Electoral Register: Scotland

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will publish the name of each local authority in Scotland that failed the Standard Three performance standard for the completeness and accuracy of electoral registration records in 2012. [184313]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that all EROs in Scotland met performance standard 3 in 2012.

The Electoral Commission refers the hon. Gentleman to its earlier reply of 29 November 2013, Official Report, columns 451-54W, in which it outlined the authorities in Great Britain that did not meet the performance standard in 2012.

International Development

International Citizen Service

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent on the International Citizen Service programme in each country in each year since 2011. [184543]

Justine Greening: DFID does not centrally hold this information in the form you have requested.

Land

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which sites owned by her Department are currently earmarked for disposal; what the current class use is of each site; what the expected planning use is for each site; whether each site already has planning permission for the expected planning use; what the market value of the site is; and whether the site will be sold for the full market value. [184986]

Mr Duncan: DFID does not own any sites that are currently earmarked for disposal.

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Pay

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (a) how many and (b) what proportion of staff employed by (i) her Department, (ii) agencies of her Department and (iii) contractors of her Department are paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage. [184449]

Mr Duncan: DFID and its arm’s lengths bodies do not pay any of their employees or directly contracted workers less than the “living wage” as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

Procurement

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials of each grade in her Department have the authority to execute a purchase; what proportion of these officials have professional procurement qualifications; and what key indicators are used by her Department to assess procurement officers' performance. [184900]

Justine Greening: The Department has the following grades of officials within the procurement department that can execute purchases on its behalf.

The Department has the following grades of officials professionally procurement qualified.

Across all Government Departments, an annual review of officials' performance is conducted to gauge their competence to perform their duties.

DFID was awarded the “Best International Procurement Project of the Year” in September 2013 by the globally-recognised Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and the legality of same-sex marriage in UK Crown dependencies and overseas territories. [184746]

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Mark Simmonds: The protection and promotion of human rights in the Overseas Territories is primarily the responsibility of Territory Governments. Territories have had most of the core UN human rights conventions extended to them. The UK Government expect Territories to take action, including legislating where necessary, in any areas of disparity to reach full compliance.

At the inaugural Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in 2012, the UK and Territory Governments stated a shared belief in tackling discrimination so that all citizens had an equal opportunity to play an active role in society. Since then a number of pieces of anti-discrimination legislation have been passed in the Territories. For example Bermuda's Human Rights Amendment Act 2013 ensures that no one is discriminated against on the basis of age or sexual orientation. At the Joint Ministerial Council in 2013, the UK and Territory Governments made a commitment to work together to extend the core UN human rights conventions to the Territories where these had not been extended already.

The Crown Dependencies are not part of the UK but are self-governing dependencies of the Crown. The Crown Dependencies' Governments are responsible for their domestic matters. However, UK Government are responsible for ensuring that the Crown Dependencies meet their international obligations, including under the European Convention on Human Rights.

European Commission

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out his Department's priorities for discussions with the European Commission over their 2014 Work Programme; and if he will make a statement. [185311]

Mr Lidington: The Government's priority is focusing on measures that encourage growth and jobs, and which are intended to deepen the Single Market. For more detail, I refer the hon. Member to the Government's Explanatory Memorandum of 15 November 2013 on the Commission Work Programme 2014, which is available at:

http://europeanmemoranda.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/files/2013/11/15521-132.pdf

and the debate in the House on 22 January 2014, Official Report, columns 381-407, both of which outline the Government's main priorities in the Programme. Government Departments will engage with the Commission on the dossiers for which they are responsible to ensure the best deal for the UK.

We will pay particular attention to the lessening of unnecessary regulatory burdens and ensuring that the principle of subsidiarity is respected.

India

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure accountability for any UK involvement in Operation Blue Star in Amritsar in 1984. [184762]

Mr Swire: As stated by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on 15 January 2014, Official Report, column 849, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member

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for Horsham (Mr Maude), has been asked to lead an urgent review to establish the facts and that this process is under way. As also stated by the Prime Minister, the findings will be made public.

Iran

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what processes are in place if Iran withdraws from nuclear talks during the six-month interim agreement period. [184882]

Hugh Robertson: Under the Joint Plan of Action agreed between the E3+3 and Iran, negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear agreement will run in parallel to implementation of a first step interim agreement. The Joint Plan of Action states that the first step will be:

"time-bound, with a duration of six months, and renewable by mutual consent, during which all parties will work to maintain a constructive atmosphere for negotiations in good faith."

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on recent reports that Iran's parliament is considering a bill to increase uranium enrichment to 60 per cent fissile purity. [184883]

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of press reports indicating the Iranian Majles could pass legislation authorising uranium enrichment up to 60%. As part of the interim agreement, implemented on 20 January, Iran committed not to enrich uranium above 5%. We encourage all sides to continue to work constructively on the implementation of the first step agreement and towards the shared goal of a long term comprehensive solution.

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what processes are in place if the P5+1 and Iran do not reach a permanent nuclear agreement during the six-month interim period. [184884]

Hugh Robertson: The Joint Plan of Action sets out the steps to be taken under the interim agreement between the E3+3 and Iran. The interim agreement has a duration of six months, renewable by mutual consent. The Joint Plan of Action also sets out elements of a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran, which we aim to conclude, and begin implementing, within 12 months.

Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2014, Official Report, column 710W, on Iran, which bank he has nominated to deal with permitted transactions between EU and Iran since the commencement of the Geneva Accord on 20 January 2014. [185044]

Hugh Robertson: The EU Iran sanctions regime continues to provide a number of explicit exemptions allowing Iran to purchase humanitarian and other non-sanctioned goods from the EU. In line with our commitments, there are no legal restrictions on any EU banks handling permitted transactions (provided designated entities are not party to the transaction, and subject to the

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authorisations and notifications required under the EU Regulation). Under the Joint Plan of Action, the EU has increased ten-fold its thresholds for authorisation of humanitarian transactions and payments relating to other non-sanctioned trade. We are in consultation with E3+3 partners on additional measures which may be required, in line with the Joint Plan of Action, to facilitate humanitarian trade for Iran's domestic needs using Iranian oil revenues held abroad.

Japan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Japanese counterpart on the hunting of whales and dolphins. [184504]

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

The UK is strongly opposed to the hunting of all cetaceans other than some limited activities by indigenous people for clearly defined subsistence needs. We strongly support the maintenance of the International Whaling Commission's global moratorium on commercial whaling. The UK continues to express its opposition to so called ‘scientific' whaling and small cetacean hunts at every appropriate opportunity and the Japanese Government are in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the UK on this matter.

On 24 January 2014, HM ambassador to Japan wrote to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to reiterate the UK's opposition to the hunting of small cetaceans and raised concerns over the welfare and sustainability issues surrounding such large-scale hunts. That letter also reiterated the UK's opposition to the hunting of all cetaceans other than some limited activities by indigenous people for clearly defined subsistence needs.

My right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) raised UK concerns in relation to Japanese whaling on a visit to Japan in January 2013.

The last meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Panama in 2012 (IWC64), was attended by the then DEFRA Minister for the Marine and Natural Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon), who reiterated the UK Government's support for the moratorium on commercial whaling, and its opposition to ‘scientific whaling'. The UK also raised concerns regarding the continued hunting of small cetaceans by Japan.

Middle East

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of shipments of weapons from Iran to (a) Syria, (b) Lebanon and (c) the Gaza Strip. [184679]

Hugh Robertson: We remain deeply concerned by reports, including from the UN Panel of Experts supporting UNSCR 1737 Committee, that Iran continues to transfer arms within the middle east and Africa—including Syria, Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon—in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. Iran must end such activity immediately.

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Pay

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (a) how many and (b) what proportion of staff employed by (i) his Department, (ii) agencies of his Department and (iii) contractors of his Department are paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage. [184446]

Hugh Robertson: None of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's officers are employed below the living wage. The living wage is £7.65 per hour. In London this is £8.80. The minimum annual salary payable to directly employed staff is £18,176. This equates to £8.31 per hour for staff employed to work outside of London and £8.53 per hour for staff employed to work in London. Staff in London also receive a location allowance of £4,520 pa. This increases the minimum hourly rate in London to £10.64. We are in the process of obtaining information from commercial partners and our arm’s length bodies (ALB) about the rates paid to contract workers and will place a copy of this information in the House Library when available.

Work and Pensions

Employment and Support Allowance

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of employment and support allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [185144]

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

These statistics are published at:

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

Flexible Working

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of jobs advertised as compatible with flexible working in each of the last four years. [184608]

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Esther McVey: The information requested is not retrievable directly from the relevant IT systems and could therefore be provided only at a disproportionate cost. I have asked officials to investigate whether changes could be made to the Universal Jobmatch system to allow this information to be collected in future.

Funeral Payments

Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mean amount awarded to each claimant was of funeral payments awarded through the Social Fund in 2012-13. [184852]

Steve Webb: The mean amount awarded to those who made a successful Social Fund funeral payment application in 2012-13 has been published in the Annual Report by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund 2012 to 2013 (Annex 1). This is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-by-the-secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pensions-on-the-social-fund-2012-to-2013

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in what areas the pilot scheme requiring jobseeker's allowance claimants aged 19-21 who lack level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics to undergo training will be implemented; [185108]

(2) how many people have taken up training as a result of the pilot scheme of support requiring jobseeker's allowance claimants aged 19-21 who lack level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics to take up training. [185109]

Esther McVey: Details of the pilot, including the areas that will be involved, will be announced in due course. As the pilot has not started yet, no one has taken up training.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of jobseekers aged 19-21 who do not have level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics. [185110]

Esther McVey: The findings from the Skills for Life Survey 2011 (the most recent survey conducted) shows numeracy and literacy for respondents claiming JSA but does not provide age breakdowns so it is not possible to identify the proportion of JSA respondents aged 19 to 21 who had less than level 2 in literacy or numeracy.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants who lack basic skills in English, mathematics and IT. [185111]

Esther McVey: The Department does not publish information on the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance who lack basic skills in English, Mathematics and IT.

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Skills Conditionality (SC) policy was introduced from August 2011. Where a claimant's lack of skills is a barrier to them finding work they will be referred either for an in-depth skills check with the National Careers Service or direct to the most appropriate training provider. This includes referrals to basic skills training.

SC applies to those receiving jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance (work related activity group) and data on the aggregate number of referrals to SC training, including basic skills training, from these two benefit groups can be found in the following table:

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [185145]

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

Pay

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of staff employed by (a) his Department, (b) agencies of his Department and (c) contractors of his Department are paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage. [184456]

Mike Penning: The Department, all of its arm's length bodies and all of its contractors comply with the national minimum wage. This statutory minimum is set by the Government at a rate judged to provide the right balance between employee's earnings, the cost of their employment to employers, and also the level of employment in the UK, which is now at record levels. With significant pressure on public expenditure the Government's scope to go further is constrained. None the less all of our London based staff continue to be paid more than the London living wage.

The new national minimum wage rates were announced in October. After the implementation of DWP's 2013 pay award, all of our staff outside of London are paid above the national minimum wage. However 229 members of staff in DWP and 57 in arm's length bodies (less than 0.3% of our staff) earn below the new national living wage, the majority falling below the new hourly rate by 1p.

There are currently some 4,920 staff of our contractors and their service partners who are paid at or below the current living wage figure. Our FM contractor, Telereal Trillium, has committed to introduce the London living wage for all London-based cleaning, catering and security staff with effect from April 2014, reducing the total number in receipt of less than the living wage to around 4,500.

We will continue to take living wage rates into account when considering our remit for the 2014-15 pay award.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Atos decisions were overturned at appeal by Department for Work and Pension area. [184677]

Mike Penning: The information as requested is not available.

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It is important to note that Atos do not make decisions on eligibility for employment and support allowance. Decisions are taken by DWP decision makers, taking account of all the available evidence including the report provided by Atos.

Tell Us Once Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the performance of the Tell Us Once service. [185024]

Esther McVey: Since national rollout of the service in 2011, 90% of local authorities are now delivering the Tell Us Once (TUO) bereavement service and 46% are delivering the birth service. 162,000 births and 559,000 deaths have been reported using the TUO service to date.

We carried out a customer survey in the summer of 2013, which found that:

98% of people felt that their overall experience of the bereavement service was good and were willing to recommend the service to others;

96% of people felt that their overall experience of the birth service was good and were willing to recommend the service to others;

100% of those using the online service found it easy to use;

more than 95% of people had confidence in the way that their personal details were handled and were confident that the service has acted on the information given.

Unemployed People: Drugs

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations his Department has received on the potential effect of the new drug driving offence on the ability of jobseekers who take long-term medication to find work; and if he will make a statement. [184857]

Esther McVey: The Department has not received any representations.

Unemployment Benefits: Disqualification

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of employment support allowance or incapacity benefit received a sanction in each year since 2008. [185021]

Esther McVey: The information available is detailed in the table:

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Unemployment: Young People

Mr Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people were not

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in education, employment or training in each year since 1990. [184805]

Matthew Hancock: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in England is published by the Department for Education (DFE) every quarter. The latest information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neet-statistics-quarterly-brief-july-to-september-2013

A supplementary table providing a time series of young people NEET is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263773/NEET_harmonised_ Supplementary_tables_National_timeseries_inc_Q3_2013.xlsx

Due to incomplete data, estimates for people not in education, employment and training are not available prior to 2000.

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Work Capability Assessment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants who have had their claims terminated after a work capability assessment died within six weeks of the termination of their claim in the last year for which figures are available. [184744]

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

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department paid to work programme providers in respect of Employment Support Allowance claimants in (a) attachment fees, (b) job outcome fees and (c) other changes in each month since that programme commenced. [185026]

Esther McVey: The total paid to Work programme providers in respect of ESA claimants, from the start of the programme through to 30 September 2013, the period covered by the December 2013 Statistical Release, is £116.6 million made up of:

£94.3 million Attachment payments,

£10.8 million Job Outcome payments

£11.5 million Sustainment payments.

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