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Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 23 January 2014

Work and Pensions

Child Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria will be used by his Department in its operational readiness review in March 2014 to determine whether the new statutory child maintenance service is working sufficiently well to permit the introduction of fees to use the service and to begin to close down all Child Support Agency cases. [184134]

Steve Webb: The project will use the Department for Work and Pensions Project Change Lifecycle Framework criteria to assess readiness to introduce fees and begin the closedown of Child Support Agency cases.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received in relation to the application of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights with regard to the lack of right of appeal against the imposition of ongoing child maintenance collection charge by the Child Maintenance Service. [184135]

Steve Webb: We have been unable to find any representations made directly to us about Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights with regard to the Child Maintenance Service's charging of fees. The legislation and draft regulations enabling the collection charge for the Child Maintenance Service are, however, fully compatible with the Human Rights Act.

The decision to charge a fee for collecting child maintenance via the Child Maintenance Service is not discretionary and all clients using this service will be required to pay these charges as a contribution to meeting the cost of the service. The collection fee imposed by the Child Maintenance Service is a percentage of the maintenance due and is calculated in direct proportion to the amount of the child maintenance that a client must pay. Should a client believe that the amount of child maintenance assessed is incorrect, or that there is no obligation to pay maintenance at all, there are existing provisions for an appeal to be made to the First-Tier Tribunal.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances the Child Maintenance Service will consider withdrawal of its collect and pay service from a parent with care who is using it and wishes to continue to use it; and what mechanism will be made available to parents with care to appeal a decision by the Secretary of State to withdraw access to the collect and pay service should they wish to continue using it. [184136]

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Steve Webb: When Section 137 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 comes into force, the Child Maintenance Service will only be permitted to require clients to use the collect and pay service where either (a) the non-resident parent agrees or (b) the non-resident parent is considered unlikely to pay. If a parent with care wishes to use the collect and pay service in circumstances where the legal framework allows for this, they will be permitted to do so and the service will not be withdrawn.

Where a parent with care considers that the Secretary of State has acted unreasonably in determining whether a non-resident parent is unlikely to pay and therefore that the case should progress onto Direct Pay against the parent with care's wishes, they may ask for this decision to be reviewed. If unsatisfied with the outcome of the review they may make a complaint to the Independent Case Examiner. In the case of maladministration, a complaint may be made to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. And, where all other available remedies have been exhausted, an application may be made to the courts for judicial review of the decision.

Employment and Support Allowance

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance and support his Department provides to people assessed as fit for work by Atos and declined employment support allowance whilst awaiting reconsideration. [183950]

Mike Penning: When a decision maker has decided that a claimant does not have limited capability for work following a Work Capability Assessment, the Department makes a decision assurance call. During this call, the claimant can be advised of what alternative benefits may be available and what action to take if they dispute the decision.

The decision letter issued to the claimant in these circumstances also provides detailed advice on claiming jobseeker's allowance and other benefits. Jobcentres also provide further advice to claimants to help them return to work.

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he takes to ensure that there are not discrepancies between the number of people (a) paid employment and support allowance and (b) the number that work capability providers are paid to assess. [183955]

Mike Penning: There is no direct connection between having an assessment and being paid employment and support allowance.

DWP validates all claims for payment by the assessment provider by selecting a representative sample of cases and checking against its own records to confirm the validity of that payment.

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many EU directives his Department has transposed into UK law since 2010; and how many directly acting EU regulations have come into effect in his Department's area of responsibility in the same period. [183873]

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Mike Penning: Since 2010, 65 EU directives have been transposed. Of which three concern occupational safety and health (Directive 2006/25/EC on artificial optical radiation, Directive 2009/161/EU establishing a Third List of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values, and Directive 2010/32/EU implementing the Framework Agreement on prevention of sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector); two concern the identification and traceability of explosives (Directives 2008/43/EC and 2012/4/EU); 60 principally concern technical authorisations for biocidal products (these are mainly amendments to the annexes of Directive 98/8/EC to authorise the placing on the EU market of individual biocidal products, including to the benefit of businesses developing such products).

Since 2010, 30 direct-acting EU regulations have come into effect in the Department's area of responsibility. Of which 13 concern EU regulation of chemical substances; 17 concern EU regulation of biocidal products, including the new EU Biocides Regulation which has replaced Directive 98/8/EC and further technical approvals for substances to be used in individual biocidal products.

EU Social Policy

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2014, Official Report, column 50W, on EU social policy, which UK public funds are classified by the Government as (a) social assistance and (b) social security for the purposes of interpreting requirements of the EU Treaty. [184045]

Esther McVey: The Government's position is as follows.

The Department for Work and Pensions administers three classes of benefits:

Social security benefits are designed to cover a number of specified risks which are set out in Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems, such as sickness benefits, old-age benefits and unemployment benefits. These benefits are covered by the EU social security coordination rules and can be exportable, i.e. these benefits are paid to UK nationals and EU citizens who no longer live in the UK, but are now resident elsewhere in the EU.

Social assistance benefits are means tested benefits with particular qualifying conditions based on residence. They are not covered by EU social security coordination rules and are not exportable.

Special non-contributory benefits (SNCBs) have characteristics of both social security and social assistance benefits. They are covered by EU social security coordination rules but are not exportable.

Examples of these three benefits are detailed in the following table:

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Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what total number of telephones was available in the Jobcentre Plus network to enable jobseekers to contact officials in his Department free of charge with benefit queries on 1 January (a) 2010, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014; [184108]

(2) what the average number of telephones was in each jobcentre to enable jobseekers to contact officials in his Department free of charge with benefit queries on 1 January (a) 2010, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014; and if he will make a statement. [184109]

Esther McVey: With the increase in online and digital platforms for benefit claims and job search, we have been moving towards an assisted service for vulnerable claimants where queries are dealt with face to face for those claimants who require our support. As a consequence the number of phones deployed has been falling. We are unable to provide data from 2010 but in 2012 the number of phones deployed was 3,700. This has decreased by approximately 1,300 to 2,400. As we continue to develop our digital and assisted service these phones will be gradually removed and the total will fall to zero.

Pensions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to safeguard the rights of UK pension holders whose pensions have been placed in the hands of companies that are based abroad. [184153]

Steve Webb: Pension schemes that are registered in the UK remain subject to UK pensions regulations and come within the Regulator's remit. The Regulator has significant anti-avoidance powers to ensure that abandonment of schemes does not take place, or to take action where it does. Where there is a deliberate act to avoid the employer's debt to the scheme or an act which will detrimentally affect the likelihood of accrued scheme benefits being received, the Pensions Regulator has a power to issue a contribution notice. Where the legal

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tests required by the legislation are met, the Regulator can require a cash contribution to be made to the scheme.

The Regulator also has the power to issue a Financial Support Direction (FSD) which requires arrangements to be put in place to ensure that the employer will fund members' benefits in full. In the case of a takeover, the acquiring company may come within the ambit of the FSD provisions, if the conditions are satisfied.

Pensions legislation includes rules governing the service of documents and this is intended to operate outside the UK jurisdiction. The power to enforce any regulatory action against a non-UK company is likely to require the approval or cooperation of the relevant overseas authorities.

Pensions Regulator

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources provided to the Pensions Regulator. [184154]

Steve Webb: The adequacy of the resources allocated to the Pensions Regulator is reviewed regularly. A review is under way to determine the resources the body requires in order to pursue its objectives in 2014-15. This review will inform the development of the Pensions Regulator's Business Plan, effective from April 2014, which it will publish in due course.

Social Security Benefits: Brigg

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Brigg and Goole constituency have had their benefit withdrawn for refusing to work in each year since 2010. [184183]

Esther McVey: The information is shown in the following table.

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Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason three months was chosen as the length of time before an EU migrant can claim benefits. [184151]

Esther McVey: The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Habitual Residence) Amendment Regulations 2013 has been laid with a three months residence requirement to apply to an EU migrant claiming income-based JSA. It is legitimate for the UK to pay income-based JSA only if there is a genuine link between the jobseeker and the labour market, and that the person has, for a reasonable period, genuinely sought work. A three-month period is an appropriate and proportionate period of time to establish that link.

Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration has been given to the use of a national identity card system for determining eligibility for receipt of welfare payments. [184120]

Esther McVey: No consideration has been given to the use of a national identity card system for determining eligibility for receipt of welfare payments, as there are no plans to introduce national identity cards.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made on addressing issues regarding Atos testing for disability benefit claimants. [183917]

Mike Penning: ‘Atos testing’ has been interpreted to be the work capability assessments in the medical services agreement.

DWP continually monitors the effectiveness of Atos Healthcare’s performance.

In July 2013, we announced an unacceptable drop in the quality of reports provided by Atos Healthcare. Since then, the Department has been working closely with Atos Healthcare to progress their quality improvement plans, which has seen Atos overhaul their audit arrangements and put their work force through a process of retraining and re-accreditation.

DWP has announced that they will bring in new assessment provision to provide additional delivery capacity for work capability assessments with the aim of reducing waiting times. Commercial activity to procure this additional delivery capacity is already under way.

Telephone Services

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what decision he has made on the case for using 03 telephone numbers for calls from members of the public with benefit queries. [184110]

Esther McVey: DWP will start to introduce 03 numbers alongside its existing 0845 range during March 2014. This dual number approach will allow the caller to

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make a choice on which number is best for them given the terms of their personal telephone contract. This approach is in accordance with Cabinet Office Guidance for Customer Service Helplines.

Unemployment: Ethnic Groups

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment among black and ethnic minority young people. [184040]

Esther McVey: The Government’s strategy for increasing ethnic minority employment and participation in the labour market is based around mainstreaming opportunity through locally delivered flexible provision.

The help and services we deliver in DWP, through Jobcentre Plus and through Work programme providers, are designed to allow flexibility to support each individual jobseeker, rather than treat people according to ethnic groups. Local autonomy and flexibility has replaced the one size fits all approach that has dogged previous employment schemes.

Where there are significant numbers of local claimants with a shared ethnic background and common barriers to employment, a provider or jobcentre may choose to put in place provision designed to help that group. That would be an entirely appropriate local response.

Unemployment: Greater London

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times he has met the Mayor of London to discuss unemployment in London since May 2010. [184041]

Esther McVey: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), has met with the Mayor of London on a number of occasions since May 2010 and has discussed a variety of issues.

Universal Credit

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what role he envisages for local authorities in the administration of universal credit. [184126]

Esther McVey: We recognise that some people will need help with the new demands of universal credit. This could include understanding the new system, help with getting online, and help with managing on a monthly budget and paying rent.

In conjunction with local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, the Department has published the Universal Credit Local Support Services Framework (February 2013). This provides a structure for the delivery of local support services to individuals needing additional help with the new demands of universal credit.

Central to the local support services framework is the "Delivery Partnerships Approach" under which DWP and local authority managers will work together to agree upon delivery of services at the local level.

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On 6 December 2013, the Department published the Universal Credit Local Support Services Framework Update and Trialling Plan. This refocuses the local support services work following announcements setting out revisions to the roll-out of universal credit.

Work Programme

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his assessment of the effectiveness of the Work Programme will include (a) data on claimants returning to Jobcentre services and (b) a survey of the experiences of those completing the Work Programme. [183947]

Esther McVey: Work Programme performance statistics data and experiences of Work Programme returners have and will be used in assessment of the effectiveness of the programme.

Health

Action on Smoking and Health

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when his Department has met representatives to the Action on Smoking and Health charity since July 2013; how many such meetings have been held to discuss proposals for standardised tobacco packaging; and who was present at each such meeting; [183770]

(2) how much funding the Action on Smoking and Health charity received from his Department in the last year; and what assessment he has made of how these funds have been spent; [183771]

(3) on how many occasions he or his Department met an organisation, group or person to discuss tobacco control regulation in the last year; who attended each such meeting; which aspect of tobacco control was discussed at each such meeting; and what the date was of each such meeting; [183781]

(4) on how many occasions his Department met representatives of the charity Action on Smoking and Health to discuss the Tobacco Products Directive in the last year; and who was present at each such meeting. [183785]

Jane Ellison: Ministers and officials meet a range of organisations on a regular basis to discuss many aspects of tobacco control.

Since July 2013 the Department has had six meetings specifically with Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and one of these meetings was specifically about Standardised Packaging. Departmental attendees at these meetings have included tobacco policy team officials and departmental lawyers.

In the last year, the Department has not had any specific meetings with ASH to discuss the proposed revisions to the Tobacco Products Directive.

There have also been other meetings and events that both Department and ASH have attended; some of these meetings have been with the Smokefree Action Coalition, whose membership includes health charities, academics, clinicians and local authorities for which ASH provides the secretariat. I was present for two of these meetings.

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ASH received a grant for £150,000 for the financial year 2012-13. The Department held regular governance meetings and received update reports from ASH in accordance with the terms of all grants awarded under Section 64 of the Health and Social Care Act 1968. These arrangements were subject to a routine internal audit review in 2012 which was fully satisfactory.

Cholesterol

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of adults with high blood cholesterol in England. [183736]

Jane Ellison: The Government have an ambitious programme to improve public health through strengthening local action, behavioural changes and promoting healthy choices, and changing the environment to support healthier lives.

We know that many premature deaths and illnesses could be avoided by improving lifestyles. Blood cholesterol levels can be lowered by eating a healthy, balanced diet that is low in saturated fat, taking regular exercise, stop smoking and reducing alcohol intake.

Our programme includes national ambitions to reduce smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol, all with appropriate metrics included in the public health outcomes framework.

In addition to this, through the NHS Health Check, people between the ages of 40 and 74 are offered a range of checks on their health, including on cholesterol levels. The check gives doctors an opportunity for the early identification of cardiovascular risks in the adult population.

The Department’s mandate for NHS England sets out the improvements in health and health care outcomes that the national health service is expected to deliver, and the priorities for improvement are reflected in the NHS outcomes framework. This includes supporting earlier diagnosis of illness by tackling issues such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are both risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Counselling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for access to NHS counselling services in each of the last 10 years. [183727]

Norman Lamb: The information is not available in the format requested or for the full period.

Data on average waiting times for access to NHS counselling services from 2004-2008 have not been collected, as a national psychological therapy service did not exist during this period, and information was not collected for locally commissioned services.

There are a range of talking therapies and counselling available for the treatment of depression and anxiety. We do not keep data on all of these.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre has collected data on waiting times for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) from 2012-13. This is presented as a distribution of banded times waiting

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times from service request to first treatment appointment, as average waiting times are not available.

Data are available for 2012-13 and for Quarter 1 of 2013-14 in the following tables.

Data collected on IAPT prior to 2012-13 cannot be broken down to show waiting times.

Depressive Illnesses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which drugs are the five most frequently prescribed in the NHS for treatment of anxiety and depression; [183732]

(2) what the cost to the NHS of prescriptions was for anti-depressant drugs in each of the last 10 years; [183737]

(3) how many prescriptions for anti-depressants were issued in (a) England, (b) each region of England and (c) each health authority area in each of the last 10 years. [183743]

Norman Lamb: Information on the five medicines for the treatment of anxiety and depression, with the most prescriptions dispensed, in the last financial year, 2012-13, is provided.

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The cost of antidepressant prescription items dispensed in. each of the last 10 financial years, together with the number of items, is provided.

Information is not held centrally on the number of prescriptions issued. Information is available for the number of prescription items dispensed for England and by special health authorities only and is not available for a full 10 year period.

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Health Services: Foreign Nationals

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been given to the use of a national identity card system for determining eligibility for treatment by the national health service. [184112]

Jane Ellison: A national identity card system for determining eligibility for treatment by the national health service was taken into consideration as part of the work on improving recovery of charges from visitors and migrants accessing health care. Having taken into consideration a number of factors, including cost, it was decided not to pursue this approach.

Health: Children

Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, column 414W, on health: children, if he will commission a sample study or a review of sample studies to discover the levels of unfitness in schoolchildren. [183886]

Jane Ellison: The Department has not planned to commission a sample study or a review of sample studies to discover the level of unfitness in schoolchildren.

We know that too many children are overweight and we want more children to do regular exercise. So that all pupils develop healthy, active lifestyles, the Government are providing primary schools with over £450 million of ring-fenced funding to improve physical education and sport provision over academic years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Hepatitis

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the prevention, early identification and treatment of hepatitis C. [183787]

Jane Ellison: Through Public Health England (PHE), the Department continues to raise awareness of hepatitis C among professionals and the public. Major reports published recently include “Hepatitis C in the UK: 2013”, available at:

www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/BloodBorne Infections/HepatitisCInTheUK/1307HepatitisCintheUK2013 report/

“An audit of hepatitis C services in a representative sample of English prisons, 2013”, available at:

www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/BloodBorne Infections/HepatitisCInTheUK/1305AuditofHepCservicesin Englishprisons/

“Hepatitis C in London: annual review (2011 data)”, available at:

www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/BloodBorne Infections/HepatitisCInTheUK/1208HepCinLondon2011review/

PHE has worked with the Local Government Association to produce the document “Hepatitis: frequently asked questions: briefing for councillors”, that can support the work of overview and scrutiny committees and health and wellbeing boards, this is available at:

www.local.gov.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=f0e5b7b9-c32e-4c8e-a005-b5c4e87b0126&groupId=10180

PHE has also co-developed the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Certificate in the Detection, Diagnosis and Management of Hepatitis B and C in Primary Care to help raise awareness in primary care and among other professionals working with groups at high risk of chronic viral hepatitis infection. By May 2013, 936 individuals had completed the RCGP e-learning module; 360 individuals had completed level 1 of the certificate (comprising both the e-module and face-to-face training).

Home Care Services: Pay

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of levels of adherence to minimum wage legislation in the home care sector. [184180]

Norman Lamb: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is responsible for national minimum wage (NMW) policy, including the policy on compliance and enforcement. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enforce the NMW on BIS's behalf.

The Government are taking action to improve compliance with national minimum wage legislation including HMRC's targeted enforcement activity on non-compliance in the care sector. HMRC is also collaborating with care sector representative bodies to improve understanding of compliance risks and design controls within payroll systems that prevent workers being underpaid the minimum wage.

Mental Health Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) children were referred through the NHS for counselling to treat depression and anxiety in each of the last 10 years. [183744]

Norman Lamb: There is a range of talking therapies and counselling available for the treatment of depression and anxiety. We do not keep data on ail of these.

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However, since 2008 we have collected data on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme. These data were collected, through an aggregate Key Performance Indicators collection, but this does not provide the required breakdown of men, women and children.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waited longer than four hours at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust accident and emergency department in the latest period for which figures are available; and how long the longest wait was during that period. [184035]

Jane Ellison: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on longest waits in accident and emergency (A&E) departments is not collected centrally.

For University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, in the week ending 12 January 2014, 182 patients spent longer than four hours in A&E departments (all types) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. This represents 5.7% of patients attending. Statistics on A&E departments are published weekly on the NHS England website at:

www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bahrain

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the UN is likely to approve a body to provide independent oversight to political reform in Bahrain following opposition to the National Commission appointed after the BICI report. [183923]

Hugh Robertson: Any request for independent oversight of the national dialogue process is a decision for the Government of Bahrain. We continue to encourage all parties to engage constructively in the dialogue and to build the trust and confidence necessary for longer-term reconciliation.

Burma

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government have received of violations of international law taking place in Burma. [183719]

Mr Swire: The Government receive a wide range of reports concerning the situation in Burma, some of which contain allegations of violations of international norms. For example, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, regularly highlights in his reports to the UN General Assembly areas where international human rights standards have been contravened.

We continue to urge the Burmese Government to adhere to international standards across the full range of issues, from human rights to non-proliferation. We are specially pressing for the opening of an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the ratification of key conventions and protocols, such as the international

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convention on civil and political rights and the chemical weapons convention. I will be repeating these calls in person to members of the Burmese Government during my visit to Burma later this month.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions the UK is seeking before the arms embargo on Burma is lifted; and if he will make a statement. [184165]

Mr Swire: The EU arms embargo and restrictions on the supply of equipment which could be used for internal repression will be reviewed in April. The Burmese military must demonstrate their genuine commitment to reform before any change is considered.

We will continue to use our discussions with the Burmese military to tackle human rights issues such as the use of child soldiers, and to bring an end to sexual violence in conflict areas.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the UK training of military police in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [184167]

Mr Swire: We believe that engagement with both the Burmese military and with the Burmese police is the best way to encourage their participation in the country's democratic regions, and to encourage their own transition into institutions fit for a democratic era.

From 6 to 17 January 2014, the UK Defence Academy successfully delivered an educational course to 30 students drawn from government and the Burmese military with academic partners from Cranfield University. The course did not build any military capacity or capability. Aung San Suu Kyi supported its delivery and attended the closing ceremony.

In 2013, the EU launched a €10 million project to take place over 18 months to provide Burmese police officers with training in community policing and public order best practice. The UK is contributing directly to this project, and four serving British police officers have so far been involved. Former Northern Irish Police officers will lead on a community policing element.

EU Countries: Competition

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made on the review of the balance of competitiveness of the EU. [183891]

Mr Lidington: The first set of Balance of Competence reports were published on 22 July 2013. Departments are working on the second semester reports and will publish these as soon as they are ready. Calls for evidence for the third set of reports closed last week and Departments are now drafting these reports.

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many EU directives his Department has transposed into UK law since 2010;

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and how many directly acting EU regulations have come into effect in his Department's area of responsibility in the same period. [183866]

Mr Lidington: Since 1 January 2010 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not transposed any EU directives into UK law. In the same period, the EU has adopted 285 regulations dealing with sanctions which are the responsibility of several Government Departments.

Iran

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2014, Official Report, column 607W, on Iran, if he will take steps to develop and seek agreement on a mechanism for the inclusion of Saudi Arabia formally in the process. [184019]

Hugh Robertson: We fully recognise the interest that regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, have in developments regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. We engage regularly with them on this issue and will continue to do so. However, it would not be appropriate to develop a formal mechanism for including them in E3 plus 3 negotiations with Iran.

Malaysia

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Malaysian Government about the confiscation of Bibles by Islamic authorities in that country. [183855]

Mr Swire: We are following closely developments in Malaysia on the use by Christians of the word of ‘Allah’, including the seizure of Malay language bibles by the religious authorities in the state of Selangor on 2 January. We have raised our concerns with Malaysian Ministers.

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent of religious freedom in Malaysia. [183856]

Mr Swire: We regularly underline our support for respecting human rights, including freedom of religion, in our contacts with the Malaysian Government. Our high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur has raised the issue with Malaysian Ministers.

Nuclear Weapons

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK will send a representative to the conference on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons in Nayarit, Mexico on 13 to 14 February 2014. [184084]

Hugh Robertson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 570W, to the hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn).

I will inform the House when a decision on attendance has been made.

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Syria

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the effect of the vote in the House of Commons of 30 August 2013 on military intervention in Syria on the UK’s (a) diplomatic and (b) trade objectives in respect of (i) Saudi Arabia and (ii) the United Arab Emirates. [184021]

Hugh Robertson: We enjoy strong bilateral relationships with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. We share concerns about the situation in Syria and are working closely with our Gulf allies as part of wider international efforts to address the crisis.

Thailand

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in Thailand to encourage that country to provide safe shelter to Rohingya children and their families who arrive there by boat. [183726]

Mr Swire: UK Ministers and senior officials regularly raise concerns about the treatment of the Rohingya in Thailand. I raised the issue with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jullapong Nonsrichai at the inaugural UK-Thailand Strategic Dialogue I co-chaired in Bangkok in May 2013.

Through our embassy in Bangkok, the UK continues to press Thailand to ensure that international protocols governing the treatment of refugees are strictly adhered to by offering protection and assistance to those who land on her shores, by moving those Rohingya detained in immigration detention centres to more appropriate facilities, and offering family reunification of split families.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will (a) discuss with the Moroccan ambassador to the UK and (b) instruct HM ambassador in Rabat to report on the incidents in El Aaiún, Western Sahara, on 15 January 2014. [184000]

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of reports of an incident and have asked our embassy in Rabat for further information. We raise human rights issues relating to Western Sahara regularly with the Moroccan authorities, including at senior level in Rabat and during the embassy's regular visits to Western Sahara.

Home Department

Animal Experiments

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many horses in each licensed establishment were used in medical experiments in the UK in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013. [182725]

Norman Baker [holding answer 14 January 2014]: In 2012, 191 horses and other equids were used in animal scientific procedures in Great Britain. The Home Office expects to publish statistics for 2013 in June/July 2014.

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The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland (DHSSPSNI) separately publishes figures for Northern Ireland. In 2012, seven horses and other equids were used in animal scientific procedures in Northern Ireland.

The publication of 2013 statistics for Northern Ireland is a matter for DHSSPSNI.

Domestic Violence

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of domestic violence in (a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) England; and what assistance her Department offers to victims of domestic violence. [183517]

Norman Baker [holding answer 20 January 2014]:The coalition Government's approach to tackling domestic violence and abuse is set out in our Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and supporting action plan 2013. We have ring-fenced nearly £40 million of stable funding for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services until 2015. This helps fund 144 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and 54 Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Co-ordinators across England and Wales.

The Home Office has provided funding to domestic violence and abuse services in the West Midlands, and this includes support for 15 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and four Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference co-ordinators across the West Midlands as a whole, including one such adviser in Coventry.

Driving Under Influence: Drugs

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many roadside drug analysis machines are in active use in (a) total and (b) each police force. [184033]

Norman Baker: There are currently no roadside drug screening devices available to police forces.

Type approval work is ongoing to make suitable devices available for procurement by the police. The Home Office has issued a specification for a roadside screening device. Manufacturers have been invited to submit a device that meets this specification and a number of devices are currently undergoing testing. This work is due to be completed as close as possible to the introduction of the new offence of driving with more than a specified amount of a specified drug in the body, which is due to be introduced this summer.

Drugs: Misuse

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written statement from the Minister for Crime Prevention of 13 January 2014, Official Report, column 22WS, on drug policy, whether she has received indications from other EU member states that they intend to opt out of the Commission's proposed directive on new psychoactive substances. [183387]

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Norman Baker [holding answer 17 January 2014]: Ireland is the only member state that shares our Justice and Home Affairs Opt-in and Schengen Opt-out (Protocols 21 and 19 to the EU Treaties) status.

To date, we have not received any indication that Ireland intends to opt out of either of the Commission's recent proposals on new psychoactive substances.

There are a number of other member states who share our concerns on the legal base and we are working closely with them to negotiate effectively at the Horizontal Drugs Group in Brussels.

Human Trafficking

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the selection criteria for first responders to the National Referral Mechanism; and if she will make a statement. [181072]

James Brokenshire: The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying victims of trafficking and enabling them to access care and support. There are no written criteria for first responders to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

Those applying for first responder status are asked to provide evidence of their understanding and support of the NRM process; show a sound knowledge of human trafficking and how their work routinely brings them into direct contact with individuals who could be victims of trafficking; and demonstrate how a direct referral relationship would add value to existing processes.

On 3 December, the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced a review of the NRM. The detail and terms of reference for the review are being considered at the moment.

Vetting

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target she has set for the uptake of the Disclosure and Barring Service's Update Service by employers and organisations; and what assessment she has made of the rate of progress towards that target. [183922]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office did not set a target for the Disclosure and Barring Service's Update Service. As a result, there is no target against which progress could be assessed.

Culture, Media and Sport

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many EU directives her Department has transposed into UK law since 2010; and how many directly acting EU regulations have come into effect in her Department’s area of responsibility in the same period. [183861]

Mrs Grant: Since January 2010, DCMS has transposed four EU directives into UK law; and four EU regulations have come into effect within its areas of responsibility.

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Marriage

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she plans to bring into force section 9 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 which allows the conversion of civil partnerships in marriage. [184078]

Mrs Grant: As the Government announced on 10 December 2013, we are working hard to ensure that couples wanting to convert their civil partnerships into marriages are able to do so as soon as possible. We aim to do this before the end of 2014.

Museums and Galleries

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, column 371W, on museums and galleries, which legislation governs the (a) Geffrye museum and (b) Horniman museum and gardens. [184042]

Mr Vaizey: The Geffrye museum and the Horniman museum and gardens are not governed by specific legislation. They are companies limited by guarantee, governed by Memoranda and Articles of Association, and are registered as charities with the Charity Commission.

Public Expenditure

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what areas of her Department’s spending reductions of 1.17% in 2014-15 and 1.13% in 2015-16 will be found. [184043]

Mrs Grant: With the exception of budgets for minority language broadcasting and contractually committed PFI schemes, these budget reductions were applied equally across all of the Department’s budgets and those of its arm’s length bodies. Specific spending plans for 2014-15 and 2015-16 will now be made by each organisation against these reduced budgets.

Sports: National Lottery

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to improve the transparency of national governing bodies of lottery-funded sports. [183809]

Mrs Grant: Sport England has a comprehensive assurance system to oversee the use of public money invested in national governing bodies of sports. The system uses a range of tools including (i) quarterly finance and governance reviews; (ii) biannual reviews of performance against award agreements; (iii) biannual publication of the Active People Survey participation targets; (iv) an annual payment by results process; (v) annual self-assurance submission and action planning to ensure good governance; (vi) on-site inspection of every NGB at least once over a four year period.

Swimming

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many local authority swimming pool operators in the UK have implemented the ASA Aquatics Pathway scheme since its introduction. [183825]

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Mrs Grant: Since 2010, 707 local authority pools in England have implemented the ASA Aquatics Pathway. As sport is a devolved matter, ASA Aquatics Pathway schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the relevant Sports Council.

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from amateur swimming clubs that closed because they have not been permitted to teach swimming to beginners through the ASA Aquatics Pathway scheme. [183827]

Mrs Grant: DCMS has not received any such representations from amateur swimming clubs. Where circumstances change around the delivery of learn to swim programmes, the ASA provides advice and support to clubs on a case-by-case basis.

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many amateur swimming clubs operated in local authority swimming pools in (a) 2013, (b) 2012 and (c) 2011. [183828]

Mrs Grant: Neither Sport England nor the Amateur Swimming Association collect data on the number of swimming clubs operating in local authority swimming pools.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy: Finance

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much private sector investment the Government has attracted since 2010 to help provide long-term sustainable energy solutions. [183914]

Michael Fallon: DECC estimates suggest that there has been almost £40 billion investment in the electricity sector overall (generation and networks) since 2010; since November 2012 around £20 billion worth of generation projects have achieved development consent, with the capacity to generate electricity for over 6 million homes.

Energy: Prices

Mr Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the financial effect of Ofgem's decision to remove the prompt payment discount. [183767]

Michael Fallon: Ofgem's rules to standardise discounts across suppliers and ban discounts that are dependent on consumers' behaviour, such as prompt payment discounts are part of a package of reforms to the retail energy market so consumers face simpler tariff choices and receive clearer information.

The Department has not estimated the specific financial effect of removing the prompt payment discount, but Ofgem has estimated that the overall package of retail market reforms will result overall consumer benefit of £334 million a year.

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EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many EU directives his Department has transposed into UK law since 2010; and how many directly acting EU regulations have come into effect in his Department's area of responsibility in the same period. [183864]

Gregory Barker: Since 2010, the Department has transposed eight EU directives into UK law. Two directives have been transposed without the need for new legislation.

Details of all EU legislation, including EU regulations which have come into force since 2010, can be found on the Commission's website:

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

Fracking

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Environment Agency will be able to apply cost recovery to companies wishing to operate wells for hydraulic fracturing of shale gas. [183100]

Dan Rogerson: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Environment Agency's work to regulate individual shale gas sites is financed through the charges raised for environmental permits and licences. Operators of shale gas sites will submit an initial application fee, followed by a yearly 'subsistence' fee, which is used to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what liability regime will cover operators of hydraulic fracturing wells to extract shale gas. [183103]

Michael Fallon: The operator is liable for any damage or pollution which his operations may cause. An operator's liability to prevent and remediate environmental damage is set out in the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009. These regulations implement the Environmental Liability Directive (Directive 2004/35/EC).

When operations finish, the operator is responsible for safe abandonment of the well(s) and for restoring the well-site to its previous state or a suitable condition for re-use. The relevant planning authority will require suitable restoration of the site as a condition of the planning permission.

DECC is discussing with industry arrangements to ensure that site restoration and aftercare will be secure even in the event that the operator goes out of business.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of fracking to the energy mix in the UK. [183892]

Michael Fallon: The future role of gas in our energy mix will be influenced by the complex interplay of a number of factors including commitments on carbon reduction; the potential of new technology (such as

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Carbon Capture and Storage); the need to maintain energy security; and market-led decisions based on price.

Fracking: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs created by the fracking industry in Yorkshire and the Humber in the next 10 years. [184185]

Michael Fallon: The Department has not made such an estimate.

In a May 2013 report, the Institute of Directors estimated that UK shale production could support 74,000 jobs.

Plutonium

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any plutonium created in UK civilian (a) commercial reactors and (b) research reactors has been put to use in (i) nuclear weapons in the UK or elsewhere and (ii) other military uses since each reactor type first started operating in the UK. [183738]

Mr Dunne: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

This was addressed in a Ministry of Defence April 2000 report on historical accounting and plutonium, a summary of which is available in the National Archives at the following link:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060130214247/http://www.mod.uk/publications/nuclear_weapons/accounting.htm

Plutonium for nuclear weapons was produced in the UK defence reactors at the Windscale Piles, Calder hall and Chapelcross. The UK Government announced a moratorium on the production of nuclear materials for explosive purposes in 1995.

Since the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, all reprocessing in the UK has been conducted under the Euratom/International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards agreement. There have been some withdrawals of plutonium from safeguards, for analysis, temporary handling or processing when such services were not available in the civilian sector. It is not possible to determine where this plutonium was created. These withdrawals are of a type and quantity not suitable for weapons use; information can be found on the Office of Nuclear Regulation website at the following link:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/safeguards/withdrawals.htm

House of Commons Commission

Catering

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidelines are issued to catering outlets in the House on the provision of healthy food and drink. [184119]

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John Thurso: The House of Commons joined the Public Health Responsibility Deal on 2 August 2013 and as such has committed to the Healthier Staff Restaurant Pledge. This includes the following:

Ensuring the availability of healthier foods and beverages in all available channels to employees.

Reformulating recipes to provide meals which are lower in fat, salt and energy and do not contain artificial trans fats.

Provision of responsibly sized portions of foods.

Provision and promotion of the consumption of fruit and vegetables through availability and price promotion.

Ensuring that water is visible and freely available.

The Director of Catering Services would be happy to discuss these matters with the right hon. Member.

Chocolate

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what the value of chocolate confectionery products purchased in the House was in each year since 2005. [184117]

John Thurso: Since 2009 House of Commons Catering Services has purchased the following chocolate confectionery products for resale. Figures are no longer available for earlier periods.

Pay

Mr Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent discussions he has had with contractors providing services to the House on their duty to monitor the undertakings of subcontractors, including payment of the London Living Wage to all staff. [183751]

John Thurso: Contract and project managers have contacted contractors to explain the Commission's undertaking to this House and to Citizens UK to ensure, to the extent permitted by law, that anyone providing services to the House, including their subcontractors, pays their staff a living wage. Where instances of such staff being paid less than a living wage have been identified, our managers have made the Commission's policy clear to the contractor and inquired about any obstacles to payment. This is the stage we are at with the two subcontractors we have identified as not paying a living wage—both of whom have bases outside London.

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment he has made of (a) job satisfaction, (b) absenteeism rates and (c) staff turnover rates of staff of the House. [183557]

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John Thurso: The 2013 staff survey reported that 58% of respondents said that they were satisfied with their job, and 88% were proud to work for the House Service, in 2012-13 the average days lost to sickness absence per employee was six and the turnover rate was 15.1 %.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment he has made of the potential for the provision of mindfulness for the staff of the House in improving well-being. [183714]

John Thurso: The Safety, Health and Wellbeing service (SHWS) offers a range of interventions and programmes to improve the well-being of House staff. Individuals will be signposted towards mindfulness programmes where this would be of benefit. The cognitive behavioural therapy element of mindfulness is also offered where appropriate. The Welfare team have found the principles of mindfulness a useful tool for improving the well-being for those staff who present with anxiety or depression.

SHWS have an active mental health awareness agenda, and the Learning and Development and Diversity teams work with SHWS to assess and promote well-being among staff.

Sugar

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what the value of sugar purchased for consumption in the House of Commons was in each year since 2005. [184115]

John Thurso: The volume and value of sugar purchased for consumption in the House of Commons since 2009 is set out as follows. Figures for earlier years are no longer available.

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of beverages sold in the House of Commons were sugar-free in each year since 2005. [184116]

John Thurso: The sugar-free share of sales by House of Commons Catering Services of non-alcoholic drinks in cans and bottles has been as follows:

Sales records prior to April 2010 are not held; these figures include sales of bottled water.

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Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of the products on sale in vending machines in the House are sugar-free or low in sugar. [184118]

John Thurso: Of the 40 items that were stocked in the vending machines on 22 January, 13 items were either:

Low sugar—Nut and seed mix

No sugar—Diet Coke/water

No added sugar—Dried fruit/plain crisps/ fruit juices

This equates to 33% of the items on sale being either sugar free, low in sugar or no added sugar.

Catering Services will continue to monitor the demand for healthier snacks over the coming months.

Communities and Local Government

Derelict Land: Greater London

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much brownfield land is available for development in the London area; and if he will make a statement. [184038]

Nick Boles: According to the National Land Use Database, there were an estimated 3,660 hectares of brownfield land in London that might have been available for redevelopment in 2010.

Development of this land would have been dependent on the viability of the sites.

Empty Property: Shops

Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of high street vacancy rates. [902130]

Brandon Lewis: My Department does not collect or publish data relating to high street vacancy rates. There are several commercial sources of shop vacancy rates data available, including from the Local Data Company and Springboard, who publish overall trends in the public domain.

I note that recent figures from the Local Data Company show that the number of empty shops on the UK high street fell to 13.9% in December 2013, after remaining stable in the second half of 2013.

In December we announced a range of powerful new measures to provide the tools for the public and private sectors to transform their town centres for their local communities in England.

These include the biggest business rates support package for over 20 years, (including a new 50% discount for 18 months for new occupiers of retail premises that have been vacant for a year or more, and a new £1,000 discount for shops, restaurants and pubs with a rateable value of £50,000 or less), banning CCTV for penalty parking fines and allowing residents and firms to review parking policies, a freeze on parking penalty charges, a review of Business Improvement Districts a call for evidence on red tape, and support for the digital high streets.

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We also announced that we will consult on further simplifications in planning rules, allowing changes from retail to restaurant use and to various leisure uses, making it easier to find new uses for vacant premises. This is on top of our earlier reforms: we have allowed premises to convert temporarily to a range of other uses for of up two years, and recently consulted on further permitted development including allowing change of use to housing from shops that are no longer viable. These will allow businesses to respond quickly to market conditions.

Enterprise Zones

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the National Audit Office report, Funding and structures for local economic growth, published on 6 December 2013, for what reasons the Government have revised its estimate of the number of jobs to be created in enterprise zones by 2015. [184127]

Kris Hopkins: The enterprise zone job figures set out in the National Audit Office report were based upon early estimates made by the zones themselves in 2011. As the programme has progressed, we have developed estimates which reflect zone's revised delivery ambitions and actual market conditions.

Fracking

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on planning applications in respect of fracking; and if he will make a statement. [183893]

Nick Boles: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has received less than 10 representations relating to specific planning applications for the exploration of shale gas over the last four months.

Shale gas has the potential to provide the UK with greater energy security, growth and jobs. The locally-led planning system will ensure that new development, including the key exploratory phase of the extraction of shale gas, is appropriate for its location. The planning system is accompanied by separate environmental and health and safety provisions (overseen by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, by the Environment Agency and by the Health and Safety Executive) ensuring that a robust, comprehensive and safe regulatory regime is in place.

Housing: Construction

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what proportion of housing development has taken place on (a) greenbelt and (b) brownfield land in each of the last 20 years in England; and how many (i) housing units and (ii) hectares of land this figure represents; [182525]

(2) how many hectares of land in England have been (a) declassified and (b) classified as greenbelt in each of the last 20 years. [182526]

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Nick Boles [holding answer 14 January 2014]:Figures are not centrally held for the change in the classification of green belt over each of the last 20 years.

However, historic statistics on new dwellings built and associated area of land developed within the green belt, and on brownfield (previously-developed) land, are published on my Department's website at Live Tables P211, P213, P226 and P246.

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-land-use-change-statistics

In particular, I would note that the level of green belt development (measured by the total land area changing to residential use within the green belt) is at its lowest since, the figures began in 1989, as the following table illustrates:

To place this in context, in 2011, the green belt in England had an estimated area of 1,639,540 hectares (hence 90 hectares represents 0.005% of England's green belt).

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Moreover, I would observe that in 2011, 71% of all new dwellings within the green belt were built on previously developed land, reflecting the fact that there is brownfield land within green belt boundaries that can be reasonably redeveloped, provided it does not harm the openness of the green belt.

The green belt has a valuable role protecting against urban sprawl and providing a green lung round our towns and cities. The National Planning Policy Framework, which safeguards national green belt protection, explains how the green belt serves to:

check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;

prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another;

assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;

preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and

assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.

This Government have abolished the Labour Government's top-down regional strategies which sought to delete or undermine green belt protection in 30 towns and cities across England.

In addition, as outlined in the written statements of 1 July 2013, Official Report, columns 24-25WS, and 17 January 2014, Official Report, columns 33-34WS, our planning policy on traveller sites states that both temporary and permanent Traveller sites are inappropriate development in green belt.

Those statements also made clear that unmet need, whether for traveller sites or for conventional housing, is unlikely to outweigh harm to the green belt and other harm to constitute the “very special circumstances” justifying inappropriate development in the green belt.

Temporary Accommodation: Cumbria

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many families were based in temporary accommodation in (a) Barrow-in-Furness and (b) South Lakeland in each quarter of the last five years. [184178]

Kris Hopkins: Snapshot figures of households in temporary accommodation, which were recorded on the last day of each quarter, are provided in the following tables.

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This Government have retained a strong homelessness safety net protected in law, supported by £470 million in the current spending review period to prevent and tackle homelessness, rough sleeping and repossessions. We are seeing this investment making an impact with homeless families now spending seven months less in temporary accommodation than since the start of 2010.

We have also made some changes to the rules under the Localism Act to enable local authorities to help households move more quickly into a settled home. This means households will no longer need to be placed in temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing to become available.