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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Council of Ministers

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK delegations to EU Council of Ministers meetings since May 2010 have included a representative of the Scottish Government; who each such representative was; what was discussed at each such meeting; and what decisions were taken at each such meeting. [180661]

Mr Lidington: Scottish Government Ministers regularly attend as part of the UK delegation to EU Council meetings. Foreign and Commonwealth Office records indicate that Scottish Government Ministers have formed part of the UK delegation to Council meetings on at least 16 occasions since October 2012 (see following list). Council meetings cover a wide range of topics and deliberations are publicly available on the European Council website. It is not possible to list representatives, agendas and outcomes of every meeting since May 2010 without incurring disproportionate cost.

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Foreign Relations

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support (a) the his Department and (b) UK embassies or consulates have provided to Ministers in the Scottish Government (i) during overseas trips and (ii) to facilitate contact with (A) overseas Governments and (B) the European Union since May 2010. [180662]

Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its posts overseas support Scottish Government Ministers travelling overseas in pursuit of their devolved responsibilities. This can include support to develop visit programmes and facilitate meetings with foreign Governments, international organisations, political representatives and businesses; political and economic briefing on host countries; and, where appropriate, UK Trade and Investment support to identify potential investors and trading partners. Scottish Ministers have spoken about the importance of UK diplomatic posts to achieving their objectives in devolved policy areas.

FCO records indicate that Scottish Government Ministers have conducted at least 45 overseas trips in the past year, including 15 occasions where Scottish Ministers attended EU Council of Ministers meetings as part of the UK delegation. It is not possible to list the variety of services provided for visits since May 2010 without incurring disproportionate cost.

Middle East

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart

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on revoking Military Order 418 and returning planning powers on Area C to the Palestinian Authority. [180436]

Hugh Robertson: We continue to urge Israel to ease the restrictions in place in Area C and to fulfil its obligation under the Oslo agreement to transfer authority over Area C to the Palestinian authority. Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv most recently raised the issue of development for Palestinian communities with the Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on 3 December.

Middle East and North Africa

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department offers to construction companies in the Middle East and North Africa to prevent disruption of their work. [180237]

Mr Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) prosperity and trade teams provide guidance and practical assistance to UK companies on managing the risk of protective security (including the terrorism threat) when operating overseas.

The joint FCO/UKTI web-based Overseas Business Risk service offers country specific advice to British companies to help them manage a range of risks. The website contains information on over 90 markets, including countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

Ministers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on ministerial salaries in the last year for which figures are available. [180099]

Mr Lidington: This information is published in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's annual report and accounts 2012-13

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-and-commonwealth-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-13

In 2012-13, total ministerial remuneration was £250,562.

Pakistan

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of religious freedoms for Christians in Pakistan. [180354]

Hugh Robertson: We remain deeply concerned by the violent persecution faced by minority religious and ethnic groups in Pakistan. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office monitors religious freedom in Pakistan in its annual Human Rights report and quarterly updates.

The Government continue to raise the issue of the persecution of religious minorities on a regular basis with the authorities in Pakistan. Freedom of religion or belief is a human rights priority for this Government and a personal priority for the Minister of State my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi.

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We continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the human rights of all its citizens as laid down in the Constitution and in accordance with international standards. Baroness Warsi had a frank and open discussion on minority issues with the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the margins of UNGA in September, and when she visited the country in October.

Palestinians

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the UK voted against Palestinian membership of the Olive Council. [180428]

Hugh Robertson: The UK did not vote against Palestinian membership of the International Olive Council. At the November meeting of the International Olive Council the Palestinian Authority did not ask for a vote on its application for full membership of the Council.

Sri Lanka

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of progress in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka as a result of the UK presence at CHOGM. [180139]

Mr Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I met with human rights defenders while in Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to discuss the current situation and what the UK can do to support their efforts. The Secretary of State made clear during the meeting and after, that

“we cannot and will not turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses which occur, whether they are about freedom of expression, impunity for disappearances or sexual violence, freedom from torture and the lack of accountability for alleged war crimes.”

We continue to have strong concerns about lack of demonstrable progress on post-conflict reconciliation, accountability and political settlement in Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister was clear with the Sri Lankan President at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo earlier this month that we expect real progress on human rights, reconciliation, accountability, and political settlement.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has (a) made representations to the Sri Lankan Government regarding the closure of Jaffna University and (b) had discussions with that Government regarding the reasons for the recent university closures in that country. [180656]

Mr Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not made representations to the Sri Lankan Government on the temporary closure of Jaffna University from 11 November to 1 December, or on the reasons for the temporary closure of the University. We understand that Jaffna University has now reopened.

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Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Sri Lankan Government regarding land grabs; and what assessment he has made of President Rajapaksa's commitment to ending land grabs in the north-east of Sri Lanka and ensuring restitution to people affected. [180665]

Mr Swire: The Prime Minister raised land rights and reducing the military presence in the north of Sri Lanka during a meeting with the President, Mr Rajapaska, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November. Our High Commission in Colombo has also raised the need to resolve land disputes through a fair and accountable process with Sri Lankan Government.

Land rights are an issue of concern in many post- conflict situations involving internally displaced people or refugees. In Sri Lanka, multiple displacements of different groups and individuals have occurred over many years resulting in competing claims on the same land. Our most recent Human Rights Report highlights that there are increased reports of land takeovers in Tamil areas. The Sri Lankan Government have recently given assurances that the military would return some private land in the north within the next few months.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) the Prime Minister discussed the (i) education of Tamil children and (ii) role of the military during their visit to Sri Lanka in November 2013; what representations he has made regarding the military's involvement in schools in the north-east of Sri Lanka; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for such involvement. [180666]

Mr Swire: The Prime Minister raised the issue of a military presence in the north of Sri Lanka during a meeting with President Rajapaksa, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November. Our high commissioner to Colombo also raised the issue of military involvement in civilian activities with the Sri Lankan President earlier this month.

Though military drawback is evident in some areas, we are concerned at military involvement in commercial and other civil activities, such as education, tourism, and agriculture, and the occupation of land in high security zones. We will continue to raise this issue with members of the Sri Lankan Government, and press the need for the military not to partake in civil activities.

Ukraine

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of recent reports of the use of excessive force and violence against peaceful protestors in Ukraine; [180693]

(2) what steps the Government are taking to support human and civil rights in Ukraine; [180694]

(3) if the Government will support further discussions on the Ukraine's Association Agreement with the EU. [180695]

Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I have expressed

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publicly our deep concern at reports of police violence being used to break up a peaceful demonstration in Ukraine on 30 November. We welcome the Ukrainian Government's commitment to a thorough investigation of this violence but stress that it is of the utmost importance that the investigation is rigorous and fair.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I have called on the Ukrainian authorities to respect the right of peaceful protest and to abide fully by their international commitments to respect the freedom of expression and assembly. We were encouraged to see that the demonstrations over the weekend of 14 and 15 December passed peacefully.

The UK Government were disappointed with President Yanukovych's decision to put preparations for signature of an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement on hold. The message from the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit 28/29 November was clear; the EU's door remains open; signature is still in Ukraine's hands. The UK remains committed to Ukraine's European future, to the Association Agreement and to a closer relationship with Ukraine, if that's what the people of Ukraine want. They should be free to make that decision without external pressure.

We believe that the people of Ukraine will be best served by an Administration who adhere to European values. The UK Government will continue to monitor closely Ukraine's progress on reform in human and civil rights issues. When I visited Ukraine in September I was pleased to note the increase in momentum on reform; a number of laws aimed at meeting the conditions set by the December 2012 Foreign Affairs Council were adopted. Between September and late November we saw further progress towards new legislation on electoral reform and the reform of the general prosecutor's office. Further work is undoubtedly necessary, particularly in strengthening the independence of the judiciary and on selective justice. The United Kingdom continues to stand ready to support Ukraine's reform process.

Prime Minister

Arms Industry

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what the cost to the public purse of foreign visits he has made to promote the UK arms industry has been since May 2010; [180680]

(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that British-made arms are not sold to repressive foreign regimes; [180681]

(3) what discussions he has had since May 2010 with the Governments of (a) the United Arab Emirates and (b) other authoritarian countries on the sale of arms products made by UK companies. [180683]

The Prime Minister: Details of ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly and are available on the gov.uk website.

The Government support responsible defence exports. All export licence applications are carefully assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account all relevant factors, including the prevailing circumstances in the recipient country, the nature of the goods, the identity of the end-user and the stated end-use.

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Transport

A57

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the A57 Snake Pass between Glossop and the Rivelin Valley was closed to traffic due to (a) road accidents and (b) inclement weather conditions in each of the last three years. [180519]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport does not hold the information centrally on how many occasions the A57 Snake Pass between Glossop and the Rivelin Valley was closed to traffic due to (a) road accidents and (b) inclement weather conditions in each of the last three years.

Airports Commission

Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the Crown Dependencies are consulted on the recommendations of the Airports Commission before a decision on this matter is made. [180208]

Mr Goodwill: The Government are planning to respond to the Airports Commission's Interim Report's short-term recommendations as soon as possible in 2014. The Government are happy to receive representations from all interested parties before publication. The Commission's final recommendations will be made in summer 2015. If these recommendations are taken forward, they will be subject to full public consultation as part of a National Policy Statement.

Driving: Young People

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his Department's green paper on the safety of young drivers. [180534]

Mr Goodwill: The safety of young people on our roads is very important to us. Too many young people die, too often. But we are wrestling with how to make things safer while not unduly restricting the freedom of our young people. We want young people to be able to get to work and training, to education and to leisure activities, and we want them to do so safely. We are finding this a difficult balance, with passionate voices on both sides. We will issue a paper when we have considered this further.

Pedestrian Crossings

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate the number of (a) pelican, (b) puffin and (c) countdown crossings in operation; [180572]

(2) if he will estimate the number of new (a) pelican and (b) puffin crossings installed in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; [180573]

(3) how many local highways authorities installed pelican crossings in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [180574]

(4) with reference to the puffin pedestrian crossing accident study published by TRL in March 2011, for what reasons his Department permits local authorities to install new pelican crossings; [180575]

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(5) what assessment he has made of whether available research evidence permits firm conclusions about the relative safety performance of pelican and other types of pedestrian crossing; and what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on that matter; [180576]

(6) if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the dangers of pelican crossings on roads with multi-lane approaches. [180577]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport (DFT) 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 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

In 2004 the Department also published the Puffin Good Practice Guide, giving detailed advice on the design and installation of puffin crossings. This is available to download from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/managing-improving-and-investing-in-the-road-network/supporting-pages/traffic-signs

Many authorities already choose to install puffin crossings as their default crossing type both at junctions and stand-alone. The Department expects this trend to continue.

Railways: Radlett

Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, Official Report, columns 947-8W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, how many meetings Ministers from his Department have had with counterparts in the Department for Communities and Local Government on general planning issues relating to strategic rail freight interchanges since June 2010; and at how many such meetings the Radlett application was mentioned. [180597]

Stephen Hammond: I refer to the answer of 26 March 2012. There have been no subsequent meetings between Ministers in this Department and counterparts in the Department for Communities and Local Government to discuss general planning issues relating to strategic rail freight interchanges.

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However, Ministers in this Department and in the Department for Communities and Local Government worked closely together on the preparation of the joint written ministerial statement issued in November 2011 to accompany the publication of the Policy Guidance on Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges. This was generic guidance that made no mention of specific proposals.

Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, Official Report, columns 947-8W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, when the conversation with the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst took place and whether it was minuted. [180598]

Stephen Hammond: As stated in the answer of 26 March 2012, the conversation between my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), and my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill), took place in Parliament in the autumn of 2010. In accordance with normal parliamentary protocol, the conversation was not minuted.

Rolling Stock: North West

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with First TransPennine Express on the number of carriages in use on peak commuter trains between Bolton and Manchester. [180437]

Stephen Hammond: Officials from the Department for Transport have regular meetings with both First TransPennine Express and Northern Rail. The new timetable and passenger capacity at Bolton have been discussed with both operators as they have developed the timetable changes necessary for the electrification of the Manchester to Scotland route. Operators have also advised Transport for Greater Manchester of their proposals. It is for the railway industry to best match passenger capacity to demand on individual services making the most appropriate use of rolling stock and resources.

The operators are monitoring passenger demand at Bolton closely each day. During the first week of the new timetable, operators have advised that there has not been a significant increase in crowding on peak services between Bolton and Manchester. Passengers travelling between Preston, Wigan and Manchester are being advised to travel via the new TPE route using Wigan North Western station. This will help provide more places for passengers travelling from stations on the Bolton line. Northern has worked with the Department on contingency plans to provide additional morning peak capacity on the Bolton corridor if morning peak passenger demand exceeds operators' expectations.

As they are introduced to the Manchester to Scotland route, the new TPE electric trains will further increase the number of seats between Manchester and Wigan. From May 2014, additional capacity will be provided on TPE services serving the cities of northern England. This will increase the capacity across TPE routes by around 30%. This will include a fifth train each hour between Manchester and Leeds. A new hourly service will run non-stop between Liverpool and Manchester, increasing capacity and offering non-stop expresses between these cities for the first time in many years.

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Electrification of the line between Manchester, Preston and Blackpool North via Bolton is due to be completed in 2016.

Tonnage Tax

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate his Department has made of the total number of (a) UK, (b) EEA and (c) non-EEA nationals employed as ratings on ships qualified for the tonnage tax scheme. [180520]

Stephen Hammond: The numbers of deck and engine ratings employed on ships in the tonnage scheme, as reported to us by companies and groups who have submitted their training commitments for 2013-14, are (a) UK—1,882, (b) other EEA—1,554 and (c) non-EEA—7,493. Training commitments for 2013-14 are still outstanding from three companies, so these figures could change.

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest estimate his Department has made is of the total number of (a) UK, (b) EEA and (c) non-EEA seafarers working on ships qualified for the tonnage tax scheme. [180593]

Stephen Hammond: The numbers of seafarers employed in the deck and engine departments on ships in the tonnage scheme, as reported to us by companies and groups who have submitted their training commitments for 2013-14, are (a) UK—4,350, (b) other EEA—3,821 and (c) non-EEA—10,990. Training commitments for 2013-14 are still outstanding from three companies, so these figures could change.

Transport: Northern Ireland

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of the review of Local Transport Note 2/95 on policy and practice of devolved government in Northern Ireland; [180503]

(2) whether (a) Local Transport Note 2/95 continues to apply and (b) the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 remain in force in Northern Ireland. [180504]

Mr Goodwill: The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 apply in England, Scotland and Wales, and remain in force. In Northern Ireland, the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 make similar provisions.

In Northern Ireland, responsibility for managing all roads, including provision of pedestrian crossings, lies with the Department for Regional Development (DRDNI). The advice given in Local Transport Note 2/95 on the Design of Pedestrian Crossings is guidance, and compliance with it is not mandatory. DRDNI endorsed this document when it was published in 1995.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what material on the current or proposed use of remotely piloted aircraft systems in UK airspace is collated by or

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on behalf of the Cross-Government Working Group on remotely piloted aircraft systems. [180543]

Mr Goodwill: As with all policy groups, the Cross-Government Working Group on remotely piloted aircraft systems considers a range of material from a variety of sources, including from industry and other Government Departments.

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 198W, on unmanned air vehicles, which RPAS-related departmental polices are informed by the Cross-Government Working Group on remotely piloted aircraft systems. [R] [180544]

Mr Goodwill: The Cross-Government Working Group on remotely piloted aircraft systems works to support the Government's growth agenda, specifically aimed at creating an environment that will allow UK operators and industry to compete in this new and emerging market. This includes issues that cut across a number of Government Departments such as regulation, information management and UK infrastructure requirements to support the safe integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems into UK and European airspace.

Attorney-General

Witnesses

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General how many Crown Prosecution Service staff were employed in front-line witness care in each of the last seven years. [180259]

The Solicitor-General: Witness care has been dealt with primarily by joint CPS/police Witness Care Units. While there has been a reduction in the numbers of CPS staff in WCUs in recent years the numbers of police staff have increased. There has been no evidence of a decline in service and witness attendance rates have remained constant at just above 80%.

The numbers of Crown Prosecution Service staff employed in front-line witness care over the past seven years are shown the following table:

Defence

Armed Forces: Young People

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2013, Official Report, column 696W, on armed forces: young people,

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when he expects the terms of reference of that review to be finalised; and if he will publish those terms of reference before publication of the initial report. [179978]

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has tasked the Army to conduct the cost benefit analysis referred to in my previous answer. As recruitment is an activity where the cost of recruiting junior entrant (JE) or standard entrant (SE) individuals is the same, the scope of the study is focused on the costs of additional training provided to under-18s on the JE scheme.

As a result of scoping carried out by the Army, the timetable for this study is now becoming clearer but it is too soon to set a publication date for the initial report. It is also apparent that the detailed terms of reference will require more development and a decision has yet to be taken on publication.

Army

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that regular Army numbers are maintained until the numbers of those serving in the Territorial Army is increased to prevent a manpower shortfall arising from his restructuring plans. [180236]

Anna Soubry: The reduction of regular forces and the increase in Reserves as part of Future Force 2020 will continue, although no final decisions have been made on Tranche 4 redundancies. The Future Force 2020 will build a balanced and adaptable “Whole Force” of regular, reserve, Ministry of Defence civilian and contractors. It will provide military capability in a different way from the past to deliver the range and scale of military forces and skills required. The Reserves are not a direct replacement for the regulars; they will complement them, and it makes practical, financial and military sense for some skills and capabilities to be held in the Reserves.

Army: Apprentices

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many apprenticeships are offered in the Army in each year; [180234]

(2) how many apprenticeships the Army offers each year; and what steps he is taking to ensure that figure is reached in 2013 and 2014. [180235]

Anna Soubry: Where possible, the Army aims to provide an appropriate trade-related apprenticeship for every soldier who joins and has developed apprenticeship programmes for all arms and services with the exception of the Intelligence Corps, which is currently under development.

Over 95% of soldiers enrol on a trade related apprenticeship during phase two training and continue these qualifications into their chosen regiments.

The number of apprenticeships offered in the Army for each of the last five years is shown in the following table:

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Figures have been rounded in accordance with Government statistical convention.

Defence Equipment and Support

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether military, civil servants and privately contracted staff within the Defence Equipment and Support plus will receive different terms and conditions of employment for similarly qualified and graded positions. [180137]

Mr Dunne: At present in Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), military personnel, civil servants and privately contracted staff have different terms of conditions and we expect this to continue. We do however expect there to be changes to terms and conditions in the new organisation. A key feature of the new organisation is that we will be able to employ people along more commercial lines at market reflective salaries. The military component in DE&S is vital and they will continue on normal military terms and conditions.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the staffing of the new DE&S+ security will be; whether it will use existing civil service grades; and what accountability arrangements there will be. [180183]

Mr Dunne: The new Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation will be staffed essentially by the same employees in the existing DE&S organisation with the addition of some private sector support in advisory and support roles. The new organisation will be permitted significant freedoms and flexibilities, agreed with the Treasury and Cabinet Office, which will allow us to revise existing terms and conditions where there is a business need, including grade structure. The new entity will have a hard boundary with the rest of the Ministry of Defence, a separate governance and oversight structure with a strong board under an independent chairman. The chief executive will be an accounting officer, accountable to Parliament for the performance of the organisation.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the new DE&S+ entity will be established; when he expects it to take over the running of procurement for his Department; and when he expects the service pillars to transfer to the new entity. [180184]

Mr Dunne: The new organisation will be established in April 2014 at which point it will take on the running of Defence procurement and support activities. Final details regarding the scope of the new organisation will build on the recommendations in the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) plus proposition and be similar to the current DE&S.

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Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects the chief executive of the arm's length company that will run DE&S will also act as Chief of Defence Materiel. [180187]

Mr Dunne: The role of Chief of Defence Materiel and the Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) are the same roles. It is essentially a title change to reflect the change in status of DE&S as an arm’s length body.

Defence: Procurement

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the application of project trust funds to defence contracts. [180182]

Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence does not recognise the term “project trust funds” in relation to UK defence contracts.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his statement of 10 December 2013, Official Report, columns 146-8, on defence procurement, whether he will publish an impact assessment of the changes announced. [180186]

Mr Dunne: The new entity does not require an impact assessment because its creation does not require new legislation.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will details the breakdown of the costs incurred to date by his Department in establishing a GoCo and running the tendering process. [180188]

Mr Dunne: We have spent some £7.4 million supporting our work on the GoCo option. That investment has allowed us to understand better the challenges we need to meet to make a GoCo work and the outputs will be retained to inform any future competition.

Reserve Forces: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets he has set for increasing the number of Reserve Forces based in Yorkshire and the Humber as part of his overall plan to increase the number of reservists to 30,000. [178948]

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has undertaken to provide the House with information on national recruitment targets by the end of this year. There is no intention to set specific targets for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Trident Submarines

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to prepare a preliminary proposal for refuelling the Vanguard class submarines; what the timetable is for that work; and what budget has been set aside for that work. [179008]

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Mr Dunne: In line with the strategic defence and security review, the Ministry of Defence is planning the additional work that is needed to extend the life of the Vanguard class submarines to maintain continuous at sea deterrence until the successor submarines have entered service. This includes an additional deep maintenance period (DMP) for each submarine in the class, starting with HMS Vanguard in 2015. The work to be undertaken in the first additional DMP continues to be developed and the full scope will be finalised around spring 2014.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2013, Official Report, column 327W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the legality of the armed drones programme. [180135]

Mr Dunne: There have been no discussions with international counterparts on the legality of the armed remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) programme as the framework for their use is clear.

Energy and Climate Change

Carbon Sequestration

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department plans to publish details of Contract for Difference arrangements for carbon capture and storage projects. [180639]

Michael Fallon: A draft generic Contract for Difference (CfD) was published for comment in August 2013. We expect to publish an updated version shortly. Most of the terms of the generic CfD will also apply to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), although we anticipate some technology specific tailoring will also be needed. The details of that tailoring will be worked up in consultation with developers of early stage CCS projects, including those in the CCS Competition.

Energy Company Obligation

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the changes to the Energy Company Obligation announced in the autumn statement on meeting the UK's climate obligations for the period up to 2020. [180249]

Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to ensuring that the overall effect of any changes to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) are carbon neutral, and for this reason when the proposed changes to ECO were announced, we simultaneously introduced the significant package of new public funding to boost energy efficiency.

The announcement of 2 December included a preliminary analysis of the estimated carbon dioxide impact of the proposed changes to ECO and the package of new funding, available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/govt-action-to-help-hardworking-people-with-energy-bills

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and following:

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the insulation industry about potential job losses as a result of the changes to the Energy Company Obligation announced in the Autumn Statement. [180251]

Gregory Barker: DECC officials have regular discussions with representatives of the insulation industry to inform development of Energy Company Obligation policy, to better understand how the scheme is being delivered on the ground and to discuss the potential impact of the proposed changes to the scheme.

Energy Supply

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much electricity capacity which was connected directly to the distribution network there was in each of the last 16 years. [180143]

Michael Fallon: DECC publishes data annually on plant capacity in the UK (Table 5.7 in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics). The following table shows the capacity of “Other generators” in the UK. The majority of this capacity is connected to the Distribution network.

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Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much installed electricity capacity connected directly to the transmission capacity there was in each of the last 16 years. [180144]

Michael Fallon: DECC publishes data annually on plant capacity in the UK (Table 5.7 in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics). Table 1 as follows shows the capacity of major power producers in the UK. The majority of this capacity is connected to the transmission network.

Energy: Company Accounts

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Statement of 31 October 2013, Official Report, column 1096, by what criteria he will assess the level of transparency of the financial accounts of the energy companies. [180152]

Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has asked Ofgem to deliver, by spring 2014, a full report on the transparency of financial accounts of the energy companies and ways this could be improved. In their recent consultation of 31 October Ofgem set out that for transparency measures to be effective information provided must be robust, useful and accessible. The merits of measures to improve transparency must also be assessed on the basis of the relative costs and benefits for end consumers.

Energy: Prices

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average saving on energy bills for (a) those on direct debit schemes, (b) those who pay the bill upon receipt and (c) those who use prepayment meters following the changes announced in the autumn statement. [180250]

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Gregory Barker: The value of the benefit will vary between companies, but, on average, the package of measures announced on 2 December, will be worth around £50 to households. The Government have encouraged energy suppliers to ensure that all customers benefit from the whole package of measures.

Fracking

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the future growth of the fracking industry in England will require the use of water from Wales. [178937]

Michael Fallon: Water sourced from local water companies for projects in England could potentially originate from Wales.

Gas Fired Power Stations

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 398, on energy security, how many of the new gas plants that have come online since May 2010 (a) received planning consent and (b) began construction before May 2010. [180145]

Michael Fallon: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 10 July 2013, Official Report, column 322-24W.

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 397, on green policies, what assessment his Department has made of satisfaction ratings for the Green Deal. [180146]

Gregory Barker: DECC has captured evidence on the Green Deal experience through surveys with households that have been involved in the process. This includes both the assessment and installation experience. The latest research with households that had an assessment revealed that 78% found the assessment useful, 78% had confidence in the recommendations made and 72% would recommend having a Green Deal assessment to a family or friend. Similar research also found that 85% of households that had installed a recommended measure were satisfied with the installation process. The research can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/green-deal-assessments-research

Insulation

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to oral answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 390, on energy efficiency, what the evidential basis is for the statement that 4.8 million insulation measures have been installed through Government schemes. [180196]

Gregory Barker: The statement that 4.8 million insulation measures have been installed through Government schemes is based on the number of installations of retro-fit

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cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and solid wall insulation through Government schemes since July 2010. It includes measures installed through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), the Community Energy Savings

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Programme (CESP), Warm Front, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Cashback between the start of July 2010 and the end of June 2013.

Nuclear Power: Education

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and his Welsh counterpart on the inclusion of educational material supporting the use of nuclear power in the national curriculum; what the cost is of the preparation of this work; and from which departmental budget it is funded. [180356]

Michael Fallon: There have been no conversations between the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and either the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), or his Welsh counterpart on the subject of the inclusion of educational material supporting the use of nuclear power in the national curriculum.

The Secretary of State and I support the inclusion of material within the curriculum which supports the development of the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects which will be required to support low carbon industries for the future.

Power Stations

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to table 1.2 of his Department's statutory security of supply report, published October 2013, if he will list each plant scheduled to close in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15, (c) 2018-19, (d) 2019-20 and (e) 2023-24. [180246]

Michael Fallon: The operational lifetime of a plant is a commercial decision for the companies involved. As a result neither Ofgem nor National Grid publish plant by plant estimates of closure dates. DECC does publish the current lifetimes of nuclear plant which can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/48353/2027-past-and-present-uk-nuclear-reactors.pdf

These are the dates that they are currently scheduled to close. Any lifetime extensions are a matter for the regulator who must be satisfied with the safety of the installations.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 1.16 of his Department's statutory security of supply report, published October 2013, what estimate he has made of the time required to make each mothballed plant operational. [180247]

Michael Fallon: The readiness to produce power of any mothballed power station is a commercial matter for the company involved.

Work and Pensions

Armed Forces: Children

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has issued to the Child Support Agency on the implications of the Armed Forces Covenant in respect of child custody and visiting rights. [180353]

Steve Webb: There are currently three statutory maintenance schemes. The 1993 and 2003 schemes are delivered by the Child Support Agency and the 2012 scheme is delivered by the Child Maintenance Service.

Child custody and visiting rights fall outside the remit of child maintenance. Child maintenance is responsible for ensuring that parents fulfil their obligations to make financial provision for their children with whom they no longer live. Issues related to custody and visitation are dealt with by the courts.

Child support policies and guidance regarding the treatment of those in the armed forces, reflect the intent and the spirit of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Child Maintenance

Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he envisages all Child Support Agency arrears cases with no ongoing maintenance liabilities to be moved off the 1993 and 2003 computer systems; how many cases it is anticipated will be moved off the two computer systems at this stage; and whether all relevant cases will be transferred on to the new 2012 scheme computer system. [180355]

Steve Webb: We will begin the case closure process when we are confident the 2012 scheme is working well. Our current planning assumption is that the case closure process will begin next year.

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Where arrears of child maintenance are linked to an ongoing child maintenance case on the 2012 scheme, we will move arrears in those cases to the 2012 scheme computer system and pursue them as appropriate.

In cases where the arrears are not linked to an ongoing 2012 case, and a parent with care requests that we collect the arrears, we will transfer them to the 2012 system and pursue collection as resources allow.

It is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 cases with arrears but no ongoing child maintenance liability. This estimate is subject to change and review.

Notes:

1. Information sourced from final impact assessment—child maintenance reforms: case closure, charging, supporting family-based arrangements available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259694/cm-case-closure-and-charges-regs-ia-final.pdf

Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases he expects to fall within each of the five segments scheduled for closure, listed in the Government's full response to the “Supporting separated families; securing children's futures” consultation Cm 8742. [180364]

Steve Webb: It is estimated that in the region of 900,000 existing cases will close, as published in the case closure and charging impact assessment, paragraph 86 available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259694/cm-case-closure-and-charges-regs-ia-final.pdf

The breakdown of these cases are estimated to be approximately as follows:

a. Segment 1: Nil assessed cases—circa 160,000

b. Segment 2: Nil compliant cases—circa 140,000

c. Segment 3: Cases handled off system—circa 40,000

d. Segment 4: Remaining system cases—circa 420,000

e. Segment 5: Cases with ongoing enforcement action—circa 130,000

Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what Child Support Agency (CSA) cases will come within Segment 2 of his Department's proposed order for CSA case closure; and what period of nil compliance with child maintenance will be necessary for a case to be included in Segment 2. [180365]

Steve Webb: Child Support Agency (CSA) cases falling into Segment 2 of the proposed case closure order, as outlined in the Government's response to the consultation “Supporting separated families; securing children's futures”, published on 5 November, will have a liability to pay maintenance, but no payments are being made and there is no current enforcement action.

It is likely that, in these cases, all appropriate enforcement actions have been utilised but we have been unable to obtain compliance, or we lack sufficient information about the non-resident parent's employment status or assets to attempt enforcement. The CSA does keep such cases under periodic review, and monitors data from HM Revenue and Customs and credit reference agencies in order to flag up any cases where enforcement action may become possible. It is however inevitable that a

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number of these cases will remain outstanding with no suitable enforcement action being identifiable, and will therefore form the second segment at case closure.

“Nil compliance” in these cases will match the definition provided in the CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics, i.e. where payments are expected but none have been received within the previous quarter.

Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that, following the planned process of Child Support Agency (CSA) arrears validation that will accompany the case closure programme, the Child Maintenance Service will give the same priority to the active recovery of any CSA arrears which a parent with care of a dependent child wishes to have collected, regardless of whether a £20 application fee has been paid to the Child Maintenance Service in respect of continuing maintenance for the child. [180366]

Steve Webb: Non-resident parents may owe arrears to parents with care in existing Child Support Agency cases, regardless of whether they apply to the 2012 scheme. We do not intend to write those arrears off, unless the parent with care specifically requests that we should do so.

As our arrears strategy, published in January 2013, makes clear, we will give priority to collecting on cases where there is an ongoing maintenance liability. Where a parent with care does not apply to the 2012 scheme, but does want their arrears collected, we will transfer the arrears to the new computer system and will collect them as resources allow.

Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance will be given to Child Maintenance Service officials in respect of Child Support Agency cases closed within Segment 2 of his Department's case closure programme because of nil compliance, where a parent with care who applies to use the new Child Maintenance Service asks to use the statutory collection service straight away, on the grounds that the non-resident parent's nil payment record means they are unlikely to pay the new maintenance liability in accordance with the calculation if left to do so via a voluntary direct pay arrangement. [180367]

Steve Webb: Where non-resident parents make clear their intentions riot to pay child maintenance as part of the application process to the 2012 scheme, the Child Maintenance Service will take immediate enforcement action.

Where this is not the case, non-resident parents will be given the opportunity to pay the parent with care directly. As the previous Child Support Agency cases would have been nil compliant, there is no ongoing regular payment pattern which risks disruption by pursuing this approach; and should any such direct pay arrangement be successful both parties will avoid paying the proposed collection charges.

The Child Maintenance Service will, of course, take action to enforce payments where non-resident parents fail to comply with the direct pay arrangements.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department's Impact Assessment, Child maintenance fees reforms: CSA case

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closure, introducing CMS fees, supporting family-based arrangements, when he expects the new statutory scheme for child maintenance to attain post-transition steady state. [180427]

Steve Webb: There are currently three statutory maintenance schemes: the 1993 and 2003 scheme delivered by the Child Support Agency and the 2012 scheme delivered by the Child Maintenance Service.

We propose to introduce charging and begin the case closure process when the 2012 scheme is seen to be working well. The current planning assumption is that charging will be introduced and case closure will begin in 2014. We expect the case closure process will take around three years to complete.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department's Impact Assessment on Child maintenance reforms: CSA case closure, introducing CMS fees, supporting family-based arrangements, dated 31 March 2013, (a) on what basis and (b) over what period his Department has estimated that the amount of the child maintenance fee income expected to accrue during the transition from the present two statutory schemes to the new 2012 statutory scheme will be £2,220 million. [180533]

Steve Webb: Application fee income has been calculated by multiplying the estimated volume of 2012 scheme applications by the £20 application fee. Collection fees have been calculated by multiplying the estimated collection service caseload by an average assessment amount and applying a 24% fee (20% for paying parents and 4% for receiving parents). Enforcement fees have been calculated by applying the following rates (available at page 13 of the impact assessment) to the estimated volume of enforcement actions:

Deduction from earnings order/request: £50

Regular deduction order: £50

Lump sum deduction order: £200

Liability order: £300.

The estimated £2,221 million revenue is calculated across the transition period of 2012-13 to 2028/29. Table A4 on page 36 of the impact assessment—“Child maintenance reforms: CSA case closure, introducing CMS fees, supporting family-based arrangements”, dated 31 March 2013, measures the difference between Policy Option 1 (do nothing baseline which introduces the 2012 scheme without case closure and charging) and Policy Option 3 (proposed full reforms). Paragraphs 33 and 80 of the document explain this, stating that Policy Option 1 is the baseline against which the costs and benefits of the proposed reforms will be measured and that without case closure the transitional period would be 17 years (2012-13 to 2028-29).

Notes:

The impact assessment—“Child maintenance reforms: CSA case closure, introducing CMS fees, supporting family-based arrangements”—is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259694/cm-case-closure-and-charges-regs-ia-final.pdf

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Employment: Disability

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people declared fit for work have subsequently reapplied and been classed as unfit for work within a three month period. [180340]

Mike Penning: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.

However if you would like information on employment and support allowance, initial work capability assessments and outcomes of appeals heard on fit for work decisions these are published by the Department. I have included a link which directs to publications.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-statistics-on-reassessments-of-incapacity-benefits-july-2013

Housing Benefit

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of the total discretionary housing budget that was spent during the first six months of 2013-14. [180542]

Steve Webb: The Department has collated six-monthly returns detailing DHP awards made by local authorities in Great Britain between the beginning of April to the end of September 2013.

The Department has pre-announced that this information will be published on 20 December 2013.

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

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of households affected by the under-occupancy penalty have a member from an ethnic minority. [180667]

Esther McVey: See the following table. DWPs 2012 equality impact assessment estimated that 10% of claimants affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy are black or minority ethnic claimants.

A link to the equality impact assessment can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/220154/eia-social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011.pdf

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Jobcentre Plus

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of incidents of violence or abuse carried out against staff in jobcentres in each month since June 2010. [180655]

Esther McVey: Jobcentre Plus currently conducts approximately 25.5 million adviser interviews each year. Physical assaults on Jobcentre staff are very rare. However we take such physical assaults extremely seriously and work with the police and departmental solicitors to secure the harshest penalties appropriate.

Please note that a more detailed online system was set up in September 2011 which has improved the quality of our reported incidents.

The table provides the total number of recorded incidents, since June 2010. These figures include verbal and written incidents.

Figures include Customer Care Officers and Security Staff who work for contractors on their own terms and conditions.

Older Workers: Dementia

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will commission an assessment of the effects on employers and the additional support they may require owing to the potential increase in the number of people of employment age who have dementia as a result of the extension in retirement age; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the needs of older workers. [180266]

Steve Webb: 1.3% of people aged 65 to 69 have dementia, and its onset increases significantly from age 75. As part of the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia, a task and finish group is looking at how employers can better support people with dementia in the workplace. The Government are also improving services for people with mental health conditions through initiatives such as “talking therapy” services, which include a focus on employment, through the new Health and Work Service which will be central to preventing avoidable early exit from the labour market.

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Personal Independence Payment

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will use a non-geographic number for the Personal Independence Payment helpline. [180348]

Mike Penning: The Department already provides a non-geographic number for the Personal Independence Payment Inquiry Line.

Universal Credit

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of annual changes in the size of the universal credit caseload in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, (c) 2016-17, (d) 2017-18 and (e) 2018-19; [180449]

(2) how large the universal credit caseload will be in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, (c) 2016-17, (d) 2017-18 and (e) 2018-19. [180450]

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 here:

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/December%202013/5%20December/6-DWP-UniversalCredit.pdf

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

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department provided the Office for Budget Responsibility with the universal credit caseload projections published in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook, December 2013. [180668]

Esther McVey: The Department provided the OBR with the projections for universal credit published in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

These are provisional planning assumptions pending final decisions on the detail and full business case approval.

Actual case load figures will be determined by the detailed implementation planning and delivery now under way. They will be reported monthly, as previously announced.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many Work programme participants who are in the jobseeker's allowance early access claimant group because they are homeless have (a) been sanctioned while participating in the Work programme and (b) secured a job outcome; [180657]

(2) how many Work programme participants are in the jobseeker's allowance early access claimant group; and how many such participants are in the group because they are homeless. [180669]

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Esther McVey: Information on Work programme participants who are in the jobseeker's allowance early access payment group because they are homeless, is not currently available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information on the number of Work programme referrals and attachments, by payment group, is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Diseases

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the increase in incidences of zoonotic diseases entering the UK since the relaxation of the regulations under the pet travel scheme in January 2012; and what action his Department plans to take in response to recent rabies cases in the Netherlands and France. [180155]

George Eustice: Since the UK harmonised with the EU pet travel scheme on the 1 January 2012 there have been no confirmed cases of rabies in domestic or wild animals within the UK. The UK's continued disease-free status for the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm was confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority in November 2013, on the basis of disease surveillance results shown at:

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsaiournal/pub/3465.htm

The risk associated with the changes that were made to the UK's pet travel rules as a result of harmonisation with EU law was assessed by experts in 2010:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/rabies/

The risk of a dog with rabies entering the UK under the EU import rules was assessed as very low; and the risk of rabies being passed from a pet to a person is lower still.

In October 2013 the Dutch authorities confirmed rabies in two puppies illegally imported from Bulgaria. However, on 9 December it was announced that further tests have shown these dogs to be negative for rabies.

In November 2013 the French authorities confirmed rabies in an illegally imported kitten from Morocco. This case does not increase the overall risk of incursion to the UK.

The UK operates a robust checking regime to make sure that pets 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. Anyone who does not follow these rules is committing a criminal offence and local authorities have the power to deal with offenders.

Dogs: Imports

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dogs and puppies entered the UK under the Balai Directive

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in the last 12 months; how old these animals were; and what their country of origin was. [180154]

George Eustice: The following figures are for dogs and puppies entering Great Britain(GB) under Balai Intra-Union Trade rules during the past 12 months (December 2012 to November 2013). It is not possible to break these figures down by age.

The following figures are for dogs and puppies entering Northern Ireland under Balai Intra-Union Trade rules during the past 12 months (December 2012 to November 2013). It is not possible to break these figures down by age.

The following figures are for dogs and puppies entering GB under Balai Third Country Trade rules during the past 12 months (December 2012 to November 2013). It is not possible to break these figures down by age.

The following figures are for dogs and puppies entering Northern Ireland under Balai Third Country Trade rules during the past 12 months (December 2012 to November 2013). It is not possible to break these figures down by age.

Elephants: Conservation

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding the Government plan to contribute to the African Elephant Action Plan; whether UK involvement in that plan will be led by Ministers or officials; what outcomes the Government are seeking from that work; and if he will make a statement. [180464]

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George Eustice: The Government support the African Elephant Action Plan and have, to date, contributed a total of around £114,000 towards its implementation. My noble Friend Lord de Mauley led the UK delegation to the African Elephant Summit in Gaborone, Botswana, on 2-4 December 2013, at which the African Elephant Action Plan was a central feature of the Urgent Measures adopted by all participants.

Although the UK does not have a seat on the Steering Committee, where donors to the Action Plan are represented by Germany, France and the Netherlands, DEFRA officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in these countries and the African elephant range states on issues covered by the plan. The London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, which the Prime Minister will be hosting in February 2014, will also address issues that should help to ensure more effective implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan.

Communities and Local Government

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that the uptake of the recommendations stemming from the report by HM Coroner for Manchester City, made under Regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigation) Regulations 2013, into the carbon monoxide-related death of Mrs Aurora Kerr; and whether relevant recommendations will be considered in the recently announced review of property conditions in the private rented sector. [180641]

Kris Hopkins: Following the carbon monoxide related death of Mrs Elizabeth Aurora Kerr, the coroner made a number of recommendations, some of which were addressed to the Department. We have addressed the points made by the coroner in respect of those recommendations. The review into property conditions in the private rented sector will carefully consider whether landlords of privately rented accommodation should be required to install carbon monoxide alarms in their properties.

Families: Disadvantaged

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department allocated to the Troubled Families initiative in each of the last three years; and how much funding he expects to allocate to this initiative in each year to 2015. [180499]

Kris Hopkins: My Department published details of all the departmental resources allocated to the Troubled Families Programme in its Annual Report for the period from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013. The information can be found on my Department's web pages here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/245153/DCLG_2012-13_combined_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_130923.pdf

The funding information requested can be found on page 40.

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As with all payment by results schemes, actual payments are dependent on the level of performance and therefore budgets allocated to this programme remain under regular review. Where we need to make adjustments to budgets to match the timing of results, we look to do so through the standard budget review processes within the Department and where necessary through the Supplementary and Main Estimates.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department works with the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Department for Education in delivering the Troubled Families initiative. [180500]

Kris Hopkins: The Troubled Families programme was launched with the financial support of six Government Departments, including the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and Department for Education. My Department continues to work closely with these Departments, including regular contact at senior official and ministerial level.

Housing

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes have been completed as a result of the new homes bonus to date. [179615]

Kris Hopkins: The bonus is now recognising nearly 550,000 new build/conversions and over 93,000 long-term empty homes returned to use.

According to recent Office for National Statistics figures, new orders in residential construction have risen to their highest level since 2007.

I also refer the hon. Member to my answer of2 December 2013, Official Report, columns 558-59W.

Housing: Greater London

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on London house prices of overseas investment in new build homes in the capital. [179417]

Kris Hopkins: Foreign investment in new housing has been helping provide the finance to build new housing that would not otherwise be viable. In turn, these new housing developments not only provide new homes, but also unlock the affordable housing that may be linked to the new development. Moreover, even if property is foreign-owned, much of it may then be rented out to domestic residents.

These points were made powerfully by my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk), in the debate on foreign-owned UK property on 20 June 2013, Official Report, column 1161 onwards, pointing to research by the Greater London authority, Berkeley Homes and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Of course, London is a global city (not least due to the free movement rules of the European Union and European Economic Area), but foreign sales should not be overstated. In a report in October, Knight Frank estimated that between 85% and 90% of new-build sales in Greater London were sold to domestic buyers, and there was “no indication of a shift towards higher non-resident purchases” in the last two years. They

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added: “our research points to the fact that the majority of demand for new-build property in London from overseas remains focussed on the relatively small and concentrated market made up of the central London postcodes” (Knight Frank, International Buyers in London October 2013). The Bank of England's financial stability report from November also estimated that foreign buyers represent just 3% of all residential transactions in London, and were concentrated in “prime” central areas of London.

Nevertheless, it is important that the owners of foreign-owned property pay their way, which is why this Government have taken action to tackle tax avoidance by reforming taxation of high-value UK residential property held by non-natural persons, and are also levelling the playing field by introducing capital gains tax on future gains made by non-residents disposing of UK residential property.

We would also encourage the property industry to ensure that homes for sale should be marketed in the United Kingdom, and not solely overseas: this is both in their financial interests and their reputational interests.

Planning Permission: Staffordshire

Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning appeals have resulted in local authority decisions being overturned by the planning inspector in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire since 2010. [178960]

Nick Boles: Planning is a quasi-judicial process; it is a long-standing feature of the planning system that there is a right of appeal, just as there are with other local quasi-judicial decisions such as on licensing applications, gambling applications or parking fines.

The following table is by local authority area:

These figures show how the number of planning appeals received and allowed has fallen under the National Planning Policy Framework, refuting the suggestion of “planning by appeal”.

Social Rented Housing

Sir Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to speed up the delivery of replacement social homes for rent for those lost through Right to Buy; and if he will make a statement. [178644]

Kris Hopkins: The reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme is helping social tenants become new home owners; it levers in new finance to increase construction and house building; and it assists new people into affordable housing who would otherwise be on a housing waiting list.

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One of the key changes we have made to the Right to Buy is to ensure that all additional receipts raised from local authority Right to Buy sales are used to directly fund new homes for affordable rent. Since April 2012, £219 million has been generated from additional sales and 1,622 homes have been started on site or acquired.

There will invariably be a certain time lag between the Right to Buy sale and the construction of the new build home, but the replacement timetable is in control of the local authority. If a council were to fail to spend the receipts within three years, it would be required to return the unspent money to Government with interest. This provides a strong financial incentive for any slow-coach councils to use this new funding and get on with building more homes for local people.

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the proportion of local authority social housing lets in (a) London and (b) Birmingham that have been recorded in the continuous recording of lettings and sales data for that year; and what proportion of such records included information on the nationality of the tenant. [180638]

Kris Hopkins: Continuous recording of lettings data on local authority social housing lets (both general needs and supported housing) were provided by Birmingham city council and all London local authorities for 2012-13. The information requested is as follows:

This is an improved response rate over 2011-12 and reflects continuing engagement with data providers and efforts by local authorities to report data. The Department has also recently published further guidance for authorities in the reporting of household information in continuous recording of lettings data, which is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/provision-of-social-lettings-data-advice-to-local-authorities

Published official estimates of the characteristics of households receiving lettings use statistical methods to adjust for missing data.

Ministers have been very clear that local authorities should ensure they have up-to-date information about prospective tenants' nationality and immigration status, in order to ascertain their eligibility for social housing, It is clearly unacceptable that some local authorities are failing to collect or provide accurate information about social housing being given to foreign nationals.