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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Northern Ireland

Ministers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on ministerial salaries in the last year for which figures are available. [180106]

Mrs Villiers: These are set out on page 37 of my Department's published accounts, Northern Ireland Office Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211915/NIO_Annual_Report___Annual_Accounts_2012-13.pdf

Police Deaths on Duty

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has made to the Government of the Irish Republic on the publication of the Smithwick report. [179838]

Mrs Villiers: I have regular discussions with my Irish counterparts on all areas of mutual interest. I have discussed the Smithwick report and its findings with the Tánaiste in recent days, and my Department will continue to work closely with the Irish Government on the findings of the report.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dissident republicans have been (a) arrested and (b) convicted for terrorist acts in each of the last 12 months. [179836]

Mrs Villiers: The following tables show the most up- to-date figures for arrests made under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and for convictions of an offence under terrorism legislation. These data refer to the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available. It is not possible to identify those arrested or convicted as ‘dissident republicans’.

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Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acts of terrorism linked to Irish republican groups have been reported in each of the last 12 months. [179837]

Mrs Villiers: The following table outlines the number of national security attacks which have taken place in each of the last 12 months:

Wales

Ministers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on ministerial salaries in the last year for which figures are available. [180110]

Mr David Jones: Since the coalition formed in 2010, ministerial salaries within the Wales Office have not increased. The amount spent on ministerial salaries is

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published in the Wales Office Annual Report and Accounts. Figures for the last financial year 2012-13 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wales-office-annual-report-published

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee

Members: Pay

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if he will publish any briefing notes given to the media in (a) advance of and (b) response to enquiries about the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's decision on hon. Members' future salaries. [179909]

Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald, December 2013:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about briefing notes for the media provided with respect of the recent determination of MPs' pay.

No such briefing notes were prepared or given.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, when the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Board made the decision on hon. Members' future salaries. [179910]

Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald, December 2013:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about the determination of MPs' pay.

The determination on MPs' pay was made at the meeting of the Board on 5 December 2013.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which media (a) were contacted by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and (b) contacted IPSA in the week commencing Monday 2 November on IPSA's decision on hon. Members' future salaries. [179911]

Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated December 2013:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about contact between IPSA and the media.

We do not keep a record of our contact with media organisations.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if

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the Chairman and Chief Executive will prepare a briefing note for hon. Members explaining the decision of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Board on hon. Members' future salaries. [179915]

Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated December 2013:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about hon. Members' future salaries.

We have no plans to produce a briefing note for MPs in addition to my letter to all MPs of 12 December 2013 and our report, published the same day. The background to our determination and the results of our consultation can be found in that report.

Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office and on our website:

www.parliamentarystandards.org.uk

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if the Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) will write personally to all members of the public who communicate with hon. Members on IPSA's recent decision on hon. Members' salaries; and if he will issue an invitation to all hon. Members to forward all such communications to him. [179916]

Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated December 2013:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about correspondence relating to its recent determination on MPs' pay.

We will, of course, respond to any letters or e-mails sent direct to IPSA by members of the public about this matter. We have no plans to write personally to all of those who raise this issue with hon. Members or to invite hon. Members to forward any such correspondence to us.

Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how much in total was spent in salary costs to all hon. Members for performance of their parliamentary duties in the last year for which figures are available. [180070]

Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald, December 2013:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about total expenditure on MPs' salaries.

The cost of MPs' salaries in 2012/13, as published in our Annual Report and Accounts 2012-2013, was £43.7m exclusive of employers' national insurance and pension contributions.

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Leader of the House

Ministers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Leader of the House how much was spent on ministerial salaries in the last year for which figures are available. [180105]

Mr Lansley: Information about ministerial salaries is in the public domain in the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 (Amendment) Order 2011. This is available at:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2011/9780111509258/schedule/1

Prime Minister

Food Banks

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister which food banks he has visited since May 2010. [179952]

The Prime Minister: I last visited a local food bank on 15 February 2013.

Transport

A4440

Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on doubling the A4440 Southern Link Road. [179770]

Mr Goodwill: I have received no recent representations on this proposed scheme.

As you are aware, it was announced in the spending review earlier this year that a total of £2 billion per annum would now be committed to the Local Growth Fund over the six years from 2015-16 and be available to LEPs through 'Growth Deals'. These will be negotiated between Government and local areas through strategic economic plans (SEPs) that are due to be submitted to Government in March 14. Worcestershire local enterprise partnership may wish to include the dualling of the A4440 Southern Link Road in their SEP, if it is seen as key to economic growth in the area.

Biofuels: EU Action

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2013, Official Report, column 734, what his policy is on the proposed 5% cap on land-based biofuels in the European Union Council negotiations on the EU Commission’s proposed reform of EU biofuel policy. [180463]

Mr Goodwill: We continue to believe that a 5% cap is required on the contribution made by biofuels from food crops to the renewable energy directive 2020 transport target in order to have a meaningful impact on indirect land-use change.

Unfortunately the Council was not able to reach an agreed position in the vote on 12 December. But the UK will continue to press for effective action, including with the incoming Greek presidency.

Cycling: Greater London

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to improve road safety for cyclists in Greater London. [180386]

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Mr Goodwill: In London, the Department for Transport devolves funding decisions to Transport for London (TfL) via the GLA Transport Grant—£1.988 billion this year. This supports TfL's infrastructure investment programme, including the delivery of the Mayor's Vision for Cycling in London.

On 13 December the Department announced a further initiative to help cyclists in London. New low-level traffic lights designed for cyclists have been authorised for use following safety trials. The clearance means that TfL can now install the lights at Bow Roundabout—the first time the lights have been used in the UK. Initially the system will be piloted at Bow but the Department is working with TfL to extend it to a further 11 sites in London. The lights will give cyclists improved, clearer signals to ensure they have the information they need at the junction. In addition we are working with TfL on trialling innovative schemes to improve cycle safety at junctions.

Furthermore, the Department has made it considerably easier for local authorities to implement 20 mph zones, ‘Trixi’ mirrors, new designs of Advanced Stop Lines and other highway measures to support cycle safety.

We also continue to work with the haulage industry to drive up vehicle standards and awareness of vulnerable road users.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times tolls have been suspended on the Lower Thames Crossing since October 2011. [180490]

Mr Goodwill: The charges have been suspended on the Lower Thames Crossing on five separate occasions since October 2011.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles have used the Lower Thames Crossing while tolls were suspended since October 2011; and what estimate he has made of the value of the fees foregone. [180506]

Mr Goodwill: Since October 2011, a total of 75,107 vehicles used the Lower Thames Crossing while charges were suspended. It is estimated that the revenue forgone in suspending the charges is £134,500.

Electric Vehicles

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the rate of progress of creation of alternative fuels infrastructure for the recharging of electric vehicles in the UK. [179820]

Mr Goodwill: On 4 September the Government published their ultra “low emission vehicle (ULEV) strategy in Driving the Future Today”. This includes a stocktake of UK recharging infrastructure and identifies shaping the necessary infrastructure as a key Government action in ensuring the growth of the ULEV market.

Through the Plugged-In Places Programme and national chargepoint grant schemes we have helped fund the installation of over 8,600 chargepoints, alongside an estimated 5,000 chargepoints the private sector has installed in the UK.

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As part of the call for evidence, launched on 7 November, we also ask specific questions on what more needs to be done to ensure the UK has the appropriate level of recharging infrastructure to meet the future requirements of ULEV drivers.

Network Rail

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what length of delays on the rail network were attributable to Network Rail maintenance failures in the last year for which data are available. [179912]

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not hold the information requested. This is a matter for Network Rail, the owner and operator of the national network, and the independent Office of Rail Regulation.

The Office of Rail Regulation advises that asset failures are not easily attributable to maintenance and/or renewal failures. It publishes data on the length of delays attributable to failures by asset type, and these are available on its data portal:

http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/5d16e4e9-3b3f-4144-ba91-78f52ca3ce52

Network Rail is required to manage its network to deliver the level of overall performance specified by the Office of Rail Regulation. Where Network Rail does not deliver its required outputs, the regulator makes adjustments to ensure that the company does not benefit from any associated reduced expenditure and can also take enforcement action.

Oxford-Hereford Railway Line

Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on steps to decrease train times on the North Cotswold line. [179769]

Stephen Hammond: The only recent representations received on steps to decrease train times on the North Cotswold line have come from my hon. Friends the Members for Worcester (Mr Walker) and for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff).

The Government have provided £300 million funding to Network Rail for passenger journey improvements across the network for the period from 2014 to 2019.

Pedestrian Crossings

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate the number of new (a) pelican crossings and (b) puffin crossings installed on roads in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; [180048]

(2) which local authorities installed new pelican crossings in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [180049]

(3) if he will list types of pedestrian crossing in order of their safety performance. [180050]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport does not hold information on numbers of pelican and puffin crossings installed by local authorities during the period 2010-12 or which local authorities installed those crossings.

Decisions on what type of crossing to provide are for local traffic authorities, taking into account local factors such as road layout, traffic speed and volume, and

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pedestrian flow. Many factors contribute to the safety record of a crossing and for this reason it is not possible to provide a definitive ranking of crossing types in terms of safety.

However, research commissioned by the DFT showed that pelican crossings converted to puffin crossings showed an average reduction in accidents of 17%. The report is available to download from:

www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/trl_reports/cat_traffic_engineering/report_puffin_pedestrian_crossing_accident_study.htm

The Department gives advice on assessing and designing pedestrian crossings in two Local Transport Notes (LTNs), “LTN 1/95: The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings” and “LTN 2/95: The Design of Pedestrian Crossings”. These are available to download from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-transport-notes

Railway Stations: Worcestershire

Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on a new Worcestershire Parkway station. [179768]

Stephen Hammond: Worcester county council advised me earlier this year it is reviewing the business case for a new Worcester Parkway station. I have asked my rail strategy officials to provide the necessary assistance.

Railways: North West

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on increasing capacity east of Broadbottom on the Manchester to Glossop rail line. [179831]

Stephen Hammond: I have had no recent discussions with Network Rail on this subject. Network Rail is currently undertaking a Long Term Planning Process in consultation with industry, local and other stakeholders to identify priorities for future development of the rail network following the 2014-19 Control Period.

Home Department

Animal Experiments

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the independent investigation by the Medical Research Council into vivisection practices at Imperial College, London; and if she will make a statement. [179825]

Norman Baker: I welcome the independent investigation into animal research at Imperial College London. I will be asking the Home Office advisory body, the Animals in Science Committee, to review the report alongside the Home Office's report into the allegations of non-compliance. I will publish the Committee's findings in the New Year.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the procedures used on animals at Imperial College London; and if she will make a statement. [180263]

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Norman Baker: I welcome the independent investigation into animal research at Imperial College London. I will be asking the Home Office advisory body, the Animals in Science Committee, to review the report alongside the Home Office's report into the allegations of non-compliance. I will publish the Committee's findings in the new year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Ashfield were prosecuted for breaches of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011, (d) 2012 and (e) 2013 to date. [179887]

Norman Baker: Information on proceedings for the offence of breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), which is collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice and held on the Court Proceedings Database, does not include the location in which the ASBO recipient resides. This detailed information is only held by courts on individual case files and is not reported to the Ministry of Justice.

It is therefore not possible to determine from centrally held information how many people in Ashfield have been proceeded against for breach of an ASBO.

Crime: Staffordshire

Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of trends in the level of crime in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [178961]

Norman Baker: The following table shows the number of crimes recorded by the police in Cannock Chase and Staffordshire in each of the last five years. The data show that police recorded crime has fallen consistently over that period. At the same time the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales, which is based on victims' experiences rather than police figures, shows that crime has more than halved since 1995, and is now at the lowest level since the survey began in 1981.

Domestic Violence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services providing independent domestic violence advisers received

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Government funding in each year since 2010; and how much each service received

(a)

nationally and

(b)

in each region in each year. [179061]

Norman Baker [holding answer 12 December 2013]: The coalition Government's Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan sets out the actions we are taking to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls. This includes ring-fencing funding of nearly £40 million until 2015 for specialist local domestic and sexual violence services, which includes funding for 144 independent domestic violence advisers every year from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Total central Government funding given for these advisers in 2011-12 was £2,550,000 and in 2012-13 was £2,530,000. I will place a list of these advisers in the House Library, and they can also be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-for-multi-agency-risk-assessment-co-ordinators-and-independent-domestic-violence-advisers

Drugs: Postal Services

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls her Department has put in place to intercept the delivery of substances controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 at (a) postal sorting offices and (b) distribution centres in the UK. [179784]

Norman Baker [holding answer 16 December 2013]: The National Crime Agency works with Border Force and other law enforcement agencies to detect illicit goods, including substances controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and to prosecute those responsible for the importation or distribution of these controlled substances in the UK. The specific controls put in place are a matter for law enforcement, and in any case it would not be sensible to itemise these.

In addition the Home Office recently worked with UK law enforcement on a concerted programme of enforcement activity on new psychoactive substances, many of which are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This activity included enhanced resources for detecting illicit goods such as controlled drugs. The Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology supported this activity with real-time forensic analysis of suspect seizures.

Homicide: Older People

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged over 65 have been murdered in each year since 2010; and how many people have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of such murders to date. [180124]

Norman Baker: The requested number of homicide victims aged over 65 in England and Wales, and the number of people charged and convicted for these offences is given in the following table.

Homicide statistics for 2012/13 are due to be published in February 2014, and therefore the data provided are for the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12.

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The circumstances surrounding a homicide can be complex and it can take time for cases to pass through the criminal justice system. Due to this, there are a number of homicide cases where criminal proceedings for the relevant year have yet to reach a conclusion.

Human Trafficking: Children

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 573W, on human trafficking: children, whether her Department plans to include mandatory human trafficking assessments as part of the duties of the Criminal Casework PORT officers in the forthcoming guidance on Managing Foreign National Offenders under 18 years; and whether those officers will be first responders in the National Referral Mechanism system. [178313]

James Brokenshire: The Criminal Casework Prisons, Operations and Removals Team Officers (PORT) are Immigration Enforcement Teams on site at various prisons across the UK. Their primary role is to ensure the timely progression of deportation/removal of foreign national offenders by interviewing offenders/serving paperwork.

The Home Office does not plan to include mandatory modern slavery assessments as part of the duties of the Criminal Casework PORT officers. The PORT Team has eight specially trained officers to interview children, based in eight key prisons across the country. Interviewing officers are First Responders who can and do make referrals to the National Referral Mechanism system, where a suspect is a victim of modern slavery.

We recognise there are concerns regarding the prosecution of victims of modern slavery. The Director of Public Prosecutions will issue revised guidance to ensure that prosecutors understand this issue, and when it is not in the public interest they will not proceed with a case. We will continue to reflect on whether there is anything further that is needed to prevent modern slavery victims being prosecuted where it is clearly not right to do so.

Licensing Laws

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many early morning restriction orders have been imposed since their introduction. [180176]

Norman Baker: No licensing authority has yet introduced an early morning alcohol restriction order. A number of areas have been actively considering whether the measure

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could be of benefit to them. I have recently written to all police and crime commissioners to draw to their attention the benefits the introduction of early morning restriction orders can bring.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many late night levies have been imposed since their introduction. [180177]

Norman Baker: One late night levy has been introduced in Newcastle on 1 November 2013. A number of other areas have also been actively considering whether the measure could be of benefit to them. I have recently written to all Police and Crime Commissioners to draw to their attention the benefits the introduction of a late night levy can bring.

Mephedrone

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the trend has been of the number of people using mephedrone since it was made a controlled drug in 2010. [180269]

Norman Baker: The 2012-13 Crime Survey for England and Wales showed a drop in the proportion of people aged 16 to 59 taking mephedrone. In 2012-13, the figure was 0.5%. This compares with 1.1% in 2011-12 and 1.4% in the 2010-11 survey, when the questions were first asked.

Missing People

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the speed and methods by which missing people are traced. [180126]

Norman Baker: Police forces individually record information about missing persons incidents using guidance published by the National Policing Lead. These records are not held centrally.

The National Crime Agency's Missing Persons Bureau publish an annual report on missing persons data. Their most recent statistical analysis was released in September which covered the 2011/2012 recording year. Data was provided by four police forces in relation to the time in which missing people were found and indicates that the majority (70%) of missing people return or are located within 16 hours with only 2% outstanding for longer than a week.

Information on methods of tracing missing persons is not held centrally. However the National Crime Agency Missing Persons Bureau report states, where a person was found, it was the police who located the missing person in the majority of cases.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will be conducting an all forces inspection focusing on missing children in 2014.

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of each age group and gender are currently registered as missing. [180127]

Norman Baker: It is the responsibility of each individual police force to record their missing persons incidents. This information is not available centrally. Figures provided by police forces indicate that overall around 313,000 missing person's incidents were recorded in 2011-12, in England, Wales and Scotland.

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Motorway Service Areas: Alcoholic Drinks

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the sale of alcohol at Government-controlled motorway service areas. [180041]

Norman Baker [holding answer 16 December 2013]: The law currently bans the sale of alcohol at these service areas. The Government included motorway service areas as part of the public consultation on the Alcohol Strategy in 2012-13. The Government's response to this consultation was published in July 2013 and stated that this issue would be considered further. A decision will be made in due course.

National Crime Agency: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an assessment of the specialist capabilities of the National Crime Agency currently used by Police Scotland. [180605]

James Brokenshire: The National Crime Agency provides a number of national specialist and operational capabilities that are available on request, as the operational need arises, from police and law enforcement partners across the UK, including Police Scotland.

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what reviews have been carried out relating to child abuse involving employees or former employees of her Department; [179033]

(2) what reviews are ongoing within her Department relating to historic cases of child sexual exploitation; and when she expects to report the results of these reviews. [179034]

Norman Baker [holding answer 12 December 2013]: A review into what information the Department had received between 1979 and 1999 in respect of child sexual abuse and whether any member of Home Office staff was alleged or found to be involved or implicated in organised child abuse, and what action was taken, was commissioned by the Permanent Secretary earlier this year. A copy of the executive summary of the interim and final reports, together with the terms of reference, was published on 1 August 2013. Copies of all of these documents can be found via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-home-office-files-to-identify-information-about-organised-child-sex-abuse-cr27731

There are currently no other historic child sexual exploitation reviews ongoing in the Department. There is, however, ongoing work across the Department in reviewing Home Office policies in delivering child protection within the Department and the police as the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), set out to the House in her written ministerial statement of 12 March 2013, columns 7-8WS.

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More widely, the Home Office is leading work across Government to tackle sexual violence against children and vulnerable people, learning the lessons from both historic, and current day cases of child sexual exploitation. The National Group published its first progress report and action plan in July 2013 and will publish a revised strategic action plan in spring 2014.

Refuges: Females

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times she has visited a women's refuge since her appointment. [179331]

Norman Baker [holding answer 2 December 2013]: It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings or visits on an ongoing basis. Details of these meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Gov.uk website:

http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-home-office

However Ministers, including the Home Secretary and I, regularly visit refuges and the Home Office is working closely with the sector on the provision of sustainable support services.

The Home Office recently hosted two events to highlight the importance of commissioning services for victims of domestic and sexual violence. However, decisions about provision of local services for victims of domestic violence are a local matter and it is the responsibility of individual local authorities to identify any gaps in service provision and put appropriate solutions in place.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations her Department has received from the Scottish Government in the last 12 months on the proposed continued membership of the Common Travel Area for residents of an independent Scotland, as outlined in “Scotland's Future: Your Guide to An Independent Scotland”. [180166]

Mr Harper: The Home Office has not received any representations from the Scottish Government in the last 12 months on the proposed continued membership of the Common Travel Area for residents of an independent Scotland.

Travellers: Human Rights

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met her European counterparts to discuss the human rights situation of the Roma in the EU. [178971]

Damian Green [holding answer 12 December 2013]: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Gov.uk website:

http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-home-office

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Attorney-General

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many local Crown Prosecution Service offices were located in the same building as the police force for that area in each of the last 10 years. [180169]

The Solicitor-General: According to the records held centrally, since January 2002 39 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offices have been located in the same building as the police. The central records cover buildings where the CPS has entered into a formal agreement with the police to share space or buildings where the CPS holds a commercial lease and the building is also occupied by the police. The following table details the number of such buildings by CPS area and year since 2002.

In London, CPS staff were co-located with Metropolitan police force staff in 26 police stations. This arrangement was part of the joint Investigation and Prosecution Team (IPT) model that operated between 2008 and 2012.

In addition there have been a number of local, less formal agreements between police forces and CPS areas for some police or CPS staff to share space held by either the police or the CPS. Central records of such agreements are not held and these arrangements are therefore excluded from this response. To obtain this information would require all CPS areas to review local records over the last 10 years and would incur disproportionate costs.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General if he will list (a) the Crown Prosecution Service offices in England and Wales that have closed since 2010, (b) the function of each such office and (c) the number of (i) voluntary and (ii) compulsory redundancies at each such office. [180170]

The Solicitor-General: Since January 2010 the CPS has closed 40 offices where a formal lease or licence to occupy space was held. Nine new offices have opened. Local arrangements with courts and police to share space which ended during the same period are not included and to capture this information would incur disproportionate costs.

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The CPS has not operated any voluntary redundancy schemes. It has, however, operated a number of Voluntary Early Release (VER) schemes in accordance with the Civil Service Compensation scheme arrangements. The following table summarises the offices that have closed, the function(s) that were carried out at each location and the number of exits under VER schemes since January 2010 at each such office. In accordance with departmental policy there have been no compulsory redundancies.

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Witnesses

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service has spent on administering witness care units in each of the last seven years. [180258]

The Solicitor-General: The total budget allocated by the CPS for the administration of Witness Care Units (WCUs), in each of the last seven years, has been:

In each of the last seven years the CPS has allocated £2.5 million of its voted expenditure to WCUs. The remainder of the total CPS allocation in each year was funded by income from the Ministry of Justice, via the Victims Surcharge.

Defence

Afghanistan and Pakistan

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles were carried out by British armed forces in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Pakistan in the last three years. [180624]

Mr Dunne: Reaper is the UK's only armed remotely piloted aircraft system and is operated under the legal authority of a UN Security Council Resolution and in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. A total of 332 weapons were released by UK Reaper between 1 December 2010 and 30 November 2013 (inclusive) in Afghanistan. The UK Rules of Engagement (RoE) and policy governing the use of Reaper is the same as that which is used for conventionally piloted combat aircraft.

UK Reapers only operate in support of coalition ground forces in Afghanistan.

Chief of Defence Materiel

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse has been of the (a) salary, (b) hotel costs, (c) air fares, (d) rail fares, (e) taxi fares, (f) use of official car and driver and (g) any other benefits-in-kind accrued by the Chief of Defence Materiel since his appointment on 4 January 2011. [179990]

Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 16 December 2013]: Salary details of senior Ministry of Defence officials, including the Chief of Defence Materiel (CDM), are published online at:

http://data.gov.uk/dataset/organogram-and-staff-pay-data-for-ministry-of-defence-2013

17 Dec 2013 : Column 548W

Quarterly expenses data for all 3 and 4 star staff, including CDM, are published online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/senior-staff-business-expenses

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the details were of each official overseas trip undertaken by the Chief of Defence Materiel since his appointment on 4 January 2011; and what the cost of each such trip was. [179991]

Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 16 December 2013]:Details of all 3 and 4 star official visits, including those made by the Chief of Defence Materiel (CDM), are published online as part of the quarterly expenses data.

Information covering the period from CDM's appointment in January 2011 to March 2012 is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/senior-staff-business-expenses

Details of official overseas visits since March 2012 until the end of September 2013 are summarised in the following table:

Cybercrime

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people he plans to recruit to the new cyber defence unit; and over what period of time such recruitment will take place. [173287]

Mr Francois: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced on 29 September 2013 that recruiting for the Joint Cyber Unit (Reserve) would commence in October 2013. I can confirm that recruitment is well under way for this new unit and the large response it has elicited is extremely heartening. The details of their numbers, ranks and positions, must be withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security, but I can confirm that the eventual strength of the Joint Cyber Reserve will number in the hundreds of personnel. I would also stress that cyber security is the responsibility of all personnel within the Ministry of Defence, and we are taking action to mainstream it into the way we conduct operations and business.

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Defence Equipment and Support

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when consultations between (a) him, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department and trades unions regarding the implementation of the Defence Equipment and Support plus proposals are planned to take place. [180018]

Mr Dunne: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), officials and I have met regularly with the trade unions on various topics including the reform of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S).

Officials will shortly meet the trade unions to agree the arrangements for formal consultation on the practicalities for implementation of the future DE&S model, in accordance with Ministry of Defence policy and legal obligations.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have met their counterparts in the Cabinet Office and the Treasury on the liberalisation of pay and conditions as part of his Defence Equipment and Support-plus proposals in each of the last six months. [180019]

Mr Dunne: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right, hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), officials and I meet regularly with our counterparts in the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury on a range of issues, including reform of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S).

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what employment changes will apply to (a) existing Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) personnel and (b) staff brought into DE&S under his DE&S plus model; and whether any such staff will receive remuneration higher than that of the Prime Minister under these proposals; [180020]

(2) whether the introduction of a new human resources function within the Defence Equipment and Support-plus model will include powers of hiring and firing beyond those currently used within the civil service. [180027]

Mr Dunne: A key feature of the new organisation is the freedom around how it recruits, retains, rewards and manages both existing and new staff, along more commercial lines. The organisation will be able to employ staff at market rates and will be able to recruit new staff through an accelerated process that does not require us to follow the usual civil service recruitment process.

The realities of departmental budgets remain. The new organisation will need to live within its budget but the difference will be in allowing it to make business decisions about how that budget is best used to deliver to the armed services and for the taxpayer. We will discuss with colleagues in other Government Departments how those freedoms are applied, including in terms of salaries.

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Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department will undertake on the development of the Defence Equipment and Support-plus financial control and management systems. [180021]

Mr Dunne: Under the new organisation we will continue to build on the work that is currently under way within Defence Equipment and Support to improve its financial control and management-information systems. This work is critical not only to improve the new organisation's performance, but to provide a more robust baseline that would allow us more confidently to re-test the market's appetite to bid for a risk-taking Government-owned, contractor-operated model in the future.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much will be saved from his Department's annual budget as a result of the Defence Equipment and Support-plus proposals; [180022]

Mr Dunne: The new organisation will drive significant incremental improvements in the operation of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). It is too early to determine the exact level of financial savings of the new organisation. However, building on the DE&S+ proposition, we are confident that substantial savings can be made over time which will benefit the armed forces and the taxpayer.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) under what criteria the new Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support was appointed; [180023]

(2) when the Chief of Defence Materiel will become Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support- plus; and whether his contract of employment has yet been signed. [180024]

Mr Dunne: As Chief of Defence Materiel, Bernard Gray is already Chief Executive of DE&S and, as the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced on 10 December 2013, Official Report, columns 146-148, Bernard Gray has agreed to continue to lead DE&S when it is established as a trading entity on 1 April 2014. His existing contract of employment remains in force.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected length of contracts put out for tender under those areas of the Defence Equipment and Support-plus model which require additional support from the private sector is; and when he expects any such tenders to be announced. [180026]

Mr Dunne: We are currently examining the most effective means of procuring the required additional support. We believe that we can do so quickly through a competitive process that will begin in the new year.

Defence: Procurement

Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department has been of establishing the Government-owned, contractor- operated procurement company to date; and if he will make a statement. [177551]

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Mr Dunne: A Government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) company has not been established. Rather, the Materiel Strategy programme has recently concluded its Assessment Phase having considered two options: Defence Equipment and Support-Plus (DE&S+) and a GOCO model. The Concept Phase of the programme started in May 2011 and analysed a number of different operating models. The cost incurred in examining the GOCO model through the Concept Phase and the competition was £7.4 million until termination on 10 December 2013.

Departmental Co-ordination

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to work better with the Department for International Development. [180238]

Dr Murrison: Since the launch of the International Defence Engagement Strategy (IDES) in February of this year, Defence has increased cross-Government links and working relationships through the establishment of the Director-General level Defence Engagement Board of which the Department for International Development (DFID) is a member. At working level, DFID is fully engaged in the development of regional strategies underpinning implementation of IDES.

We continue to support DFID-led humanitarian assistance, including recently in the Philippines where the UK military played a significant role delivering aid during the disaster relief operation. We are working with DFID and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in delivering the Building Stability Overseas Strategy (BSOS), including through the Conflict Pool, the Stabilisation Unit, the Defence Academy's capacity-building programmes, and through the development of the new Joint Assessments of Conflict and Stability (JACS) tool.

Directors

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are identified as (i) white British and (ii) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [178132]

Mr Philip Hammond: The Department does not monitor the ethnic composition of its board separately from monitoring the Department as a whole. Even if it did, racial or ethnic identity is sensitive personal data as defined by section 2 of the Data Protection Act 1998. Given the small numbers involved, we could not disclose the results of such general monitoring without infringing the rights of the individuals concerned. Photographs of the board members are available on the departmental website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence/groups/defence-board

Military Attachés

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military attachés were part of British diplomatic missions in (a) 1990, (b) 2000, (c) 2010 and (d) 2013. [180510]

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Dr Murrison: The information requested is provided in the following table:

Defence Sections also employ senior non-commissioned officers, United Kingdom-based civilians and locally engaged civilians as support staff. These personnel are not included in the table.

Information prior to 1993 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which British diplomatic missions a military attaché is currently attached. [180511]

Dr Murrison: The UK has Defence Sections attached to 75 diplomatic missions in 74 countries:

Afghanistan

Algeria

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Bahrain

Baltic States (Estonia)

Bangladesh

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brazil

Brunei

Burma

Canada

Chile

China

Colombia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Egypt

Ethiopia

France

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Greece

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

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Korea

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Macedonia

Malaysia

Morocco

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nigeria

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

Poland

Qatar

Romania

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Serbia

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Somalia (based in Kenya)

South Africa

South Sudan

Spain

Sudan

Sweden

Thailand

Turkey

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United States of America (with a separate attaché to the UK Mission to UN New York)

Uzbekistan

Vietnam

Yemen

Zimbabwe.

Between them these attachés and advisers cover a further 70 countries through the process of non-resident accreditation. Those countries are:

Albania

Angola

Anguilla

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Bermuda

Botswana

British Virgin Islands

Bulgaria

Burundi

Cape Verde

Cayman

Islands

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Croatia

Cuba

Djibouti

East Timor

Eritrea

Fiji

Finland

Gabon

Guinea

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Ivory Coast

Kosovo

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Liberia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malawi

Mali

Malta

Mauritania

Moldova

Monaco

Mongolia

Montenegro

Montserrat

Mozambique

Namibia

Papua

New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Portugal

Rwanda

Seychelles

Senegal

Slovenia

Slovakia

Switzerland

Tajikistan

Tanzania

The Gambia

Togo

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkmenistan

Turks and Caicos Islands

Uruguay

Vanuatu

Venezuela

Zambia.

This response corrects answers given on 10 January 2012 Official Report, columns 23-24W to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones), and 13 December 2012, Official Report, column 422W, to the right hon. Member

17 Dec 2013 : Column 555W

for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy), which incorrectly listed several non-resident accreditation countries for which points of contact were maintained in London without formal non-resident accreditation of an attaché.

Ministers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on ministerial salaries in the last year for which figures are available. [180095]

Mr Philip Hammond: Information about ministerial salaries is in the public domain in the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 (Amendment) Order 2011. This is available at the following link:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2011/9780111509258/schedule/1

The latest Ministry of Defence (MOD) ministerial salaries figures are also published in table 7.107 on page 73 of the MOD Annual Report and Accounts 2012-2013. This is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-annual-report-and-accounts-201213

Sovereignty: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from the Scottish Government in the last 12 months on the proposed transfer of armed forces personnel in the event of Scottish independence, as outlined in “Scotland's Future: Your Guide to An Independent Scotland”. [180163]

Dr Murrison: None. The Ministry of Defence has not received any representation from the Scottish Government regarding the proposed transfer of armed forces personnel in the event of Scottish independence.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2013, Official Report, column 401W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, how many notifications of possible civilian casualties have been made to (a) any Afghan provincial authority, (b) any Afghan national authority and (c) his Department through operational reporting channels. [R] [178640]

Mr Francois: Information on the notification of possible civilian casualties is not held centrally by the Ministry of Defence. All allegations of civilian casualties are reported to the appropriate level in the ISAF command chain.

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2013, Official Report, column 677W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, what supporting activities are provided by his Department to any civil unmanned system developers or operators when those applications may have some defence outcome. [180028]

Mr Dunne: None.

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Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2013, Official Report, column 70W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, which remotely piloted in-service aircraft systems are known to have flown in the UK outside danger areas or segregated airspace. [180029]

Mr Francois: No Ministry of Defence in-service unmanned aircraft system is known to have been operated in UK airspace outside of a danger area or segregated airspace.

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2013, Official Report, column 640W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Information Exchange Agreement with the United States on unmanned aerial systems. [180033]

Mr Dunne: The Information Exchange Agreement contains details that are protected by confidentiality obligations and I am therefore withholding the information as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and another state.

Treasury

Autumn Statement

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what sustainability assessment his Department carried out of the provisions in the autumn statement 2013; [178856]

(2) what sustainability assessment he has carried out on announcements contained in the autumn financial statement, Cm 8747. [179921]

Nicky Morgan: The autumn statement is fiscally neutral, ensuring that the improvement in the fiscal forecast contributes to returning the public finances to a sustainable position.

Since 2010, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has produced the five-year forecasts for the economy and public finances which are published alongside the autumn statement and scrutinised the Treasury's costing of tax and welfare spending measures.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to table B.3 of the 2013 Budget report, what forecast he has made of the annual value up to 2017-18 of EU Emission Trading System auction receipts to installations in each of the constituent parts of the UK. [179877]

Nicky Morgan: Table B.3 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget 2013 report sets out the Government's forecast for the annual value of the EU Emission Trading System auction receipts up to 2017-18.

The auction receipts from the EU Emission Trading Scheme are placed within the Treasury's consolidated fund and used to fund spending across the United Kingdom. Revenues are not hypothecated to specific geographical areas so the Government are not able to provide a breakdown of allocation of receipts to constituent parts of the UK.

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Excise Duties: Fuels

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent representations he has received from people in Thirsk and Malton constituency on the rural fuel duty rebate pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement; [179926]

(2) what applications he received for the extension to the rural fuel rebate pilot scheme; and what the timetable is for applications to be considered; [179927]

(3) what progress he is making in receiving state aid approval from the EU Commission for the rural fuel rebate pilot scheme. [179928]

Danny Alexander: On 8 November the Government launched the supplementary call for information for the rural fuel rebate scheme. This gave fuel retailers a further opportunity to submit data on their pump prices to the Treasury, as not all retailers were able to provide information through the initial call for information over the summer. The supplementary call for information closed on 6 December.

In total, as a result of both calls for information, we have received responses from 99 service stations. 58 were from Scotland, 25 from England, eight from Wales and eight from Northern Ireland. Of these responses, two of which were from Thirsk and Malton constituency.

Officials are currently analysing this data to determine a list of areas to be put the European Commission. The Government require approval from the European Commission and member states to extend the rural fuel rebate scheme to UK mainland. The Government aim to submit their application in January (after which it could take at least six months for UK to receive a final decision).

Fracking

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to paragraph 1.182 of the autumn statement 2013, Cm 8747, on benefit provision in areas in which shale gas projects are undertaken, how his Department defines a community. [178853]

Nicky Morgan: Shale gas has the potential to create investment, support jobs and increase growth nationally and in local communities. Community benefits will form a part of this and will allow the industry a social license to operate.

The shale gas industry has published a community engagement charter which sets out its voluntary, industry-led scheme of community benefits. The industry has committed to engage with individuals and organizations in the local communities from an early stage in order to define how the community benefits are paid.

Insurance Companies: Investment Returns

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what returns will be made to insurance company investments under the National Infrastructure Plan; and if he will make a statement. [179761]

Danny Alexander: As part of the Government's ‘UK insurance growth action plan’, which was published on 4 December 2013, UK insurers have agreed to work

17 Dec 2013 : Column 558W

alongside Government regulators, and other interested parties, with the aim of delivering at least £25 billion of investment in UK infrastructure in the next five years.

Suitable projects for investment will include, but not be limited to, those included in the ‘National Infrastructure Plan 2013’, and can include major infrastructure projects led by private sector sponsors. Investment in projects will be a commercial decision for the insurers and the insurers will need to compete on equal terms with other providers of funding. Any return on the investment will be agreed as part of the commercial contract with the project sponsor.

Motorcycles: Imports

Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will suspend fines against official UK motorcycle importers arising from unforeseen consequences of the recent Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA) legislation, pending development of NOVA procedures for those importers. [180607]

Mr Gauke: The Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA) system will continue to issue late notification penalties in accordance with the legislation. However, HMRC will reconsider any penalties issued if the customer has a reasonable excuse for the late notification. The NOVA system was introduced to prevent significant VAT fraud on vehicles coming into the UK from abroad raising an estimated £100 million per annum for the Exchequer.

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland

Dr McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff are employed in Northern Ireland. [179843]

Nicky Morgan: The number of HMRC staff in Northern Ireland is 1,858 as of 30 November 2013 (equating to 1,652.3 full-time equivalents.)

Smuggling: Tobacco

Dr McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of loss of revenue as a result of cigarette smuggling into Northern Ireland in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [179841]

Nicky Morgan: The information requested is not available.

Estimates of total revenue losses associated with the cigarette illicit market for the UK are published in ‘Tobacco Tax Gap estimates: 2012-13’. These estimates cannot be disaggregated by country or by the type of illicit activity. e.g. through smuggling, counterfeiting or other fraud.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-gaps/ttg-2013.pdf

Sterling

Mr MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the continued use of the pound between each remaining constituent part of the UK, the Crown Dependencies and an independent Scotland; and whether he has considered any plans for a new currency in the remaining constituent parts of the UK. [179938]

17 Dec 2013 : Column 559W

Danny Alexander: In the event of independence, Scotland would leave the UK and its existing arrangements and would need to establish its own institutional framework, including its choice of currency. As the continuing state the UK would continue to use the pound sterling. The pound sterling is not the currency of any of the Crown Dependencies. All of the Crown Dependencies issue their own currencies, which are currently pegged against the pound sterling.

An independent Scotland could use the pound sterling either by agreeing a formal currency union with the continuing UK or unilaterally adopting sterling. However, it is highly unlikely that a currency union could be agreed or made to work. An independent Scotland could unilaterally adopt sterling, as Panama does with the US dollar and Montenegro does with the euro. In

17 Dec 2013 : Column 560W

this case, an independent Scotland would then have no control over that currency and its monetary policy, and no central bank to act as lender of last resort to protect individuals' savings and mortgages.

Travel

Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of travel within the UK was for his Department in each year since 2010; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence. [176858]

Nicky Morgan: Details relating to spend on travel and subsistence within the UK since 2010 financial year can be found within the following table.

Spending on travel and subsistence during 2012-13 has reduced by 65% compared with 2008-09.

The Department has not incurred any costs for helicopter travel since 2010.

The Department's accounting system does not separately identify this area of spend to the level of detail specified within the request; it is therefore not possible to provide the full breakdown of these costs as requested.