NHS: Standards
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of Best and Safest Care by Sir Liam Donaldson, published by his Department in 2007. [180896]
Dr Poulter: The report entitled 'Best and Safest Care' was an internal policy advice document written by the previous chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson for the quality and patient safety national work stream of the NHS next stage review in 2008.
The Department recognises the general public interest in making this information available for the sake of greater transparency and openness. However, the Department believes that the public interest lies in protecting the policy-making process and preserving the ability of officials in the Department to engage in free and candid discussion of policy options without apprehension that suggested courses of action may be held up to scrutiny before they have been fully developed or evaluated.
Smoking: Health Education
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the House of Lords debate of 4 December 2013, Official Report, column 279, on Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill - Committee, 6th Day, how much was spent on the television-led marketing campaign; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the campaign; whether he has any plans to repeat the campaign; which agency was engaged to make the advertisements; and at what cost those advertisements were made. [180886]
Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) spent £1.2 million on advertising for the Smokefree Homes and Cars campaign in summer 2013.
This is PHE advertising spend only. Advertising spend is defined as covering only media spend (inclusive of agency commissions but excluding production costs and VAT). All figures are rounded to the nearest £10,000. Figures provided are provisional.
PHE have evaluated the 2013 Smokefree Homes and Cars campaign through:
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pre and post campaign tracking research surveys with the target audience to measure awareness and attitude and behaviour changes; and
analysis of other response data such as web traffic, orders of the Smokefree Kit, and online responses to the advertising and social media (e.g. Facebook) activity.
Details of the results from the evaluation can be found at:
http://resources.smokefree.nhs.uk/news/campaigns/smokefree-homes-cars-2013/
The television advertising was developed by Dare. The production cost for the television, radio, online and press advertising when the campaign was developed in 2012 was £450,000.
No decision has yet been taken about whether to repeat the campaign.
Vaccination: Immigrants
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2013, Official Report, columns 107-08W, on vaccination: immigrants, which group is responsible for the commissioning of the specific vaccination programmes recommended by the World Health Organisation and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for newly-arrived migrants from areas with high prevalence of a particular disease; and who is responsible for commissioning hepatitis B vaccinations for newly arrived migrants from areas of high prevalence of this disease. [180568]
Dr Poulter: NHS England’s area teams commission vaccination programmes recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). JCVI’s advice takes into consideration recommendations from the World Health Organisation and guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Specialist public health staff employed by Public Health England are embedded in these teams to provide accountability and leadership for the commissioning of the programmes and to provide system leadership. Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for assessing the local need for provision of outreach immunisation services which includes commissioning of hepatitis B vaccination for newly arrived migrants from areas of high prevalence who are not registered with a general practitioner (GP). Migrants who have registered with a GP are offered vaccines in line with national guidance on immunisation against infectious diseases.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people his Department employed directly from the Work programme in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to date. [180852]
Dr Poulter: The Department has not directly employed any civil servants from the Work programme in 2011, 2012, or to date in 2013.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Bovine Tuberculosis
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if he will review the methodology used by the Government for full base-line badger population analysis to ensure that inaccuracies caused by (a) weather, (b) disease and (c) any other factors are addressed; [180578]
(2) if he will bring forward proposals for more accurate badger population counts. [180579]
George Eustice: I would like to refer the hon. Member to the answer on 22 October 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA148.
When looking at lessons learned in the pilots, we will look at how the efficacy of culling could be best assessed in the future.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the full costs of the extended pilot badger culls (a) in total and (b) for each badger culled to (i) the public purse and (ii) landowners. [180581]
George Eustice: As planned, costs will be reviewed now the pilots have concluded when all the information is available.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the membership of the Independent Expert Panel on the badger cull pilots to introduce additional scientific expertise; and if he will invite suggestions from independent organisations on the composition of that panel. [180582]
George Eustice: There are no plans to review the membership of the Independent Expert Panel. The members of the Independent Expert Panel were appointed for their expertise in animal welfare, veterinary pathology, badger ecology, wildlife population biology, statistics, marksmanship and the management of wild animal populations. Members of the panel are independent as they are appointed to fulfil the role of the panel, not as representatives of their particular profession, employer or interest group, and have a duty to act in the public interest.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the remit of the Independent Expert Group on the badger cull pilot includes specific reference to monitoring humaneness, safety and effectiveness during (a) the original cull period and (b) the extended cull period. [180583]
George Eustice: The Independent Expert Panel will not be making specific recommendations about the controlled shooting. The Panel will be providing a robust scientific peer review of the analysis of the data gathered during the initial six-weeks of the pilot culls to support an assessment of the humaneness and efficacy of controlled shooting. This approach was agreed by the panel.
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Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish immediately and in full (a) transcripts of all meetings of the Independent Expert Group on the badger cull pilot, (b) evidence presented to that group and (c) that group's report. [180584]
George Eustice: Minutes of meetings of the Independent Expert Panel can be found on the gov.uk website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-advisory-groups/badger-culling-pilots-independent-expert-panel
The Panel's report will be published in the new year after it has been submitted to Ministers, along with supporting evidence. The report will be made available to Parliament and the general public.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if he will ensure that Parliament has an opportunity to debate the Independent Expert Panel's report on the pilot badger culls before his Department makes any decision to proceed with further culls; [180585]
(2) if he will make it his policy that decisions on any further badger culls will only be taken following a debate in the House on a substantive motion relating to such culls. [180586]
George Eustice: It will be for Parliament to decide through the usual channels whether or not to debate the report of the Independent Expert Panel.
Bovine Tuberculosis: South West
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will support a badger vaccination trial in the South West of England in order to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a vaccination programme with (a) the badger cull pilots and (b) gassing as a means of culling. [180580]
George Eustice: We are already providing financial support to a number of badger vaccination initiatives in the South West. We have no plans for a comparative trial of this kind.
Flood Control
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the capital budget for flood defences was in each year since 2010-11; and what the projected budget for each of the next three years is. [180934]
Dan Rogerson: The capital budget allocated by DEFRA for flood and coastal risk management work in each year since 2010-11 was:
| £ million | |
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The projected capital budget for flood and coastal risk management work in each of the next three years is:
| £ million | |
| 1 Indicative-exact figures have yet to be confirmed. | |
Food: Waste
Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to discourage food waste. [181061]
Dan Rogerson: We are working with food manufacturers and retailers to reduce food waste under the Courtauld Commitment, which is targeting a further reduction of 1.1 million tonnes of food and packaging waste by 2015. We have also launched an agreement with the hospitality sector, which includes restaurants, pubs and canteens. We are helping households waste less and save money through the Waste and Resources Action Programme's Love Food Hate Waste campaign.
Livestock: Transport
Charlie Elphicke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many lorries
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of live farm animals intended for further fattening or slaughter have been inspected by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency at
(a)
the point of loading,
(b)
the Port of Dover and
(c)
at both loading and at the Port of Dover in each month since 1 May 2013; and if he will make a statement. [180438]
George Eustice: All inspections must be undertaken in compliance with Council Regulation 882/2004 which, among others, requires that inspections/checks are proportionate. Currently, all vehicles used to export animals for further fattening or for slaughter are subject to inspection by Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) inspectors at the premises of departure, with the exception of one vehicle that had to be inspected at the port in September (see following table). To re-inspect vehicles which have already been subject to inspection would not be proportionate. However, a proportion of these vehicles are selected for a check by AHVLA inspectors on arrival at Dover port to ensure that there are no overt signs of welfare problems or technical faults with the vehicle that may have occurred during the journey to the port. Up to 15 December 39 vehicles have been subject to checks at Dover port.
The following table provides the data requested and broken down by month up to 15 December 2013:
| (a) Inspections at point of loading | (b) Inspections at port | (c) Inspections at both loading and port | |
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many lorries of live farm animals intended for further fattening or slaughter have left at the Port of Dover in each month since 1 May 2013; and if he will make a statement. [180439]
George Eustice: The following table provides the data requested and is broken down by month up to 15 December 2013:
| Number of lorries | |
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many statutory notices for breaches of welfare during transport legislation have been issued at the port of Dover against lorries of live farm animals intended for further fattening or slaughter in each month since 1 May 2013; and if he will make a statement. [180440]
George Eustice: The following table provides the data requested and is broken down by month up to 15 December 2013.
| Statutory notices issued | |
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Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many statutory notices for breaches of welfare during transport legislation have been issued at the point of loading for lorries of live farm animals intended for further fattening or slaughter in each month since 1 May 2013; and if he will make a statement. [180446]
George Eustice: The following table provides the data requested and is broken down by month up to 15 December 2013.
| Statutory notices issued | |
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to implement sustainability criteria for solid biomass. [180678]
Gregory Barker: We are bringing in sustainability criteria for solid biomass (with the exception of wastes) to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and the Renewables Obligation (RO). These criteria include greenhouse gas (GHG) lifecycle emissions savings targets compared to fossil fuel use and land use criteria designed to protect land of high carbon or biodiversity value, and to ensure that woody biomass has been obtained from sustainability managed forests. These criteria will be introduced through secondary legislation, and will be subject to parliamentary approval.
With regards to the RHI, we intend to introduce the mandatory GHG lifecycle emissions savings criteria from autumn 2014. Subject to the availability of parliamentary time, we intend to implement the land use sustainability criteria from April 2015.
With regards to the RO, we intend to implement changes to the RO's current biomass sustainability criteria, which would apply from April 2014 initially on a reporting basis.
The European Commission aims to publish an updated report on the requirements for sustainability criteria for solid biomass and biogas used for electricity, heat and cooling early next year.
Following the publication of the EC report, the UK intends to notify its RO sustainability criteria to the EU under the Technical Standards Directive (TSD) with the intention that the sustainability criteria under the Renewables Obligation will become mandatory from April 2015. This would mean that electricity generators of one megawatt and above generating capacity will be required to demonstrate meeting the sustainability criteria in order to receive RO support on the electricity generated using solid biomass from this date.
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Climate Change
Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to promote education about energy and climate change among adults and children in the UK. [180567]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 18 December 2013]: DECC's 2050 pathways calculator helps to engage a range of audiences with energy and climate issues. This is a simple, user-friendly model of the UK's energy system, launched in 2010, which allows a wide variety of people to explore the full range of options to meet the UK's 2050 carbon reduction target and is based on rigorous scientific evidence. People can use this open-source tool to see the impact of a range of changes in the energy sector, and expert users can explore the full detail of the calculations.
In order to make it easier for children and young people to use, DECC launched the My2050 educational online game in March 2011. This is a visual internet simulation that helps people imagine how the energy system may evolve and the secondary impact this may have. The tool is interactive, and encourages users to submit their preferred ‘2050 pathway'. Over 17,000 pathways have been submitted to date.
Building on this, the My2050 schools toolkit was produced in the same year, supported by Involve, Think Global and Sciencewise-ERC. The toolkit is aimed at teachers, particularly those teaching geography, science, maths and citizenship for students aged between 11 and 16, and it is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/my2050-schools-toolkit
In addition to this the Department is building on The British Energy Challenge 'town hall' events it hosted across eight major cities, including Manchester, Bristol and Newcastle, and at the Hay Festival from April to October 2012. The aim is to build a broad coalition of business, organisations and civil society in early 2014 to up the public's understanding of energy issues. This will include proactive youth engagement. The British Energy Challenge was delivered with support from over 70 organisations, local authorities and businesses including the National Grid, Siemens and the Met Office.
Coal
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many meetings (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the coal industry in the last 12 months. [180812]
Michael Fallon: In the five months between the fire at UK Coal's Daw Mill colliery in February 2013 and the administration of the company in July 2013, Ministers met its representatives on a number of occasions. Ministers and officials also met with representatives of the TUC and coal mining unions several times to discuss the impact of the Daw Mill events and other issues affecting the coal industry. Regular meetings were held between officials and the company and its advisers throughout the period to identify ways forward to facilitate the ongoing viability of the core business.
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Representatives from the Department's Coal Liabilities Unit and Office of Carbon Capture Storage, who are responsible for coal liabilities/regulation and coal production/generation respectively, had a number of more general catch-up meetings with coal producers and their representatives throughout the year. Additional meetings were held by Ministers and a range of officials across the Department with a broad spectrum of industry representatives on the diverse issues impacting on the industry in the course of the year. This has included regular attendance at meetings of the Scottish Coal Industry Task Force established following the failure of Scottish opencast operators.
Providing a full breakdown of all meetings would involve disproportionate cost.
Eggborough Power Station
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what forecast his Department has made of the capacity of Eggborough Power Station in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, (c) 2016-17, (d) 2017-18 and (e) 2018-19. [180257]
Michael Fallon: DECC's projections for the electricity sector, such as those in the Updated Energy and Emissions Projections, published in September 2013, contain a breakdown of installed capacity by generation technology type but avoid identifying individual power stations due to commercial sensitivities:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-energy-and-emissions-projections-2013
Energy
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to section 3 of his Department's response to the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee's Report on Energy prices, profits and poverty, published on 10 October 2013, HC 717, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of segmental statements provided by the vertically integrated energy companies. [180240]
Michael Fallon: The requirement for vertically integrated energy companies to publish segmental statements outlining the revenues, costs and profits from their generation and supply businesses provides helpful information on their businesses in Great Britain. It provides a profit figure for each company's retail business which helps inform our understanding of the market and provide further information on the link between companies' generation and supply businesses.
As there are, though, some limitations to their use we support the decision that Ofgem has taken to consult on further measures that should be required from the energy suppliers, beyond what is currently provided through the consolidated segmental statements. We have also asked Ofgem to deliver a full report on the transparency of financial accounts and ways this could be improved and will be working closely with them on this.
Dr Whiteford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the statement of 31 October 2013, OfficialReport, column 1095, on annual energy statement, when he will report to the
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House the outcome of his talks with E.ON, SSE and Scottish Power, Good Energy, Ovo and Co-operative Energy on expediting consumers' switching of energy supplier. [180907]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change held an initial meeting with suppliers and Energy UK on 11 November to explore what steps the industry can take to speed up switching.
The Government is now working with industry, consumer groups and Ofgem to develop options for moving to faster switching. Once this work is complete, the Secretary of State will report to the House.
Energy: Billing
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent estimate he has made of the total value of surplus funds held by energy providers in respect of bills overpaid by consumers who have switched to an alternative energy provider; [180905]
(2) what progress he has made on expediting repayments of funds in respect of overpaid bills held by energy companies on the accounts of consumers who have switched to an alternative energy provider. [180906]
Michael Fallon: The Department has collected information, on a commercially confidential basis, from the major energy suppliers and some independent suppliers regarding the amount of credit held in both live accounts and closed accounts (those where the account holder has switched supplier, or has moved abroad or is deceased) and the processes in place to attempt the timely return of any surplus resulting from overpaid bills. Officials are in the process of analysing the information received.
Energy: Competition
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 627, on energy bills, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the Government are increasing competition in the energy market. [180198]
Michael Fallon: Since 2010 eight new suppliers have entered the domestic gas and electricity supply markets. While in 2011 there were no independent suppliers with a customer base greater than 50,000, there now are three independent suppliers with over 100,000 customers. Last month Telecom Plus, with a customer base of around 770,000 customers, announced plans to operate as a licensed supplier from early next year.
The Government have provided legislative backing to Ofgem's reforms to the domestic retail gas and electricity markets and the wholesale electricity market, which will enhance competition further. Ofgem's retail market reforms are introducing a simpler tariff framework and clearer information to help domestic consumers identify the best deal for them. In addition, Ofgem's proposed reforms to the wholesale electricity market will increase liquidity which will in turn improve competition in the
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retail electricity market. The Government are also working with the industry to speed up the change of supplier process.
The annual competition test announced in the Annual Energy Statement will ensure that the market is kept under review and where barriers to competition are found the independent regulators are able to act decisively.
Energy: Conservation
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of
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28 November 2013,
Official Report,
column 390, on energy efficiency, how many insulation measures were installed in
(a)
2010,
(b)
2011,
(c)
2012 and
(d)
2013. [180147]
Gregory Barker: The following table shows the number of retro-fit installations of cavity wall, loft and solid wall insulation through Government schemes in 2010, 2011, 2012 and the first six months of 2013.
| Table 1: Installations of cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and solid wall insulation through Government schemes in Great Britain between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2013 | |||
| Cavity wall insulation | Loft insulation | Solid wall insulation | |
| Note: Figures for 2013 cover 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2013 only and do not include mitigation action delivered following the end of CERT and CESP. | |||
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 390, on energy efficiency, how many insulation measures were installed through (a) Warm Front, (b) CERT, (c) CESP and (d) ECO. [180148]
Gregory Barker: The following table shows the number of retro-fit installations of cavity wall, loft and solid wall insulation through the following Government scheme: the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP), Warm Front and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
| Table 1: Installations of cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and solid wall insulation in Great Britain between 1 April 2008 and 30 June 2013 by Government scheme | |||||
| CERT | CESP | Warm Front | ECO | Total | |
| 1 Count less than 10,000. 2 Not applicable. | |||||
CERT ran from April 2008 to December 2012. CESP ran from October 2009 to December 2012. Figures for CERT and CESP do not include mitigation action delivered following the end of CERT and CESP. The Warm Front scheme began in 2000 and ended in January 2013, figures in this PQ cover delivery during the period April 2008 to January 2013. ECO covers the period January 2013 to end of June 2013, this scheme is due to run until March 2015.
Energy: Housing
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the effects of cold homes on (a) individual health and (b) the NHS. [180735]
Gregory Barker: The evidence is clear that living in cold homes can have a range negative health impacts. We have been discussing these links with colleagues in the Department of Health, and Public Health England, at all levels (including ministerial) as we work towards the publication in 2014 of a fuel poverty target and strategy.
In July 2013, DECC published a Framework for Future Action on fuel poverty. This set out the work we have undertaken, working with colleagues in the Department of Health, to develop a model demonstrating the health benefits of energy efficiency measures.
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education about the effect of living in cold homes on the educational attainment of young people. [180736]
Gregory Barker: In our work on fuel poverty, DECC Ministers and officials have held discussions with a wide range of counterparts in other Departments, including, for example, the Child Poverty Unit.
DECC commissioned an independent review of fuel poverty from Professor Sir John Hills at the London School of Economics. His interim review set out evidence that living in a cold home can have a negative impact on educational attainment. Action on fuel poverty helps to ensure more families are able to keep their homes warm affordably and thereby improves life chances for young people.
Energy: Prices
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the average annual expenditure on energy for off-grid gas households. [180142]
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Michael Fallon: Analysis from the Living Costs and Foods Survey shows that in 2011, the latest year for which data are available, the average weekly spend on fuel was £24.60 for households with no gas central heating. This equates to an annual average spend of around £1,279.20.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 627, on energy bills, what the evidential basis is for the statement that (a) rising wholesale energy costs and (b) investment in energy infrastructure are the main driver of energy price rises. [180197]
Michael Fallon: Wholesales energy costs (excluding carbon costs) and network costs are the two largest components of energy bills, estimated to be 47% and 20% respectively in DECC's March 2013 report "Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills":
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172923/130326_-_Price_and_Bill_Impacts_Report_Final.pdf
Over the 12 months before delivery, the gas Winter 2013 contract was 4% higher on average than the gas Winter 2012 contract, and the electricity Winter 2013 contract was 7% higher than the Winter 2012 contract. However, it should be noted that energy suppliers buy energy over a number of different contracts gradually over time and each company's strategy for doing this is different. Suppliers' hedging strategies are commercially sensitive.
Investment in GB's electricity networks is needed to replace ageing assets and to accommodate the changing nature of generation. This vital investment to “keep the lights on” forms the majority of the network charge element on electricity bills. Evidence for this comes from the regulatory price controls set by Ofgem, which provide funding for electricity network company activities.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 627, on energy bills, what measures he has taken to force the energy companies to (a) open up their books and (b) justify price rises to customers. [180199]
Michael Fallon: We have asked the independent regulator to deliver a full report on the transparency of financial accounts of the largest energy companies and for ways to improve how the information is communicated to build trust in the industry. The justification of price rises is a matter for the energy companies themselves.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 627, on energy bills, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of Ofgem's retail market review on consumer engagement in the energy market. [180200]
Michael Fallon: Ofgem's reforms under the Retail Market Review are creating a simpler, clearer and fairer energy market for consumers.
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Since the end of August 2013, all suppliers have had to meet new standards of conduct set by Ofgem as part of the package of measures being introduced by the Retail Market Review. These require suppliers to treat all consumers fairly and in an honest, transparent and professional manner. They must also make sure that any information given to consumers is clear and easy to understand.
Ofgem's rules for fixed term tariffs were introduced in October. These rules ban suppliers from increasing prices on fixed-term tariffs. Suppliers are also banned from automatically rolling householders on to another fixed-term offer when their current one ends.
From 31 December 2013, Ofgem is banning suppliers from offering complex multi-tier tariffs, and limiting the number of tariffs suppliers may offer. Suppliers have taken steps to be compliant with these rules in advance of them coming into force.
The full package of measures being introduced by Ofgem will be in place by July 2014.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 627, on energy bills, what the evidential basis is for the statement that Ofgem's reforms for competition in the retail market are making it easier for consumers to (a) understand their bills, (b) work out where they can get the best deal and (c) switch providers. [180201]
Michael Fallon: Since the end of August 2013, all suppliers have had to meet new standards of conduct set by Ofgem as part of the package of measures being introduced by Retail Market Review. These require suppliers to treat all consumers fairly and in an honest, transparent and professional manner. They must also make sure that any information given to consumers is clear and easy to understand.
Ofgem's rules for fixed term tariffs were introduced in October, These rules ban suppliers from increasing prices on fixed-term tariffs. Suppliers are also banned from automatically rolling householders on to another fixed-term offer when their current one ends.
From 31 December 2013, Ofgem is banning suppliers from offering complex multi-tier tariffs, and limiting the number of tariffs suppliers may offer. Suppliers have taken steps to be compliant with these rules in advance of them coming into force.
Taken together these changes will help consumers to understand their bills, work out where they can get the best deal and then switch accordingly.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 629, on energy bills, what discussions he has had with (a) British Gas, (b) RWE Npower, (c) Scottish Power and (d) SSE on the effect of the changes to green levies on household energy bills. [180501]
Michael Fallon: Government officials have held discussions, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with all energy companies obligated under the Energy Company Obligation regarding the effect the changes to ECO would have on the administrative costs of delivering that obligation.
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Energy: Profits
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to section 3 of his Department's response to the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee's Report on Energy prices, profits and poverty, published on 10 October 2013, HC 717, if he will make it his policy to require energy companies to disclose their trading profits in their segmental statements. [180239]
Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 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. As part of its consultation process Ofgem is looking at appropriate ways for companies to report their trading activities.
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 392, on energy efficiency, what the evidential basis is for the statement that over 100,000 Green Deal measures are to be installed in people's homes. [180195]
Gregory Barker: My comments related to the number of people we know have decided to take action and have a Green Deal assessment—over 100,000 by the end of October, with nearly 17,000 happening in October alone. The Department's research shows that over 80% of those who had assessments then went on to either install energy efficiency measures, were in the process of having them installed or intended to install in the future. But the actual number of measures installed under the Energy Company Obligation, Green Deal and other financing options is much higher than these figures suggest—over 310,000 measures by the end of September.
Housing: Insulation
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the minimum number of solid wall installations to be delivered under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation element of the Energy Company Obligation refers to a minimum number of solid wall insulations to be installed or a hypothetical carbon reduction equivalent. [180825]
Gregory Barker: We propose to consult in early 2014 on setting the target for the delivery of a minimum level of solid wall installation, across all elements of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), as either a carbon target or as a minimum number of properties to be treated. This will form part of a wider consultation on the future of the scheme.
Insulation
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many solid wall installations he expects to be completed in financial years (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15, (c) 2015-16 and (d) 2016-17. [180244]
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Gregory Barker: DECC does not make projections for the number of solid wall insulation (SWI) measures installed by the insulation industry. However, we recently announced that in the first quarter of 2014 we will consult on a requirement for energy suppliers to deliver a minimum of 100,000 SWI measures (or a specific volume of CO2 equivalent to that number of SWI installations) under the Energy Company Obligation between January 2013 and March 2017. Energy suppliers would have flexibility about how they deliver this target—there would not be annual sub targets.
Natural Gas: Prices
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 394, on energy costs, what the evidential basis for the statement is that there has been a huge increase in wholesale gas prices. [180181]
Michael Fallon: DECC's March 2013 report “Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills”1, shows that wholesale gas prices increased by over 35% in real terms between 2010 and 2012. This is a substantial rise, especially when the impact on household energy bills is considered.
The report finds that average household energy (gas and electricity) bills are estimated to have increased by around 13% in real terms between 2010 and 2012, with around 60% of this increase due to increases in wholesale energy costs.
1https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172923/130326_-_Price_and_Bill_Impacts_ Report_Final.pdf, p.20
Renewable Energy
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) with reference to paragraph 38 of update 3: contract award process, final investment decision enabling for renewables, for what reason he has introduced technology-based rules to the selection process when allocating investment contracts; [180343]
(2) with reference to paragraph 38 of update 3: contract award process, final investment decision enabling for renewables, published by his Department on 4 December 2013, what representations he has received on the introduction of technology based rules to the selection process when allocating investment contracts. [180344]
Michael Fallon: Investment contracts represent a financial commitment under the Levy Control Framework. As part of its management of the Levy Control Framework settlement, DECC has set a limit on the amount of funding in each year of the Levy Control Framework settlement period from 2015-16 to 2020-21 that can be committed to FID Enabling for renewables projects under the current FID Enabling for renewables process. Given these affordability constraints, a technology based approach ensures a broad coverage of technologies that will contribute to delivery of the 2020 renewables target and security of supply objectives.
19 Dec 2013 : Column 743W
This is consistent with statements made in Update 1: Invitation to Participate (paragraph 47, page 11) and Update 2: Investment Contract Allocation (paragraphs 18-page 8 and 51-page 15)).
Link to Update 1:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/141873/FIDeR_update_doc_Invitation_ to_Participate_2013_-_03_-_14_FINAL.pdf
Link to Update 2:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209367/2013_-_06_-_27_FIDe_Update_2_ Master_Draft__2_.pdf
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to update 3: contract award process, final investment decision enabling for renewables, published by his Department on 4 December 2013, how many of the applications for final investment decision enabling contracts for renewables phase 2 have engineering and construction contracts in place. [180345]
Michael Fallon: As stated in Update 1 (paragraph 8, page 4) "The principal objective of FID Enabling for Renewables is to enable developers of renewable energy projects to take final investment decisions, or other critical investment decisions directly impacting on the time to commissioning the project, which would otherwise be delayed by the uncertainty caused by the transition to the enduring CFD regime." These decisions will include decisions to enter into key contracts relevant to developers' projects.
Accordingly, one of the relevant criteria against which applicants for Phase 2 were assessed related to "procurement plans" (see Update 2 (Annex C, pages 36-37), Level 3 Criterion 1.1.4) rather than having such engineering and construction contracts in place.
Link to Update 1:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/141873/FIDeR_update_doc_Invitation_ to_Participate_2013_-_03_-_14_FINAL.pdf
Link to Update 2:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209367/2013_-_06_-_27_FIDe_Update_2_ Master_Draft__2_.pdf
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to update 3: contract award process, final investment decision enabling for renewables, published by his Department on 4 December 2013, how many of the applications for final investment decision enabling contracts for renewables phase 2 are expected to come online in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017, (d) 2018, (e) 2019 and (f) 2020 or later. [180346]
Michael Fallon: The number of projects that have applied through the Final Investment Decision (FID) Enabling for Renewables process that come on line in any given year will depend on which of them are awarded investment contracts. This will in turn depend on which of them make binding applications (expected in March 2014 at the earliest), DECC's assessment of those applications against the FID Enabling for Renewables Levy Control Framework affordability envelope, and down-selection through the application of a technology based approach (if required).
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Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to Final investment decision enabling for renewables, update 3: contract award process, published by his Department on 4 December 2013, how many of the applications for final investment decision enabling contracts for renewables phase 2 have received planning consent. [180415]
Michael Fallon: The planning and consents requirements for qualification under Phase 2 of the FID Enabling for Renewables process varied between technologies as set out in Level 3 Criterion 1.1.3 in Update 2, published in June 2013. Not all projects were required to have achieved planning or development consent. Assessed against Level 3 Criterion 1.1.3, 23 projects met the minimum threshold standard for land availability, planning consents, grid connection and radar/aviation arrangements (as applicable).
Link to Update 2:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209367/2013_-_06_-_27_FIDe_Update_ 2_Master_Draft__2_.pdf
Renewable Energy: Heating
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Fourth Carbon Budget Review by the Committee on Climate Change, published in December 2013, if he will reduce the renewable heat incentive scheme payments for air source heat pumps in the light of evidence presented on the performance and durability of heat pumps on page 43 of that report. [180672]
Gregory Barker: One of the primary purposes of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is to address our ambition to meet our 2020 renewable energy targets. Support under the RHI is, therefore, designed to incentivise the level of air-source heat pump (ASHP) deployment that we believe is necessary to contribute to that target. It will not be reduced unless deployment exceeds certain pre-set limits, when our budget management system will automatically and transparently reset those tariffs. The approach we are taking to budget management was set out in the supplementary policy document that was published on 4 December:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/renewable-heat-incentive-proposals-for-a-domestic-scheme
We are, of course, conscious of the performance and durability of the products we incentivise; and we have designed the RHI to reward those systems which have higher design efficiencies. We are offering a limited amount of metering and monitoring service packages within the domestic RHI to support consumers with these new technologies. We are also working with industry to ensure that consumer protection is at the centre of the offers they make to consumers.
Wind Power: Bournemouth
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with UNESCO on the effect of a new offshore windfarm near Bournemouth. [180808]
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Gregory Barker: I have held no discussions with UNESCO on the effect of a proposed offshore wind farm near Bournemouth. Any potential impacts will be assessed through the planning process once an application for consent is received.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government about delays to planning permission for onshore and offshore wind farms. [180734]
Gregory Barker: I have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), on this issue.
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average length of time from the original application for onshore and offshore wind farms to those wind farms coming online was in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012. [180739]
Gregory Barker: As of 17 December 2013, the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD)
https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
showed that for wind farms that became fully operational in the years 2009 to 2012, the average period of time (in weeks) from their planning application being submitted was:
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
This includes the time for the project to receive planning consent, prepare for construction and be constructed. It should be noted that larger wind farms take longer to construct.
Transport
Public Service Obligation Funding
11. Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current public service obligation funding arrangements. [901732]
Mr Goodwill: Public service obligations (PSOs) allow for the protection of scheduled air service on routes which are vital for the economic development of the region they serve and are governed by European legislation.
PSOs are governed by European legislation. To support their use the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced as part of the June 2013 spending round funding of £20 million to support PSOs to London where there is a risk that connectivity may be lost.
I am today publishing guidance to clarify how the Government will interpret this legislation to allow devolved and regional bodies to access this fund.
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Cycle Safety
12. Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve cycle safety. [901733]
Mr Goodwill: We must continue to improve the safety of cyclists which—despite recent negative publicity—has improved markedly over the last decade.
Spending on cycling has doubled in comparison to when her party was in power which will allow further progress to be made.
16. Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve cycle safety. [901737]
Mr Goodwill: We must continue to improve the safety of cyclists which—despite recent negative publicity—has improved markedly over the last decade.
Spending on cycling has doubled in comparison to when his party was in power which will allow further progress to be made.
Pedestrian Safety
14. Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve safety for pedestrians. [901735]
Mr Goodwill: The Government has already taken a range of steps to improve pedestrian safety, including making it easier for local authorities to implement 20 mile per hour zones and launching a new THINK! resource centre to help teachers educate children and teens on road safety.
We will continue to work with delivery partners, including local authorities, to identify further opportunities for improving pedestrian safety.
Railway Infrastructure
15. Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of Network Rail’s performance in maintaining and upgrading railway infrastructure. [901736]
Stephen Hammond: Network Rail has achieved a great deal in recent years. But the Office of Rail Regulation’s latest report on Network Rail’s performance shows a clear link between under-performance on maintaining infrastructure and the recent level of delays and cancellations experienced by passengers. I am pleased that, from April 2014, ORR has set new regulatory targets for Network Rail. These focus on how Network Rail manages, maintains and renews the network. This will not change following the ONS’s recent decision.
A628
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 the A628 between Flouch and Mottram was closed to traffic because of (i) road accidents and (ii) weather conditions. [180521]
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Mr Goodwill: In 2011, there were eight closures on the A628 between Flouch and Mottram; four were due to Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs), four due to weather. Of the four RTCs, two resulted in full carriageway closures, two were one direction only.
In 2012, there were 14 closures, eight due to RTCs, six due to weather. Of the eight RTCs, five were full closures, three were one direction only.
In 2013, there were 12 closures, eight due to RTCs, four due to weather. Of the eight RTCs, six were full closures, two were in one direction only.
Bus Services: North East
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Arriva about bus services on Teesside and in East Cleveland. [901719]
Stephen Hammond: There have been no recent discussions with Arriva about bus services on Teesside or East Cleveland. However, Ministers and officials are in regular contact with bus sector stakeholders, such as local authorities and the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the bus industry trade body, about developments in the bus market. My noble Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, will also chair the next meeting of the Bus Partnership Forum in January—bringing together all those with an interest in the provision of bus services.
Driving Under Influence: Drugs
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the outcome of his Department's consultation on Regulations about the new offence of driving with a controlled drug in the body above a specified limit; and when he plans to consult on the proposed such limit for amphetamines. [180535]
Mr Goodwill: The Department published the consultation on a proposed limit for amphetamine on 19 December 2013, which will close on 30 January 2014. We will then consider the responses to our proposed limit and include them in our consideration of the earlier consultation and publish a joint summary and conclusion shortly afterwards.
Electric Vehicles
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the commitment on page 10 of the National Infrastructure Plan to invest £5 million during 2014-15 in a large-scale electric vehicle readiness programme for public sector fleets, what that programme will include; how many public sector contracts will be awarded under this investment; and when the procurement procedure for this process will start. [180136]
Mr Goodwill: We are working up the details of the initiative with the relevant Government Departments and have a launch date of April 2014. We anticipate that we will make a package available to fleets which will include a review, vehicle leases and infrastructure. The scheme will be for central Government Departments in the first instance before being rolled out to the wider public sector.
19 Dec 2013 : Column 748W
First Great Western
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of First Great Western's recent performance and their capacity to manage passenger demand to Plymouth and the South West over the Christmas and new year period. [180270]
Stephen Hammond: First Great Western's performance, measured against the benchmarks of delay minutes and cancellations contracted in the Franchise Agreement, is within stipulated targets. Overall performance, including Network Rail and other operators, is measured periodically (every four weeks) against Public Performance Measures (PPM) and Joint Performance Improvement Plan (JPIP) targets and is available on the Office of Rail Regulation website.
First Great Western (FGW) are responsible for ensuring they optimise the use of their rolling stock fleet and capacity, especially at busy holiday periods. The Department for Transport does not involve itself in these decisions, save to ensure that FGW remains compliant with its franchise obligations.
Fuels
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on mandatory fuel charging. [180790]
Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
I understand this question refers to vehicle rental. Charges for fuel by vehicle rental firms and the conditions under which they charge are commercial matters for the vehicle rental industry. In advertising and presenting its services a vehicle rental firm must be clear about the total price for the consumer, including any non-optional charges covered by the contract. Failure to provide adequate and accurate information about price is likely to be an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Regulations outlaw misleading commercial practices, including practices which are misleading by omitting important information.
Highways Agency
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why policy option two, institutional reform without legislation, set out in the roads reform impact assessment was not considered in the consultation on transforming the Highways Agency. [180350]
Mr Goodwill: The impact assessment prepared and published alongside the Government's roads reform consultation clearly demonstrated that the policy option of institutional reform with legislation would deliver significantly higher benefits than without legislation, and includes discussion of the matters which we considered in reaching that assessment.
Legislation is critical to securing reforms, with genuine long-term funding certainty for strategic roads, allowing the new company to plan ahead and deliver efficiency savings of at least £2.6 billion over 10 years. This degree of certainty is also needed to give the supply chain sufficient confidence to invest in equipment and skills
19 Dec 2013 : Column 749W
and begin building up for a much larger roads programme that will boost jobs and provide a stronger future for the construction industry in the UK.
Large Goods Vehicles
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to tackle delays by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to process type approval testing for HGV trailers. [180359]
Mr Goodwill: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) (formally VOSA) has been working with its customers to introduce a number of improvements to allow quicker times for applications and tests, including standardised and simplified processes, redesigned user-friendly applications forms, quicker payment options with payment confirmation via email.
Additional DVSA individual vehicle approval (IVA) testing sites are now available, with extra IVA examiners being trained to meet local demand. The number of privately owned test facilities has increased and out of hours testing is now available where required to meet customer demand. We are working with stakeholders to better understand future capacity with further DVSA IVA sites being considered where appropriate.
M62
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the M62 between Leeds and Manchester was closed to traffic due to (a) road accidents and (b) inclement weather conditions in each of the last three years. [180518]
Mr Goodwill: In 2011, there were 35 closures on the M62 motorway between Leeds and Manchester. All 35 were due to Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs). Of these, three were full closures, 32 were in one direction only.
In 2012, there were 40 closures, 39 due to RTCs and one due to the weather. Of the 39 RTCs, five of these required full closures, 34 were one direction only.
In 2013, there have been 16 closures to date, all due to RTCs. Two have required full closures, the other 14 were one direction only.
Network Rail
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of Network Rail’s performance in maintaining and upgrading railway infrastructure. [901726]
Stephen Hammond: Network Rail has achieved a great deal in recent years. But the Office of Rail Regulation’s latest report on Network Rail’s performance shows a clear link between underperformance on maintaining infrastructure and the recent level of delays and cancellations experienced by passengers. I am pleased that, from April 2014, ORR has set new regulatory targets for Network Rail. These focus on how Network Rail manages, maintains and renews the network. This will not change following the ONS’s recent decision.
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Pedestrian Crossings
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate the number of pelican crossings, puffin crossings and countdown crossings in operation on national and on local authority roads; [180051]
(2) what assessment he has made of the circumstances in which a pelican crossing can have a superior safety record to that of a puffin crossing; [180052]
(3) 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; [180053]
(4) whether his Department needs to commission further research before mandating that local highway authorities discontinue installation or renewal of pelican crossings; [180054]
(5) if he will issue guidance to local highway authorities on the dangers of pelican crossings on roads with multi-lane approaches. [180055]
Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport does not hold information on number of pelican, puffin and countdown crossings installed by local authorities.
The Highways Agency is responsible for maintaining the strategic road network in association with its service providers. There are approximately 400 pelican crossings and 200 crossings of other types on that network.
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 assessment 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 at:
www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/trl_reports/cat_traffic_engineering/report_puffin_pedestrian_ crossing_accident_study.htm
The Department has no plans to commission further research on pedestrian crossings.
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, available at:
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 at:
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.
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Railway Signals: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the recent announcement by the Office of Rail Regulation of investment in the North Wales coast mainline, what the timetable is for the signalling improvements to the line. [180502]
Stephen Hammond: The Office of Rail Regulation published their final determination of Network Rail's output and funding for control period 5 (2014 to 2019) in October 2013. In their final determination they increased the assumed expenditure in three key areas compared to the draft determination, with rises of £104 million for track renewals, £21 million for signalling renewals and £66 million for information and asset management.
The Welsh Government is leading on the determination on outputs for Wales in control period 6.
Railways: Finance
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what total track access charges paid to Network Rail by each train operating company in each year between 2001-02 and 2012-13 were. [180730]
Stephen Hammond:
Track Access Charges paid by Train Operating Companies to Network Rail is governed
19 Dec 2013 : Column 752W
by bi-lateral agreements between Network Rail and the operating companies. The Department for Transport is not party to this agreement.
Further information can be found on Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) website in the annual National Rail Trends Magazine, Link as follows:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1528
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) Network Grant and (b) revenue support payments received by each train operating company in each year between 2001-02 and 2012-13 were. [180731]
Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not pay network grant to each Train Operating Company. Network Grant is paid to Network Rail.
Further information can be found on Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) website in the annual National Rail Trends Magazine, Link as follows:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1528
Train Operating Companies (TOCs) let from 2006 under a Template Franchise Agreement (TfA) were let with entitlement to claim Revenue Support after an initial period from commencement. Table following show all TOCs in Revenue Support or that have claimed Revenue Support in the past.
Railways: Franchises
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total premium payments from the current operators of the (a) West Coast, (b) Great Western, (c) Southern, (d) Thameslink, (e) South Eastern, (f) South West, (g) Northern, (h) East Coast, (i) Transpennine, (j) Greater Anglia, (k) East Midlands, (l) London Midland, (m) Cross Country, (n) Essex Thameside and (o) Chiltern rail passenger franchise are to date. [180719]
Stephen Hammond: Premium payment figures are published by the Office of Rail Regulation and can be seen at
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.3016
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total (a) Network Grant and (b) revenue support received by the current operator of the (i) West Coast, (ii) Great Western, (iii) Southern, (iv) Thameslink, (v) South Eastern, (vi) South West, (vii) Northern, (viii) East Coast, (ix) Transpennine, (x) Greater Anglia, (xi) East Midlands, (xii) London Midland, (xiii) Cross Country, (xiv) Essex Thameside and (xv) Chiltern rail passenger franchise are to date. [180732]
Stephen Hammond: Network Grant is paid to Network Rail rather than Train Operating Companies.
Revenue support figures are published by the Office of Rail Regulation and can be seen at:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.3016
Railways: Greater London
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to devolve further rail services to Transport for London; and if he will make a statement. [180712]
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Stephen Hammond: In June 2013, the Government agreed in principle to devolve Greater Anglia (West Anglia) services from Chingford to Liverpool Street, Enfield Town to Liverpool Street and Cheshunt to Liverpool Street (via Southbury) to Transport for London (TfL). This change is currently scheduled to take place in summer 2015. There are no firm plans at the present time to devolve further rail services to the Mayor and TfL, but we are reviewing with TfL the future operation of Ealing to Greenford and Romford to Upminster services and how these can be best managed.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles were weighed by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date. [180830]
Stephen Hammond: The numbers of vehicles weighed by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date, are given in the following table.
| Weighed | |
Weightings by calendar year 2010-13 (for 2013 January to November).
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle maintenance investigations the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency carried out in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date; and what proportion were unsatisfactory in each year. [180831]
Stephen Hammond: The numbers of vehicle maintenance investigations carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date, and the proportion that were unsatisfactory in each year are given in the following table.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 (ytd) | |
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Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many convictions were referred to the Traffic Commissioners by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date. [180838]
Stephen Hammond: The information is not held in the form requested and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people his Department employed directly from the Work programme in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to date. [180853]
Stephen Hammond: The Department and its agencies employed the following number from the Work programme:
| Number | |
Work and Pensions
Employment and Support Allowance
Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 669W, on employment and support allowance, with what medical conditions those people transferred from incapacity benefit to an employment and support allowance work-related activity group without being seen by an assessor have been diagnosed; and how many such people have been diagnosed with each such condition. [180442]
Mike Penning: The information requested is shown in the following table.
19 Dec 2013 : Column 755W
19 Dec 2013 : Column 756W
|
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | ||||||||
Employment and Support Allowance: Yorkshire and the Humber
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people on employment and support allowance in (a) York Central constituency, (b) York local authority and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber were (i) moved from the support group to the work-related group, (ii) appealed this decision and (iii) were subsequently moved back to the support group in October 2012 and each month since then. [180920]
Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Employment Schemes: Disability
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the paperwork requirements for verifying job outcomes in Work Choice. [181043]
Esther McVey: We are confident that the validation of Work Choice is set at an appropriate level and there are no plans to change the process which is designed to protect the taxpayer. The Department does of course always keep such processes under review and it is possible it will develop in the future.
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how it is possible to transfer between Work Choice and the Work programme. [181045]
Esther McVey: Work Choice participants are not eligible for the Work programme on either a mandatory or voluntary basis.
Employment: Swindon
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have exited the benefits system and entered employment in Swindon in each of the last five years. [181771]
Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Food Banks
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the guidance given to Jobcentre Plus staff on the provision of information on local food banks to claimants of benefits. [180924]
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Esther McVey: Since 2011, Jobcentre Plus has signposted claimants in crisis to local food banks when there was no other support available. This is only when we have checked there was no other support available and we continue to signpost in these circumstances. The decision on providing assistance lies with the food bank and not with Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 517W, on Jobcentre Plus, what estimate he has made of the number of separate claims that did not relate to new claims processed by Jobcentre Plus centres using the 0845 number in the year to September 2013 by Service Line. [180740]
Esther McVey: The Department uses 0845 telephone numbers to handle benefit enquiry calls from claimants for reasons other than to make a new claim to benefit.
The figures in the following table represent total calls made to the Department's 0845 working age benefit enquiry lines between 1 October 2012 and 30 September 2013.
| Service line | Total calls1 |
| 1 Figures exclude calls terminated during automated welcome messaging; internal transfers and calls from Jobcentre ‘Customer Access’ phones. 2 Calls to the Enquire service line ceased in September 2013. Calls were redirected to benefit specific service lines. | |
Jobseeker's Allowance
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the latest available statistics and update the figures published to June 2013 on the proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants who have been sanctioned (a) in total and (b) for each of the welfare to work programmes that his Department is currently operating; and if he will publish the figures on a (i) regional, (ii) local authority and (iii) constituency basis. [180925]
Esther McVey: There is no intention to publish the data as requested.
However the next release of official statistics on JSA and ESA sanctions will be on 19 February 2014 and as well as Jobcentre Plus geography breakdown, this will include regional, local authority and parliamentary constituency breakdowns.
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Jobseeker's Allowance: Yorkshire and the Humber
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) York Central constituency, (b) York local authority and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber (i) had their jobseeker's allowance (JSA) withdrawn as a result of their alleged failure to comply with conditions laid down by his Department, (ii) appealed against that decision and (iii) had their JSA reinstated in October 2012 and each month since then. [180919]
Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Members: Correspondence
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to the letter to him from the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland of 20 November 2013 relating to employment and support allowance. [181740]
Esther McVey: I replied to the to the hon. Member on 18 December 2013.