated following any changes in the prison estate such as closures or the transfer of management of a prison to the public or private sector.

Prisons: Discipline

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many (a) female and (b) male prisoners per 100 of the prison population were disciplined following adjudications in the latest period for which figures are available; [179206]

(2) how many (a) female and (b) male prisoners per 100 of the prison population were disciplined following adjudications for violent incidents in the latest period for which figures are available. [179207]

Jeremy Wright: Adjudications contribute to maintaining order and control, and a safer environment, within prison establishments.

Statistics on offences punished through the prison adjudication process are published annually in ‘Offender Management Statistics—Annual tables’ and the 2012 figures can be found in Table A5.3 of the adjudication tables via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offender-management-statistics-quarterly--2

The published adjudication figures available via the above link are based on the number of offences punished rather than the number of prisoners punished to ensure that all offences committed are recorded and reported as prisoners can commit more than one offence.

Prisons: Doncaster

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse has been to date of the Doncaster cluster prison competition. [179496]

Jeremy Wright: The Prison Competition Programme did not assign resources solely to oversee the South Yorkshire prisons element of the competition (covering HMPs Hatfield, Moorland and Lindholme). The work to compete South Yorkshire was undertaken by the programme team running the wider prison competition.

In addition, a business unit was established to prepare in-house bids for all the prisons being competed and not just those in South Yorkshire.

Prisons: Health Services

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) when (a) he, (b) his ministerial colleagues and (c) officials in his Department have met representatives of the NHS to discuss prison healthcare since May 2010; [175435]

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(2) when (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have met their counterparts in the Department for Health to discuss prison healthcare since May 2010. [175461]

Jeremy Wright: Ministry of Justice Ministers discuss offender health, including prison health care, with Ministers and officials regularly, both bilaterally and as part of wider cross-Government meetings, for example the Social Justice Cabinet Committee and the Inter Ministerial Group on Drugs.

Aside from those inter-Governmental meetings, my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt), met with those within the scope of the questions on at least nine occasions; and I have held at least 11 such meetings to date.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) has also held discussions with the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and has met with Baroness Browning to discuss autism in prisons.

Prisons: Private Sector

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list, for each contract to run a private prison in England and Wales, the contractual terms and conditions which allow the Secretary of State to (a) terminate the contract early and (b) take over the running of the prison. [175694]

Jeremy Wright: An answer to the question posed by the right hon. Member will be provided in due course.

Not all private prison contracts have discrete references to early termination and step-in rights. Termination provisions may vary from contract to contract, particularly between older PFI contracts and more recent Manage and Maintain contracts. Each contract will therefore need to be reviewed individually, and redacted where necessary to meet commercial confidentiality provisions in the contract, before I can respond.

Procurement

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which contracts his Department holds with (a) Capita, (b) A4E, (c) G4S, (d) Serco, (e) GeoAMEY, (f) Sodexo and (g) Mitie; when each contract started; how much each contract is expect to cost over its lifetime; when each contract is due to end; whether there are any options in the contract for extension; whether any financial penalties have been incurred by each contractor to date; and whether each such contract has a break clause. [177489]

Jeremy Wright: The answer to the question tabled by the right hon. Member will be answered in due course. The requested data are not held centrally in their entirety and answering the request will require approaching individual contract managers to gather and validate data.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2013, Official Report, column 902W, on secondment, how many secondments were in place on (a) 30 September 2012 and (b) 30 September 2011. [179541]

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Mr Vara: Information held on the Ministry of Justice's central systems on the number of secondees as at 30 September 2012 and 30 September 2011 is set out in the following table.

Treasury

Commodity Markets

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the European Commission's proposals of 30 September 2013 to curb excessive speculation in the commodity derivative markets under the revised markets in financial instruments directive; and if he will make representations in its support. [179675]

Sajid Javid: The Government have given careful consideration to the effective methods of regulation and supervision of commodity derivatives. The Government support a management regime based on strong supervision, market monitoring and a comprehensive suite of tools deployed by market operators.

Debts

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the levels of household debt in (a) Vale of Clwyd and (b) each region of the UK in each year since 2010; and what such levels are forecast to be in each year until 2015. [178018]

Nicky Morgan: The Office for National Statistics does not publish debt data for households on a regional or local basis, but does so on a national level.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast the ratio of household debt to income.

Debts: Essex

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the levels of household debt in (a) Chelmsford constituency and (b) Essex in each year since 2010; and what forecast he has made of those levels for each year until 2015. [178350]

Nicky Morgan: The Office for National Statistics does not publish debt data for households on a regional or local basis, but does do so on a national level.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast the ratio of household debt to income.

Fracking

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to encourage investment in hydraulic fracturing technologies and exploration of shale onshore and offshore gas reserves. [178609]

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Nicky Morgan: The Government have introduced a new tax allowance to incentivise investment in onshore oil and gas projects—including shale gas. The onshore allowance will reduce the tax rate on a portion of a company’s profits from 62% to 30% and works similarly to existing allowances for offshore oil and gas. Companies will pay at the reduced rate on profits equal to 75% of their capital investment on qualifying onshore projects.

While it is currently too early to assess the potential for offshore shale gas production, the Government will keep the case for fiscal support here under review.

Gift Aid

Richard Fuller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to replace Gift Aid with a system of personal income tax deductions for charitable giving. [179593]

Nicky Morgan: The Government have no current plans to replace Gift Aid with a relief for donors on their donations to charity. Under Gift Aid, the charity receiving the donation can claim the basic rate tax paid on that donation. The Government recognise this is an important source of income for charities, and last year £1.04 billion was repaid to charities under Gift Aid.

Income Tax

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people liable to pay income tax in (a) Kettering constituency and (b) the UK in May 2010 who will not be so liable in May 2014 as a result of increases in the personal tax allowance. [178457]

Mr Gauke: The cumulative effect of the Government’s increases in the personal allowance for those aged under 65 years (born after 5 April 1948 from 2013-14 tax year) since 2010-11 will take 2.7 million people out of the UK income tax system by April 2014. 199,000 of them are in the east midlands region which includes the parliamentary constituency of Kettering.

These estimates are based on the 2010-11 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2014-15 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.

Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level due to greater uncertainties in making projections for smaller geographic areas.

Mortgages

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect on lending of the Mortgage Market Review and the changes which come into effect in April 2014. [179708]

Sajid Javid: The Financial Services Authority published the Mortgage Market Review in October 2012. Its rules will be implemented by the Financial Conduct Authority in April 2014. As part of the consultations and policy statements on the Mortgage Market Review rules, the Financial Services Authority published cost benefit analyses of the Mortgage Market Review rules, which can be found on the Financial Conduct Authority's website.

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Taxation: Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total receipts of taxation, including VAT and duty, on alcohol were in each year since 2007. [178652]

Nicky Morgan: Information on excise duty receipts from alcohol products are published monthly in the Alcohol Bulletins on the UK Trade Statistics website. Information for financial years since 2007 is presented in the following table:

VAT collected on alcohol products is not available. Therefore the total revenue collected from the taxation of alcohol is not available.

Taxation: Gun Sports

David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much annual tax revenue is expected to accrue to the Exchequer from beaters in the shooting industry; and what the cost is of the real time reporting system that has recently been implemented for such people. [179751]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are unable to determine the tax revenue expected to be generated by this industry.

Reliable estimates of administrative cost burdens, broken down by business sectors, are not available within HMRC.

HMRC published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on 15 March 2013 that included an updated assessment of the impact that PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) will have on businesses. HMRC plans to provide an updated estimate of these cost burdens in the next update to the TIIN.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Mr Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many penalties were issued for the failure to complete and return online self assessment tax forms by the deadline set by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) (a) in total and (b) on occasions where the unique tax reference (UTR) number was not allocated by HMRC within its stipulated timeframe in each of the last five years; and whether he will waive such penalties in future where no UTR has been issued in time; [178285]

(2) what the (a) average and (b) maximum waiting time for the allocation of unique tax reference numbers for online self assessment was in each of the last five years. [178286]

Mr Gauke: This information is available only at a disproportionate cost.

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HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will not issue a letter requesting completion of a self assessment tax return until a unique taxpayer reference number (UTR) has been allocated.

Requests for tax returns issued later in the filing period have a deadline for them to be completed of three months following the date shown on the letter. Therefore, taxpayers should complete their tax return within three months of the date of issue shown on the letter or by 31 October (for paper returns) or 31 January (for online returns), whichever is the most beneficial.

Welfare Tax Credits: EU Nationals

Mr Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale West of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 567W, on welfare tax credits: EU nationals, what the target date is by which he plans to bring the rules for tax credits into alignment with the measures announced by the Prime Minister. [178095]

Nicky Morgan: HM Revenue and Customs will continue to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that tax credits rules applying to EEA nationals align with those for DWP benefits where appropriate.

Defence

Afghanistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 431W, on Afghanistan, how many aircraft of each type suffered damage. [177973]

Mr Dunne: I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2013, Official Report, column 399, on Afghanistan, if he will publish the (a) location, (b) type of incident to which each payment related and (c) amount of each payment. [178261]

Mr Francois: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Armed Forces: Training

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been trained at US Altus Air Force base since the C-17 has come into service; and if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of such training. [177252]

Dr Murrison: The information will take time to collate. The Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

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Substantive answer from Mark Francois to Angus Robertson:

Further to the response given by my hon. Friend the Minister for International Security Strategy, (Dr Andrew Murrison), on 27 November 2013, (Official Report, column 310W), officials have now collated the information on the number of personnel trained at Altus Air Force Base and the cost to the public purse.

Between 2001, when the C-17 aircraft entered service, and November 2013, 263 RAF personnel have been trained at Altus Air Force Base at a cost of approximately 6.9 million US Dollars. This sum does not include travel and subsistence costs.

Charitable Donations

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to encourage its employees to make tax-free donations direct from their salaries. [179637]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) encourages all personnel, service and civilian, to make tax-efficient donations to a charity or charities of their choice by joining the MOD charities payroll giving scheme (CPGS) or one of the similar schemes which are operated at command level. Under the terms of the CPGS scheme any PAYE liability is calculated after the payroll giving contribution has been deducted from gross pay, meaning the tax that would have been paid on that amount is instead received by the nominated charities.

CPGS has been in operation since July 2007 and is administered by Charitable Giving, one of the three largest HMRC-approved payroll giving agencies in the country. Details of how to participate in the scheme and links to the charitablegiving.co.uk website are signposted from within the People Services area of the Defence Intranet. In addition, the services explain the benefits of charitable payroll giving to new recruits during basic training and through various internal communications.

Recruitment

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 were (a) men and (b) women. [178152]

Anna Soubry: The proportion of female/male civilian personnel recruited during the period, 1 April 2010 to 31 October 2013 is shown in the following table.

Total intake includes all permanent, casual and Trading Funds civilian personnel but excludes Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Locally engaged civilians. Numbers have been rounded.