7 Jan 2014 : Column 185W

7 Jan 2014 : Column 185W

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Home Department

Asylum: Deportation

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent to date on detaining and deporting Isa Muazu. [178091]

Mr Harper [holding answer 9 December 2013]:We do not provide the costs of particular flights or of staff for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

The Nigerian high commission in London and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja agreed to the removal of Mr Muazu, but the initial flight was forced to land in Malta, and then return to the UK, for operational reasons not connected to Mr Muazu's health or conduct.

Mr Muazu has now been successfully returned to Nigeria.

Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration her Department is giving to the installation of a full sprinkler system in Campsfield House Immigration Centre in Oxfordshire following the recent fire there. [181328]

Mr Harper [holding answer 6 January 2014]:Following the recent fire at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre installation of sprinklers will be included in the re-fit planned to complete in April 2014.

Human Trafficking

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 8W, on human trafficking, what methodologies will be employed by the new NRM hub to collect data on trafficking cases. [181164]

Mr Harper: The main source of data in UKVI is the Case Information Database (CID). Additionally, UKHTC are the official owners of all National Referral Mechanism (NRM) statistics which are published regularly and shared with UKVI on request.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 8W, on human trafficking, what the operational relationship is between asylum case owners and NRM Hub officials. [181165]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 186W

James Brokenshire: Asylum decision makers will refer an individual to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) if indicators of trafficking are identified during the asylum interview. NRM Hub decision makers will then make the Reasonable Grounds decision on whether there are grounds to believe that the individual is a potential victim of trafficking. For positive Reasonable Grounds decisions on these cases the same NRM Hub decision maker will make the asylum decision.

Negative Reasonable Grounds decisions on these cases will be returned to the referring UK Visas and Immigration asylum unit. A decision maker in that unit will then complete the asylum decision liaising with the NRM Hub as needed for advice on the trafficking element of the asylum claim.

Deportation: Offenders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals deported under section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007 sought to use Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to appeal against their deportation in each year since the implementation of the Act. [178836]

Mr Harper [holding answer 10 December 2013]: Data on unsuccessful appeals against deportation are held only at the level of co-ordinated paper case files or within the notes section of the Case Information Database (CID). Such data are not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean this question could be answered only through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data.

Domestic Violence: Prosecutions

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the number of referrals from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service for domestic violence offences in the last year for which figures are available; [181303]

(2) what estimate she has made of the number of referrals from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service for domestic violence offences. [181304]

Norman Baker: The Crown Prosecution Service's Violence Against Women and Girls Crime Report published in July 2013 showed that in 2012-13 over 88,110 domestic violence cases were forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police for charging decisions. The same report set out that the conviction rate for domestic violence has risen to 74.3%, reaching the highest ever recorded level.

The Coalition Government is keen to ensure the police response is as effective as it can be.

That is why the Home Office co-chaired a meeting with the former Director of Public Prosecutions in September with National Policing Leads to look at the trend in referrals. This has led to a six-point plan to increase the number of referrals from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Entry Clearances: BRIC Countries

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications from (a) China, (b) India and (c) Russia have been approved in each of the last three years. [182036]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 187W

Mr Harper [holding answer 6 January 2014]: Figures for the number of visas issued for applications from Chinese, Indian and Russian nationals in 2010, 2011 and 2012 appear in the following table:

Figures for 2013 are due to be published in February 2014.

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of visa applications issued by nationality in tables be_05 and be_05_q within the released Immigration Statistics. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics: July-September 2013, which includes these data, is available from the Library of the House and from Gov.uk at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2013/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2013#before-entry

Human Trafficking

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 8W, on human trafficking, what training will be provided to National Referral Mechanism Hub officials; and if she will make a statement. [181094]

Mr Harper: In the NRM Hub, all decision makers are trained in asylum/human rights and National Referral Mechanism (NRM) decision making. Asylum training is currently a five week course. Competent Authority decision makers attend a two day specialist training course. In addition to the initial mentoring of NRM decision makers, there is an ongoing quality and feedback mechanism, whereby all decisions are checked by an experienced SEO Hub Lead.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 8W, on human trafficking, whether National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Hub officials will be exclusively dedicated to working for the NRM Hub or whether they will undertake this work alongside other duties; and if she will make a statement. [181095]

Mr Harper: National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Hub caseworkers and staff will be working exclusively on NRM decision and associated asylum decision making.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 11 November 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Olatunde Theophilus Aydola. [181848]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2013.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 188W

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 15 November 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss Abeer Ejaz Butt. [181852]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2013.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 15 November 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr F.S. Dos Santus. [181853]

Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2013.

Offenders: Deportation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to her answer of 29 October 2013, Official Report, column 422W, on offenders: deportation, what estimates were made by her Department of the likely numbers of foreign criminals who would be eligible for conditional caution to facilitate their removal from the UK. [177338]

Mr Harper: The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Impact Assessment dated 14 November 2011 estimated that there would be a reduction in demand of around 250 prison places through individuals taking up foreign national offender conditional cautions.

Passports: Lost Property

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints her Department received about travel documents lost by (a) the UK Border Agency and (b) the UK Identity and Passport Service in each year since 2007. [177603]

Mr Harper [holding answer 28 November 2013]: The information requested from the former UK Border Agency and Her Majesty's Passport Office (formerly the Identity and Passport Service) is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken with (a) London Metropolitan police and (b) other English constabularies to recruit police officers from black, Asian or ethnic minority groups. [180631]

Damian Green: Police forces must do more to ensure that they reflect the communities they serve as they continue to cut crime in a modern, diverse society.

The College of Policing is engaged in a major programme of work looking at recruitment, retention and progression of BME officers. As part of that they will be looking at

7 Jan 2014 : Column 189W

ways of ensuring the police can make more proactive use of the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010.

The Government fully appreciates how vital a more representative work force is in the London context, given the great diversity of the capital. We are currently working with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to achieve this end.

Stop and Search: Ethnic Groups

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she is taking to monitor the use of section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in respect of black, Asian or ethnic minority groups; [180632]

(2) how many people from a black, Asian or ethnic minority group have been stopped under section 60 of

7 Jan 2014 : Column 190W

the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each month since May 2010. [180677]

Damian Green: Police forces in England and Wales are required to collect data on the use of section 60 stop and search powers, which includes a breakdown by self-defined ethnicity. The monthly use of the section 60 power is not, however, available as police forces are required to collect only annual aggregate data. The latest figures for England and Wales, covering the years from 2009-10 to 2011-12, are in the following table.

The police have a public duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that they do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, which includes ethnicity. The Act sets out the Equality and Human Rights Commission's role in monitoring forces' compliance with the law and also provides a range of enforcement powers to do so.

Tickets: Fraud

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department made of the Operation Podium report on domain service providers. [181815]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 6 January 2014]: The Home Office is considering the recommendations of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Operation Podium report (Ticket Crime: Problem Profile) and will be consulting the Metropolitan police and the National Crime Agency.

Attorney-General

Fraud

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many Serious Fraud Office investigations are under way relating to each of the (a) banking, (b) pharmaceuticals and (c) energy sectors. [180297]

The Solicitor-General: It is not possible to provide information to this level of detail because of the need to protect individuals and the risk of prejudicing investigations.

Road Traffic Offences

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment the CPS has made of the potential benefits of making evidence of road traffic offences from dashboard cameras permissible in court. [181106]

The Solicitor-General: The CPS has made no general assessment of the potential benefits of the use of evidence from dashboard cameras in court. The use of such evidence is subject to the ordinary rules of evidence and the CPS will consider adducing such material in appropriate cases. Dashboard cameras are installed in many police vehicles and can be a valuable source of prosecution evidence.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Consumers: Protection

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will re-examine consumer protection law in terms of companies which have gone into administration that have received full payment for goods whilst not releasing those goods; [180989]

(2) if he will re-examine consumer protection law in order to ensure that if a business receives full payment for advertised goods and is in the process of entering administration then that consumer will either receive their goods or a full refund irrespective of method of payment used. [180990]

Jenny Willott: The Insolvency Act 1986 sets out a clear order of priority for making payments to those who are creditors in an administration. This is subject to any valid ownership claims. This is considered the fairest way of allocating the limited funds that will be available in such a procedure and provide the best opportunity for rescuing potentially viable businesses.

Electrical Safety

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of electrical product recalls in the UK. [180943]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 191W

Jenny Willott: Liability and responsibility for unsafe products lie with the manufacturer or the importer placing them on the European market. Local authority Trading Standards services in Great Britain and district councils in Northern Ireland are responsible for enforcement. They have powers to order a recall, but rarely use them. The majority of recalls are undertaken by industry on a voluntary basis to address their obligations. Recall actions are expensive and often complex; manufacturers work with the enforcement authority to tailor the action to the product and the specific circumstances.

The electrical products industry monitors the impact of these actions to continually improve their effectiveness. I fully support their efforts and consequently have not undertaken my own assessment of the effectiveness of electrical product recalls. However, my officials are keeping this under review.

EU External Trade: USA

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 1084, for what reason he considers investor state dispute settlements in the transatlantic trade and investment partnership to be an example of a tricky negotiating issue; and what other issues in that partnership also fall into that category. [180738]

Michael Fallon: The Government has consistently pushed for an ambitious and broad agreement under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and to begin negotiations with all issues on the table. The research that we commissioned highlighted certain risks associated with including investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the TTIP. Negotiations are at an early stage and the UK is pushing for an appropriate balance between protecting UK investors and ensuring that the UK Government is not prevented from acting in the public interest. It is too early to be definitive about whatever other areas will prove to be challenging, but they may include public procurement and agriculture.

Higher Education: Admissions

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many pupils entitled to free school meals went to (a) Russell Group Universities and (b) the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013. [180941]

Mr Willetts: The estimated numbers of pupils with free school meals who progressed to Russell Group institutions, Oxford and Cambridge by age 19 are shown in the following table:

Figures are not available after 2010-11.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 192W

Leader of the House

Electronic Government: Petitions

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Leader of the House how many e-petitions have gained over 100,000 signatures; and how many such e-petitions have been debated in the House. [181209]

Mr Lansley: Since the launch of the Government e-petitions site, 23 petitions have reached the 100,000 signature threshold. The topics of 19 have been the subject of debate in the House of Commons, most as a direct result of the e-petition. Three of these debates have taken place in Westminster Hall on a Monday afternoon, in the additional time made available specifically for the consideration of e-petitions. Two e-petitions are still under consideration for debate by the Backbench Business Committee.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Burmese counterparts to encourage Burma to fulfil its pledge to release all prisoners of conscience by the end of the year. [181087]

Mr Swire: Throughout 2013, we closely monitored the implementation of President Thein Sein's pledge to release all political prisoners by the end of the year. We continue to raise the issue of political prisoners, and I did so most recently with the Burmese ambassador, Kyaw Zwar Minn, on 12 December and Minister for the President's Office, Tin Naing Thein, on 22 November. On both occasions I raised our concerns about those prisoners still detained in Burma and made clear that we did not want to see new arrests or political activists re-arrested.

On 30 December, it was announced President Thein Sein had ordered the release of all prisoners and persons facing trial under political sections. I released a press statement on 31 December welcoming this announcement but noting there are individuals still in jail whose status as political prisoners is disputed. I urged continued dialogue between the government and civil society to review these remaining cases as a matter of urgency.

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Burma. [181730]

Mr Swire: Burma is currently identified as a Country of Concern in our Annual Human Rights Report. We provide quarterly reporting on the human rights situation in Burma on our website:

http://www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk/human-rights-in-countries-of-concern/burma/

We welcome the UN General Assembly 3rd Committee Country Resolution on Burma that was adopted by consensus on 20 November 2013. While recognising areas where the Burmese Government have made genuine progress, the resolution, agreed to by all member states including Burma, also emphasises our continued human rights concerns. In particular, we remain extremely

7 Jan 2014 : Column 193W

concerned by allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine State and the rights of the Rohingya community. These issues were at the heart of discussions with President Thein Sein during his visit to the UK in July.

We welcome the continued peace talks between the Burmese Government and ethnic armed groups, and the agreement made after the latest round of talks in November to work towards a nationwide ceasefire and political dialogue. However, we are concerned by continued fighting in Kachin State, and reports of human rights violations including sexual violence. As the largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Kachin State, we continue to call on the government to allow unhindered access for humanitarian aid in line with international humanitarian law.

We welcome President Thein Sein's order to release all prisoners and persons facing trial under political sections on 30 December, but note there are individuals in jail whose status as political prisoners is disputed. We urge further dialogue between the government and civil society to resolve the continued detention of individuals whose status as political prisoners is disputed. We also remain concerned by the continued arrests, detentions and sentencing of political activists in Burma. We continue to raise these issues regularly with the Government of Burma and call upon them to take decisive action to tackle human rights abuses.

The 2015 elections will be a crucial milestone, and reform of the 2008 constitution will be necessary for continued progress. The constitution needs to enshrine equal rights for ethnic groups and reflect issues around federalism that will arise from the peace process. This will be crucial for sustainable stability.

North Korea

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in UN fora unilaterally or multilaterally, in response to North Korean human rights violations. [181143]

Mr Swire: We have substantial concerns about the human rights situation in North Korea. We play an active role in raising this in the United Nations, and in 2013, we co-sponsored resolutions in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and UN General Assembly condemning North Korea's human rights record, which we assess to be one of the worst in the world. The 2013 HRC resolution recommended that the UN establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the most severe and systematic human rights abuses in North Korea. The Inquiry was agreed without a vote and will report to the 2014 HRC. In October 2013, the British Government sponsored a visit by members of the Inquiry panel to the UK to allow the panel to gather evidence from North Korean refugees, academics, NGOs and parliamentarians. I met the panel on 23 October 2013, and remain fully supportive of their work.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the North Korean authorities about human rights abuses in that country. [181149]

Mr Swire: The UK takes every opportunity to raise our concerns about North Korea's appalling human rights record directly with the North Korean Government. The British embassy in Pyongyang last raised our concerns

7 Jan 2014 : Column 194W

with the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 19 December 2013. Officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raised this issue with the North Korean embassy on 20 December 2013.

Syria

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has considered plans to protect schools inside Syria by calling for zones of peace to shield children from danger. [180857]

Hugh Robertson: The Government are deeply concerned by the impact of the Syria crisis on children. As part of our £500 million humanitarian response, the Government are funding a new £30 million ‘Lost Generation Initiative’ to provide protection, psychosocial support and education for children affected by the crisis. The UK has led international diplomatic efforts to protect children, including by securing a UN Security Council Presidential Statement on 2 October that condemned violations committed against children, attacks on schools, and the use of children as human shields. The UK is working with international partners to ensure the robust measures listed within the statement are fully implemented. Ultimately, the most effective way of protecting Syrian children is to end the conflict through a political settlement, and we are working with partners, the UN and the Syrian opposition to maximise the chances of success at the upcoming Geneva II peace conference.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Government have had with General Idris of the Syrian National Coalition. [181109]

Mr Hague: As strong supporters of the Syrian people and the Syrian National Coalition, the Government have regular contact with their leadership and representatives of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) including General Idris. I last met General Idris on 20 November 2013. We discussed UK support to the opposition, co-ordination between the SMC and the National Coalition and opposition participation at Geneva II.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the closure of the Bab al-Hawa supply depot on the capacity of the UK to supply humanitarian aid into Syria. [181110]

Mr Hague: Events at Bab al-Hawa have not impaired the UK's overall capacity to supply humanitarian aid into Syria. We work with trusted and impartial actors, including UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, to deliver humanitarian aid to all 14 Syrian governorates. We do so taking into account the security situation in different parts of the country which varies over time. We will continue to do all we can to alleviate the appalling humanitarian distress of the Syrian people.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of people engaged in fighting in Syria who are currently affiliated to Islamic Jihad. [181760]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 195W

Mr Hague: There are a wide range of actors on the ground in Syria with widely varying ideologies. The situation is fluid with fighters moving between groups. This makes it difficult to estimate numbers. There are, however, two al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Al Nusrah Front, with many thousands of members.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs following the suspension of non-lethal support through Bab al-Hawa, whether his Department has conducted a review of the viability of supplying non-lethal military support to the Free Syrian Army through that crossing at Bab al-Hawa. [181767]

Mr Hague: As a precaution the Government have temporarily put the gifting of equipment to the Supreme Military Council in Syria on hold. We will keep the end-users of our support and the risks of diversion under constant review.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes the Government will make to their policy on supporting the Free Syrian Army following the takeover of its headquarters and supply depots at Bab al-Hawa by the Islamic Front group. [181768]

Mr Hague: The Government continue to support the Supreme Military Council (SMC). We have been long standing and strong supporters of the SMC and the Syrian National Coalition. They seek a democratic, pluralist future for their country. This remains the case.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances the Government will seek before reopening the supply of non-lethal aid to Syrian rebel forces through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing following their decision to suspend aid in December. [181772]

Mr Hague: The Government intend to resume support as soon as we and the Supreme Military Council are satisfied the conditions on the ground allow it. Recipients of future assistance will be carefully selected to ensure that assistance is not being given to those involved in extremist activities or human rights violations. Equipment will undergo intense scrutiny to ensure that we are providing the best possible support to the moderate opposition and that we meet all our national and international obligations. The equipment will be scrutinised to ensure its provision is consistent with export controls under the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and EU restrictions on the provision of goods to Syria (as agreed by member states on 27 May 2013).

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the most recent developments have been in relation to the temporary suspension of non-lethal aid to Syria following the breaching of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing in December 2013. [181773]

Mr Hague: We understand that the Supreme Military Council (SMC) are still in discussions with the Islamic

7 Jan 2014 : Column 196W

Front. We remain in close contact with SMC officials. As with all our support to the Syrian opposition, we monitor carefully end-users and the risk of diversion.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it remains the Government's policy that the Syrian rebel forces should be represented at the Geneva II conference in January 2014 by the Syrian National Coalition. [181774]

Mr Hague: We believe that the Syrian National Coalition should be the heart and lead of the opposition delegation. It is for the Syrian National Coalition to decide on the makeup of their delegation. But we are clear that it should be representative of those, including opposition armed groups, who support a negotiated political settlement and a democratic pluralist vision for Syria.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with the Government of Turkey relating to the patrolling and policing of Turkey's border with Syria. [181775]

Mr Hague: Our officials regularly meet their Turkish counterparts to discuss border security issues. The Home Office Permanent Under-Secretary, Mark Sedwill, visited Ankara on 21-22 November 2013 for meetings with senior officials from across the Turkish security establishment. During this visit it was agreed that the UK and Turkey would broaden co-operation on border security. Subsequent to Mr Sedwill's visit, our officials have had further discussions about how the UK could support Turkey control its border with Syria.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the closure of the Bab al-Hawa supply depot on the UK's capacity to supply non-lethal support to the rebel forces inside Syria. [181776]

Mr Hague: As a precaution the Government have temporarily put the gifting of equipment to the Supreme Military Council in Syria on hold. We will keep the end-users of our support and the risks of diversion under constant review.

Health

Asthma: Medical Equipment

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when his public consultation on changing regulations to allow schools to hold a spare asthma inhaler for emergencies will begin; [181277]

(2) whether his upcoming consultation on changing regulations to allow schools to hold a spare asthma inhaler for emergencies will seek views on the Commission on Human Medicine's recommendation and a draft protocol for schools; and whether he proposes that the consultation will apply to the whole of the UK. [181278]

Dr Poulter: We would like to consult on not only the Commission on Human Medicine's recommendation to change regulations, but a draft protocol for schools

7 Jan 2014 : Column 197W

on making effective use of inhalers. We are discussing this currently with key professional bodies, and Asthma UK, and hope to consult early in the new year. The consultation will apply to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Autism

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that training in autism is included in the core curriculum for doctors, nurses and other clinicians in line with his Department's commitments under the 2010 Adult Autism Strategy. [181186]

Dr Poulter: The content and standard of health care professional training is the responsibility of the regulators, which are independent statutory bodies. They have the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that students and newly qualified professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice.

The Government have mandated Health Education England (HEE) to provide national leadership on education, training and work force development in the national health service. HEE will work with stakeholders to influence training curriculum as appropriate.

Caesarean Sections

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many caesarean births there have been in each of the last three years. [180974]

Dr Poulter: The following table gives the number of delivery episodes with a method of delivery of caesarean section for the specified financial years. Please note that this only includes deliveries within national health service hospitals in England:

Cancer: Bolton

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the NHS on drugs for cancer treatment in Bolton North East constituency in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [181314]

Norman Lamb: Expenditure by primary and secondary care health bodies on medicines to treat cancer, covering the area of the Bolton North East constituency, is provided in the table. Whole-year information is not available prior to 2009.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 198W

Dental Services: Bolton

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that enough dentists are recruited to meet the demand for NHS dental services in Bolton. [181310]

Dr Poulter: NHS dental services are commissioned by NHS England. It is for the national health service locally to ensure the provision of NHS dental services meets the needs of local populations.

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of people in Bolton who have access to an NHS dentist. [181311]

Dr Poulter: Information is not collected in the format requested.

Information on the number of patients seen and the percentage of the population seen by an NHS dentist in NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in the 24-month period ending 30 September 2013, is shown in the following table:

7 Jan 2014 : Column 199W

Diabetes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions he has had with medical authorities and Diabetes UK on whether insulin pumps could administer a fatal overdose to diabetics; [180975]

(2) how many diabetics who use insulin pumps have overdosed in each of the last three years. [180976]

Dr Poulter: The Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have had no direct discussion with medical authorities or Diabetes UK on this topic. Nor do we hold figures for the number of diabetic patients using insulin pumps that have received overdoses.

Insulin pumps are CE-marked medical devices and, as such, must be designed by the manufacturer to meet the essential requirements of the Medical Devices Directives 93/42/EEC and demonstrate that they are acceptably safe and effective in use.

The Department does not collect the number of overdoses as a result of using insulin pumps.

The MHRA has received a total of 15 adverse incident reports during the past three years related to insulin pumps which state "over infusion" as the reported event. This information can be viewed in the following table.

Overdose is not a term generally used in incident reports sent to the Department. Report of a fatality cannot in all cases be attributed to the device event.

Hepatitis

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions his Department has made of about the average length of time in months and years

7 Jan 2014 : Column 200W

that it expected to make monthly payments through the Skipton Fund Stage 2 to people who contracted hepatitis C through their NHS treatment. [181906]

Jane Ellison: People who meet the stage 2 Skipton Fund eligibility criteria receive an annual payment for the rest of their lives. The Department has made no assumptions about the average length of time that people might live after meeting the stage 2 eligibility criteria.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided to the Skipton Fund in each year since its establishment in 2004. [181907]

Jane Ellison: The Skipton Fund has received the following funding for its United Kingdom-wide operations, since it started operating in 2004.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Skipton Fund payments have been made to families bereaved as a result of NHS treatment with blood infected with hepatitis C. [181908]

Jane Ellison: In January 2011, the decision was made to make Skipton Fund payment to the estates of people who died prior to the announcement of the scheme in August 2003. Up until 31 March 2013, the last full year for which the Skipton Fund has produced accounts, the Fund has made 456 stage 1 payments and 194 stage 2 payments to estates.

Note.

The Skipton Fund was set up in 2004 to make payments to people infected with hepatitis C as a result of treatment with NHS supplied blood/blood products. It makes payments in two stages: a lump sum of £20,000 for chronic infection, and a further lump sum of £50,000 and an annual payment of £14,191, uprated annually by CPI, for those who go on to develop severe liver disease.

Industrial Accidents

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many serious accidents were suffered at work by officials in his Department in each of the last 10 years. [181880]

Dr Poulter: The following serious accidents suffered by officials at work were recorded under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 201W

Kidneys: Diseases

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on research into (a) chronic kidney disease, (b) acute kidney injury, (c) kidney cancer, (d) dialysis, (e) end-of-life care for kidney patients and (f) other kidney disease in each of the last three years; and how much it plans to spend on such research in 2014. [180745]

Dr Poulter: Expenditure on these topics by the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards is shown in the following table:

Total spend by the NIHR on these topics is higher than this because expenditure by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) on these topics cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure. Total spend by the CRN on research in renal and urogenital disease is shown in the following table:

The NIHR funds 14 experimental cancer medicine centres (ECMCs) across England in close partnership with Cancer Research UK. Spend by the NIHR on kidney cancer research through these centres cannot be disaggregated from total ECMC expenditure. The ECMCs supported 22 renal studies in 2012-13.

Total spend in future years by the NIHR on research on kidney disease depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics:

7 Jan 2014 : Column 202W

research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including kidney disease. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.

Medical Records: Databases

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure effective communication of the details of the care data scheme, in particular its opt-out nature, to people with disabilities; [180986]

(2) whether printed information aimed at the general public regarding the care data scheme is available in formats accessible to disabled people, such as large print or easy read. [180987]

Dr Poulter: NHS England is working with a range of stakeholders, including the disability partnership programme, to ensure that people with disabilities make informed decisions about information sharing. NHS England is publishing its resources and materials in a range of formats including Braille, large print and audio.

NHS England

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the projected budget underspend or overspend is for NHS England for 2013-14. [180861]

Dr Poulter: As at month seven, NHS England is forecasting a surplus of £669 million for the commissioning sector.

This surplus was reported to the NHS England Board meeting on 17 December and the board papers are available on the NHS England website at:

www.england.nhs.uk/2013/12/10/board-meet-17-dec13/

NHS: Artworks

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each NHS trust has spent on buying artwork since May 2010; and what the average annual salary for art co-ordinators employed by NHS trusts to obtain art work is. [180805]

Dr Poulter: This information is not collected centrally by the Department. The hon. Member may wish to contact each NHS trust individually.

NHS: Awards

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the criteria are for clinical excellence awards; what the range of enhancements to salary is; and how many such awards have been made across England to date. [180860]

Dr Poulter: Clinical Excellence Awards recognise and reward national health service consultants and academic general practitioners (GPs) who perform ‘over and above' the standard expected of their role. Awards are given for quality and excellence, acknowledging exceptional personal contributions.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 203W

To be considered for an award, consultants and academic GPs have to submit an application form in which they demonstrate achievements in developing and delivering high quality patient care, and commitment, to the continuous improvement of the NHS.

NHS: Energy

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that hospital and other trusts put their gas and electric supplies out to tender; and what estimate he has made of the savings arising from such tendering. [181192]

Dr Poulter: Individual national health service and foundation trusts have responsibility for setting their own procurement policy and are responsible and accountable for achieving value for money in the delivery of their energy requirements.

NHS: Minimum Wage

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) female and (b) male NHS employees in Bolton North East constituency are paid the national minimum wage. [181312]

Dr Poulter: Under the terms of Agenda for Change, all whole-time equivalent staff in Bolton receive more than the national minimum wage.

NHS: Redundancy Pay

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of redundancy payments made between 2010 and 2013 to (a) NHS staff who took redundancy and (b) NHS staff made redundant and who have subsequently returned to an NHS job. [181141]

Dr Poulter: The total cost of redundancy payments made to national health service staff who took redundancy between 2010 and 2013 is not available.

Nurses: Recruitment

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his statement of 19 November 2013, Official Report, columns 1095-97, on Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, what the evidential basis is for the statement that NHS trusts are planning to hire 3,700 additional nurses; and if he will publish the number of additional nurses each trust plans to hire. [181222]

Dr Poulter: The statement is based on information collected through local education and training boards from their local national health service health care providers. While the responsibility of Health Education England (HEE) is for the future work force, and not current employment, based upon data submitted, trusts are reporting their employment intentions have changed significantly between last year and this and they have revised their forecasts in-year, with plans to employ an additional 3,700 nurses by March 2014.

HEE advises that it does not have access to individual provider plans.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 204W

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases are awaiting scheduling for a hearing before the Nursing and Midwifery Council; how many historic cases are awaiting a hearing before that Council; and if he will make a statement. [181162]

Dr Poulter: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is an independent body and responsible for matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties, including pursuing fitness to practice (FtP) investigations against its registrants. Statistical information about NMC FtP cases is not routinely collected or held centrally. However, the NMC advises that as at 20 December 2013, 384 FtP cases were awaiting scheduling for a hearing; and 20 historic cases, received prior to January 2011, are in the process of being heard with resuming dates in 2014.

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward proposals to allow the Nursing and Midwifery Council to review decisions made by its Fitness to Practice department to close cases not requiring further investigation; and if he will make a statement. [181891]

Dr Poulter: Work is under way on an order under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 to amend the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 and also on associated amendments, to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC's) rules. Amendments under consideration include introducing a power for the NMC to review ‘no case to answer’ decisions made in fitness-to-practise proceedings.

Roaccutane

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of suspected adverse psychiatric reactions, including suicide, have been reported to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's Yellow Card scheme in relation to the Roaccutane form of isotretinoin in the last 10 years. [180818]

Norman Lamb: Reports of ‘suspected’ adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card scheme. The scheme collects suspected ADR reports from the whole of the United Kingdom in relation to all medicines and vaccines. Reporting to the Yellow Card scheme is voluntary for health care professionals and members of the public. There is however also a legal obligation for pharmaceutical companies to report all serious ADRs for their products that they are aware of.

Between 1 January 2003 and 16 December 2013 the MHRA has received a total of 294 UK spontaneous suspected ADR reports describing a total of 657 psychiatric reactions in association with the use of isotretinoin. Of these reports, 36 report a completed suicide. These data include all reports for isotretinoin irrespective of the brand name, which in some cases will not have been provided by the reporter.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 205W

It is important to note that Yellow Card reports are not proof of a side effect occurring but only a suspicion by the reporter that the medicine may have caused the side effect. Yellow Card reports may therefore relate to true side effects of the medicine, or they may be due to coincidental illnesses that would have occurred in the absence of the medicine.

Sickness Absence

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department in each of the last 10 years. [181879]

Dr Poulter: The number of working days lost due to sickness of officials in the Department can be found in the following table.

Data prior to 2004 are not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Streptococcus

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects Public Health England to make available the improved Enriched Culture Medium test for group B Strep carriage. [181722]

Dr Poulter: Public Health England investigated the circumstances in which the Enriched Culture Medium (ECM) test could be used within the current guidance set out in Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology guidelines on the prevention of early onset neonatal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease. The outcome of this work concludes that there are currently no clinical indications for the test in high risk women using ECM methods within current guidance.

Research into the use of tests for GBS carriage in high risk clinical circumstances is being considered now with the National Institute of Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

Taxis: Greater London

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of taxi fares between Richmond House and other NHS or departmental buildings in the Greater London area for officials in his Department was for each of the last 10 years. [181882]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 206W

Dr Poulter: The Department does not hold information in the format requested. Costs charged as “expenses” incurred by the Department's employees relating to taxis, and costs classified as “transport” are available: however, it is not possible to provide a breakdown with the specific detail requested.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy: Business

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what his policy is on vertical integration in the electricity industry; [180112]

(2) if he will make it his policy to introduce a ring-fence between generation and supply businesses in vertically integrated energy companies. [180140]

Michael Fallon: The independent regulator, Ofgem, in conjunction with the OFT and the CMA, is currently undertaking the first annual competition assessment, which will assess the state of competition in the GB energy markets and how well competition is serving the interests of households and small firms. This assessment will include the impact of vertical integration on the market and whether it is leading to a lack of transparency in relation to prices and profitability through the supply chain, cross-subsidy of different products, or barriers to entry or expansion in wholesale or retail markets.

The Government will consider whether further action is needed once the assessment has been completed.

Energy: Meters

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what time scale his Department has set for the development of a solution to allow electrical contractors to work safely between the meter and the consumer unit, other than the inclusion of an electrical isolation switch in the smart meter specification. [181927]

Michael Fallon: A solution to this issue is likely to require changes to processes that are governed by the energy industry under the Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA) which is overseen by Ofgem. DCUSA sets out the responsibilities of energy suppliers and distribution networks regarding de-energisations, and representatives of these organisations are considering this issue in conjunction with Ofgem. The Department is monitoring progress.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bovine Tuberculosis

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support his Department is giving to volunteer-led badger vaccination initiatives such as the Sussex Badger Vaccination project in the fight against bovine tuberculosis. [181035]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 207W

George Eustice: The Badger Vaccination Fund helps groups such as the Sussex Badger Vaccination project undertake badger vaccination initiatives. The £250,000 fund has two elements: a competitive grant scheme providing up to 50% of the first year's vaccination costs for local vaccination projects; and a 50% grant towards training voluntary and community sector volunteers to become lay vaccinators and attain their annual certificate of competence as a vaccinator. In 2013 five members of the Sussex group received training and certificate of competence grants and I understand other members of the group have already applied for grant-aided places on the 2014 course.

Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the safety, humaneness and effectiveness of the badger cull pilots in Somerset and Gloucestershire. [181727]

George Eustice: A report on the safety, humaneness and effectiveness of the pilot badger culls by the Independent Expert Panel is expected to be published early this year.

Following consideration of the panel's report, it is expected that Ministers will be in a position in early 2014 to make a decision on wider roll out.

Treasury

Autumn Statement

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to paragraph 1.182 of the Autumn Statement, what the definition is of a local community. [180807]

Nicky Morgan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 17 December 2013, Official Report, column 447W. The industry will come forward with more details shortly on how and to whom the community benefits for shale gas will be paid.

Contracts

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list all current letters of comfort; [181019]

(2) if he will list all current indemnities. [181028]

Danny Alexander: This information is not held centrally. Managing Public Money requires Departments to report all outstanding single contingent liabilities, or schemes of liabilities, in their accounts unless they are confidential. Many arm’s length bodies follow the same standard.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the Government's capital departmental expenditure limit budget was spent on payments to the private sector as a result of calls on financial guarantees in the financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13. [181020]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 208W

Danny Alexander: There have been no calls, in the financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13, on financial guarantees provided by Her Majesty's Government.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net annual fiscal benefits to the Exchequer of immigration from EEA member states. [181098]

Danny Alexander: The Government have not made an estimate of the net annual fiscal benefits to the Exchequer of immigration from EEA member states.

Inflation

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many months the annual rate of inflation has been larger than the annual rate of growth in average earnings since May 2010. [181114]

Nicky Morgan: Average weekly earnings growth has been weak over the last few years due in part to the financial crisis, but wage flexibility is likely to have helped support employment levels and household incomes.

The best way to raise living standards is to stick to the Government's economic plan and deliver a recovery that works for all. Britain is back on the path to prosperity: the economy is growing, the deficit is falling and jobs are being created.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect of rises in energy prices on the rate of consumer price inflation. [181723]

Nicky Morgan: The Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The effects of rises in energy prices were taken into account in their latest forecast for consumer price inflation, published in their December 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.

Infrastructure

Mr Streeter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline his current plans for infrastructure investment in the UK; what parts of this investment will be targeted at digital infrastructure; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed annual licence fee increases on future private investment in digital infrastructure. [180982]

Danny Alexander: The Government published the National Infrastructure Plan 2013 on 4 December 2013, setting out their current plans for infrastructure investment in the UK. The Government's plans for digital infrastructure are set out from page 56 of that document and chapter seven of Investing in Britain's Future, which was published in June 2013. Both documents can be found on the Infrastructure UK website.

As the independent communications regulator, it is for Ofcom to determine the level of fees payable for commercial spectrum users, taking into account

7 Jan 2014 : Column 209W

relevant impacts. Ofcom has been directed to revise the annual licence fees for the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands so that they reflect the full market value of the frequencies in those bands, having particular regard to the sums bid for the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum in the current auction. (See The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Directions to OFCOM) Order 2010, SI 2010/3024).

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress his Department has made in implementing the National Infrastructure Plan; and if he will make a statement. [181724]

Danny Alexander: The National Infrastructure Plan was updated on 4 December 2013 and outlines the Government's strategic objectives and policy approach in this area. Annex A of the new National Infrastructure Plan lists the Government's Priority Investments and provides up-to-date information on the progress made in delivering those projects and programmes.

The National Infrastructure Plan 2013 is available on the Infrastructure UK website.

Revenue and Customs

Chloe Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of HM Revenue and Customs have (a) received performance-related pay and (b) been dismissed for underperformance in the last five years. [180758]

Mr Gauke: The information is as follows:

(a) The number of HMRC staff with Top markings, and therefore, receiving performance-related pay in the last five years was:

(b) We are unable to supply information on dismissals for poor performance for the last five years. HMRC only started collecting data at this level from December 2011 when Cabinet Office first started asking for this level of information.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Mr Gordon Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the pro rata financial contribution of Scotland to the EU; and if he will

7 Jan 2014 : Column 210W

estimate the contribution to the EU that Scotland would make if it did not receive the rebate in each year from 2012-13 to 2019-20. [180843]

Danny Alexander: Details of the UK's contributions to the EU are published in HM Treasury's “European Union Finances 2013: statement on the 2013 EU Budget and measures to counter fraud and financial mismanagement” of 18 November 2013. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) provides independent forecasts for the UK. The latest forecast is reported in its “Economic and fiscal outlook: Fiscal supplementary tables” of 9 December 2013.

However, neither out-turn nor forecast contributions are attributed to the devolved Administrations. The Government intend to publish, in due course, material relating to Scotland's financial contribution to the EU. This will be as part of the Scotland analysis programme, which is examining how Scotland contributes to, and benefits from, being part of the UK across a range of key issues in the Scottish independence debate.

Mr Gordon Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission analysis on the relationship between an independent Scotland and England on a currency union similar to the five tests applied to the relationship between the UK and the euro zone under the previous Administration. [180846]

Danny Alexander: As part of the Scotland Analysis Programme, HM Government have published a paper on “Currency and monetary policy”. The analysis in the paper concludes that there is no clear economic rationale for the continuing UK to form a sterling currency union with an independent Scotland. It would be highly unlikely that such a currency union could be agreed or made to work.

Mr Gordon Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) with reference to the Institute for Fiscal Studies paper, The fiscal implications of an independent Scotland, if he will estimate the growth rate Scotland would need to achieve to bridge the fiscal gap identified in that paper; [180848]

(2) with reference to the report, Fiscal sustainability of an independent Scotland, published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in November 2013, if he will make an assessment of the growth rate Scotland would have to achieve, and how much greater than England's growth this would have to be, to bridge the fiscal gap identified in that report. [181223]

Danny Alexander: All else equal, an independent Scotland would need to grow at almost 2% per year more than the UK for the next 50 years to get back to the IFS's projection for the UK's debt position. Over the last 50 years Scotland and the rest of the UK have grown, on average, at an almost identical 2% per year. So it would be necessary to double this rate. This would be at the same time as an independent Scotland's economy would be facing greater pressure from the decline in North Sea production and an ageing population. No European country has managed to grow at the required rate of 4% over the last 50 years.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 211W

Sterling

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what veto powers the Welsh Government have in respect of which territorial entities are able to use sterling. [179970]

Danny Alexander: No territorial entity has the right to insist that the UK enters into a currency union with it. It is up to the United Kingdom, to decide whether or not to form a currency union with other territorial entities, including any part of the UK that becomes independent. Currency unions do not work without close political and fiscal integration: the lesson of the eurozone crisis is that clear-currency unions are very difficult without fiscal or political integration, and can expose all their members to significant risks.

Any territorial entity could unilaterally adopt sterling in the same way that Montenegro uses the euro and Panama uses the US dollar. But they would then have no control over the currency and its monetary policy, and no central bank to act as lender of last resort and to protect individuals' savings and mortgages.

Taxation: Environment Protection

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will remove the carbon floor price as part of their review of green energy policies in the UK. [180708]

Nicky Morgan: The UK needs significant new investment in low-carbon electricity generation over the coming decades; £110 billion is needed in new power stations and grid connections by 2020. The carbon price floor was introduced to provide long-term certainty over the price of carbon to incentivise new investment in low-carbon electricity generation. It is the first step in the UK's electricity market reforms and is an important part of our transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer set out the Government's review of green energy policies during the autumn statement. This included a range of policies to help households with their energy costs.

Universal Credit

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs staff based in Nottingham are employed on work relating to the introduction of universal credit. [180089]

Nicky Morgan: There are no HMRC personnel based in Nottingham working directly on the introduction of universal credit.

Culture, Media and Sport

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will introduce a non-commercial, licence-funded digital radio station for children. [181365]

Mr Vaizey: DCMS has no plans to introduce a non-commercial, licence-funded digital radio station for children.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 212W

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of how public access to radio in the UK will be improved by digital radio switchover. [181711]

Mr Vaizey: The Government have been clear that the transition to digital must be consumer led. With digital radio listening at 35.6%, now is not the right time to announce a digital radio switchover, but we know that consumers like digital radio for its clearer sound, ease of tuning and because of the wider range of content offered. On 16 December, I therefore announced up to £21 million of new investment from the BBC, Government and commercial radio to build out digital radio coverage, so more homes can receive it.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy that digital radio switchover will only proceed if significant improvements in listening coverage and access are made. [181712]

Mr Vaizey: The Government have been clear that the transition to digital radio must be consumer led and that the majority of listening must be digital before a decision to switchover can be taken.

The Government have also been clear that a future switchover cannot proceed until national DAB coverage is comparable to FM, and local DAB reaches 90% of the population and all major roads. On 16 December we announced that up to £21 million of investment will be made to improve local DAB coverage with the DCMS, the BBC and commercial radio each committing up to £7 million.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether UK listeners will have the same access to DAB radio in the first year of digital radio switchover as they currently do to AM and FM. [181713]

Mr Vaizey: Now is not the time to announce a radio switchover. However, the Government have always been clear that a radio switchover will not proceed until national DAB coverage is comparable to FM, and local DAB reaches 90% of the population and all major roads.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the Department plans to fund local DAB build-out. [181714]

Mr Vaizey: Up to £21 million of investment will be made in local DAB infrastructure to improve coverage, with the DCMS, the BBC and commercial radio each committing up to £7 million.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the minimum proportion of DAB in-vehicle radio listening in the UK will be before digital switchover takes place. [181715]

Mr Vaizey: A transition to digital must be consumer-led. A decision about the timetable for a future switchover will only be considered when the majority of listening is digital and the coverage criteria have been met. We have

7 Jan 2014 : Column 213W

not set a criteria for in-vehicle listening and will continue to support industry efforts to increase in-vehicle listening to digital radio.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve uptake of DAB in-vehicle radio listening in the UK. [181716]

Mr Vaizey: Significant progress has already been made with 41.6% of new cars sold in October having DAB radios fitted as standard, up from just 4.4% in 2010. To ensure that motorists know about the options available to them to convert to digital radio, we announced on 16 December that Digital UK will work in partnership with the DVLA and the DVSA, to use their communication channels to let motorists know how they can upgrade their listening experience to digital. Digital Radio UK is also working with the motor industry on a new approved installer scheme so drivers can be confident when choosing someone to install a digital radio in their car.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department will proceed with digital radio switchover before at least 90 per cent of UK radio listening is digital. [181717]

Mr Vaizey: As I made clear in my statement on 16 December, a decision about the timetable for a future switchover will only be considered once the 50% listening criteria and coverage criteria have been met.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether public funds earmarked for local radio DAB coverage in the event of a digital radio switchover will benefit all radio stations or only stations already on DAB. [181718]

Mr Vaizey: The BBC, commercial radio and the Government are together funding the build out of the local DAB tier to near commercial FM equivalence. This will increase the opportunity for existing or new local stations currently not broadcasting on DAB to move to that platform. However, the decision about whether or not to do this is a matter between an individual station and the local multiplex operator.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to ensure that all local and national radio stations have equal prominence of access to listeners in the event of digital switchover. [181822]

Mr Vaizey: Digital radio receivers on the market now all already come with FM so listeners changing to digital can still receive their local stations on FM. The UK's world-leading digital radio industry continues to develop new and innovative products for radio listeners. New chip sets being developed will enable manufacturers to develop new products with integrated channel guides covering FM, DAB and internet radio services.

Separately, we will also be providing new funding to Ofcom over the next two years to build on the work of its Brighton pilot to develop small-scale DAB solutions to allow smaller radio stations to go digital.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 214W

Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will bring forward legislative proposals to give a statutory basis to the Union Flag. [181284]

Mrs Grant: The Union Flag has been in existence for over 200 years, is an emblem of national pride for this country and is recognised world-wide as the symbol of the United Kingdom. Given its current widespread popularity, familiarity and general appeal, achieved without a statutory basis, I see no reason to bring forward legislative proposals to give a statutory basis to the Union Flag.

Mobile Phones: Unsolicited Goods and Services

Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to review the level of distress that the Information Commissioner's Office is required to prove in order for a fine to be upheld in the light of the recent decisions in respect of Tetrus and First Financial. [181939]

Mr Vaizey: As noted in our strategy paper, ‘Connectivity, Content and Consumers: Britain's digital platform for growth’, that was published in July 2013 we have been considering the scope for changing the legal threshold that needs to be met before the Information Commissioner's Office can issue a monetary penalty for breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation (PECR) 2003. DCMS will set out its further thinking on this issue, as part of its action plan on nuisance calls, that will be published early this year.

Preston Bus Station

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the costs were of the process leading to the decision that Preston bus station should be given listed building status; which officials in her Department visited Preston bus station to view the building as part of that process; and on what dates those visits took place. [181190]

Mr Vaizey: The only costs incurred by my Department in the process leading to the decision to grant Preston bus station listed building status were staff time in considering the case. As is standard practice for all listing cases, officials from my Department did not visit Preston bus station prior to the decision to list the building. In 2009 senior staff from the Designation Department of English Heritage, my statutory advisors on the historic environment, carried out a full inspection of the building. This information formed part of their recent Advice Report which was submitted to me, together with images of the building, and other representations received, which enabled me to consider the special architectural and historic interest of the building before reaching a decision.

Deputy Prime Minister

Devolution of Powers

3. Chris Kelly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Black Country local enterprise partnership on devolving powers and responsibilities from Whitehall. [901781]

7 Jan 2014 : Column 215W

Greg Clark: Negotiations with the Black Country local enterprise partnership have recently concluded and the Black Country City Deal was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 12 December 2013.

8. Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Coventry and Warwickshire local enterprise partnership on devolving power and responsibilities from Whitehall. [901786]

Greg Clark: The Coventry and Warwickshire City Deal was announced on 12 December 2013.

The Strategic Economic Plan will be discussed with the Coventry and Warwickshire local enterprise partnership in the near future.

12. Fiona Bruce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Cheshire and Warrington local enterprise partnership on devolving powers and responsibilities from Whitehall. [901790]

Greg Clark: Government is currently negotiating a Growth Deal with Cheshire and Warrington LEP. This deal ensures Cheshire and Warrington have the tools they need to drive their own economic growth.

13. Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Lancashire local enterprise partnership on devolving powers and responsibilities from Whitehall. [901791]

Greg Clark: In September 2013 the Government concluded the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal. This was the first of the Wave 2 City Deals.

Lancashire local enterprise partnership, along with the relevant local authorities, was closely involved in negotiations with Government.

Lancashire LEP will be responsible for the governance and delivery of the City Deal, ensuring that the deal's proposals to invest in the development of new housing and transport infrastructure benefit all the residents of Lancashire.

Voter Registration: Students

9. Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on voter registration by students living away from home. [901787]

Greg Clark: Students who have permanent home addresses and a term-time address can be lawfully registered at both addresses. It is up to an authority's Electoral Registration Officer to determine if some trying to register to vote fulfils the residential criteria.

City Deals

10. Karen Lumley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the role of City Deals in addressing the imbalance of private sector growth across the UK. [901788]

Greg Clark: City Deals are playing a vital role in promoting private sector growth across England, by building on the strengths of our great cities.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 216W

City Deals have given places incentives to invest, given control over skills funding to businesses, helped translate world leading science into business growth, provided specialist venture capital funding for firms, and created more streamlined business support for companies that want to grow.

Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries

14. Mr Bellingham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the Boundary Commission to discuss parliamentary constituency boundaries. [901792]

Greg Clark: Ministers do not generally meet the Boundary Commission to discuss the setting of parliamentary constituency boundaries.

Transport

Bournemouth Station

Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide funds for the improvement of Bournemouth railway station. [181152]

Stephen Hammond: A total of £200 million has been made available by the Government through the Network Rail Control Period 5 settlement (2014 to 2019) for investment in station enhancements through the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) and the Access for All (AfA) programme.

The train operating companies, which are responsible for the operation of the majority of stations in the country, are now free to develop proposals for how these funds are to be spent.

I do however understand that South West Trains has recently completed a programme of improvements at Bournemouth station to the value of £2 million as part of their franchise obligations. This work included refurbishment of the booking halls, ticket offices and toilets and the installation of automatic ticket gates. A new coffee shop is due to be opened in the former train crew accommodation later this summer.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what time on what dates and for how long the toll barriers at the Dartford Crossing have been lifted in the last 24 months. [180795]

Mr Goodwill: In the last 24 months, the barriers at the Dartford Crossing have been lifted, and charges suspended, on the following dates and times:

28 June 2012 (northbound), from 6.33 pm to 7.35 pm (one hour and two minutes);

3 August 2012 (northbound), from 4.04 pm to 6.08 pm (two hours and four minutes);

3 August 2012 (southbound), from 4.08 pm to 7.02 pm (two hours and 54 minutes);

10 August 2012 (northbound), from 3.15 pm to 6.00 pm (two hours and 45 minutes);

19 December 2012 (northbound), from 11.50 am to 2.38 pm (two hours and 48 minutes);

28 October 2013 (northbound), from 12.40 pm to 5.39 pm (four hours and 59 minutes).

7 Jan 2014 : Column 217W

Fuels

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the outcome of the Government's competition to develop a demonstration plant to produce advanced transport fuels. [180832]

Mr Goodwill: Subject to the outcome of the feasibility study currently under way, we expect to announce the details of the competition in spring 2014 which would enable us to award final contracts for successful bids in early 2015.

Railways: Compensation

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what Schedule 8 payments Network Rail has made to train operating companies for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in each year since 2001-02; and what proportion of such payments were passed on to passengers in each such year; [181781]

(2) if he will list the train operating companies that have received Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services in Scotland that occurred in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2013; and what the amount (i) applied for and (ii) paid by Network Rail was in each case; [181782]

(3) what assurances he has (a) sought and (b) received from train operating companies (TOCs) that Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to TOCs for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services in Scotland that occurred in (i) October, (ii) November and (iii) December 2013 will be passed on to passengers; [181783]

(4) what steps he has taken to ensure that any Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to train operating companies for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services in Scotland that occurred in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2013 will be passed on to passengers; [181784]

(5) what discussions he has had with Passenger Focus regarding Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to train operating companies for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services in Scotland that occurred in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2013; [181785]

(6) what discussions with Network Rail he has had regarding Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to train operating companies for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services in Scotland that occurred in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2013. [181786]

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State for Transport is not accountable for rail services within Scotland, as responsibility devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998.

Compensation paid to train operators for delays for which Network Rail is responsible (including those arising from external events such as cable theft) is a matter for Network Rail. The compensation regime is a contractual and commercially confidential element within the Track Access Agreement between Network Rail and each operator, and is overseen by the Office for Rail Regulation.

7 Jan 2014 : Column 218W

Compensation paid by train operators to passengers for delays is based on an entirely different system, in line with the terms of the operator's Passenger's Charter, and may vary for example with the type of ticket purchased. A number of existing franchises operate, as will all future ones, the Delay/Repay compensation system, under which compensation for delay is paid regardless of whether the delay was attributed to Network Rail or a train operator.

As Minister responsible for rail, I regularly meet with senior representatives of Network Rail and other industry parties to discuss current rail performance. Passenger Focus is the official, independent consumer organisation representing the interests of rail users nationally.