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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Business, Innovation and Skills

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation. [186857]

Jenny Willott: The information requested is commercially sensitive and any disclosure would adversely affect HMG's future ability to negotiate efficiencies and achieve value for money to the taxpayer.

There is no system for classifying frequency of use of office space. Holdings are assessed as either being required to deliver departmental functions (forming the core estate) or surplus to this requirement (non-core).

The global office running cost figure for the central civil estate is in the region of £1.8 billion per annum. The Government's top priority for surplus holdings is to reduce property costs by exiting leasehold agreements, selling freeholds or by sub-letting to external tenants.

The Government Property Unit has created a portal—Find Me Some Government Space¹—for more efficient marketing of surplus land and buildings. This is searchable by developers, community groups and the general public.

¹ Available at:

https://www.gov.uk/find-government-property

Overseas Students: Loans

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many non-UK EU students studying at private universities used the Student Loan Company in the last year for which data is available. [187157]

Mr Willetts [holding answer 11 February 2014]: The Student Loans Company (SLC) publishes statistics on student support expenditure in its annual publication ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England’. Statistics are disaggregated in this publication by domicile (England or EU), provider type (Public or Alternative) and student support type (Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan, Grants). The latest available statistics were published on 28 November 2013 at the following link:

http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics/national-statistics/newnationalstatistics1.aspx

In the 2012-3 academic year tuition fee loans were paid to 33,900 students¹ at English higher education providers who were domiciled in EU countries (outside of the UK) prior to their course, including 665 students at Alternative Providers.

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¹ Published statistics refer to expenditure up to and including 31 August 2013. Start dates at Alternative Providers of higher education are less typical than other institutions hence further payments may occur after 31 August which is the end of the standard academic year.

Students: Loans

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students in each private university (a) have access to the student loan system, (b) are studying HNCs and HNDs and (c) are non-UK EU students using the Student Loan Company. [187158]

Mr Willetts [holding answer 11 February 2014]: While we do not estimate the number of students eligible for student support at individual Alternative Providers of Higher Education, or the numbers studying specifically for HNCs and HNDs, we do publish information on the number of students at Alternative Providers who are accessing Student Loans.

Statistics on students who have been awarded and paid student support are published by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in its annual publication 'Student Support for Higher Education in England'. The latest available statistics were published on 28th November 2013 at the following link:

http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics/national-statistics/newnationalstatistics1.aspx

Additional tables were issued on 28 January 2014 which included a breakdown of expenditure on Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans and Combined Grants by Higher Education provider¹. These statistics included the number of EU (non-UK) domiciled students accessing Tuition Fee Loans and can also be found at the link provided above.

Information on the qualification aims of students receiving financial support is not routinely published as it is not recorded in a standard format. However, estimates of the number of full-time students in receipt of student support and undertaking Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Higher National Certificates (HNCs) are provided in the table.

¹ If the number of students receiving student support is 50 or less then the Provider is not identified separately in the statistics.

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Wales

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation. [186875]

Stephen Crabb: All space in the Wales Office's London and Cardiff Offices is in regular use. The London Office is owned by the Department, and we lease accommodation in Cardiff. The Valuation Office Agency undertook a valuation of the London office (land and buildings) on 31 March 2013, and valued it at £3,800,000.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by his Department. [187295]

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office occupies two offices, one in London and one in Cardiff. The London Office is called Gwydyr House and is located in Whitehall. It is owned by the Department and has a floor space of 675 square metres. The value of the London Office is disclosed in the 2012-13 Wales Office annual report and accounts.

In Cardiff, we lease part of Caspian Point, a privately owned building in Cardiff Bay. We pay rent of £89,958 per annum for 524 square metres.

Pay

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants are on each pay grade in his Department. [187254]

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Stephen Crabb: The number of staff in each civil service pay grade as at 31 January 2014 is shown in the following table:

Staff

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of staff of his Department work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located. [187276]

Stephen Crabb: 43% of Wales Office staff are based in Caspian Point in Cardiff.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which vessels purchased commercial fishery licences for the waters off Ascension Island in 2013. [187322]

Mark Simmonds: 39 licences were issued in 2013:

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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many fish of each species were caught in Ascension Island's commercial fishery in 2013. [187323]

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. The following catch figures for 2013 are in tonnes.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of the accounts of the Ascension Island government for financial years (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 in the Library. [187324]

Mark Simmonds: A copy of the Ascension Island Government accounts for each of the financial years 2010-11,2011-12 and 2012-13 will be placed in the Library.

Burma

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of rape, sexual violence and murder of rape victims by members of the military in Burma; and what assessment he has made of whether such crimes amount to a crime against humanity. [187397]

Mr Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of reports containing allegations of rape, sexual violence and murder of rape victims by the Burmese Army, including from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) community and Burmese ethnic groups.

I recently raised the issue of sexual violence with senior Ministers, the Commander in Chief and the Northern Commander during my visit to Burma in

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January. We continue to make clear that where serious crimes have been committed those who have perpetrated them should be held accountable for their actions.

A full independent investigation would be required to make an assessment as to whether crimes against humanity have been committed.

Cambodia

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings HM Ambassador to Cambodia has had with family members of Cambodian political prisoners who remain in jail. [187417]

Mr Swire: HM ambassador to Cambodia has had no recent meetings with family members of anyone currently in prison in Cambodia. However, embassy staff are in regular contact with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and advocates campaigning on judicial reform issues. This includes the case of 21 people who remain detained following demonstrations in Phnom Penh on 2-3 January for whom we have concerns about the terms of their detention and fair trial rights. During my recent visit to Cambodia on 30-31 January, I raised our concerns about the disproportionate force used by the Cambodian security forces to disperse protests in Phnom Penh on 2-3 January, directly with the Cambodian Government and pressed the Government to address allegations of human rights abuses.

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had with Cambodian political and civil society leaders since May 2010. [187418]

Mr Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not visited Cambodia nor held formal meetings with his Cambodian counterparts since May 2010. With regard to other Ministers, the then Secretary of State for Wales met Prime Minister Hun Sen and leaders of Cambodia's most prominent Human Rights groups in May 2012. I visited Cambodia on 30-31 January 2014 and met the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister and one of the two co-leaders of the main opposition party.

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Cambodian counterpart on (a) land grabs, (b) human rights, (c) free and fair elections and (d) freedom of expression in that country. [187419]

Mr Swire: I visited Cambodia on 30-31 January. While there I met the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian Foreign Minister, Hor Namhong. I raised our concerns about the disproportionate force used by the Cambodian security forces to disperse protests in Phnom Penh on 2-3 January and pressed the Government to address allegations of human rights abuses. I encouraged dialogue between the Government and opposition to resolve the current political impasse and stressed the importance of democratic freedoms and stability for Cambodia's long-term future. These

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issues, including land concessions, were also raised by the UK at the recent UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of Cambodia.

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Cambodia. [187420]

Mr Swire: As set out at the recent UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of Cambodia, we remain concerned about recent events in Cambodia, including restrictions on peaceful political protest and freedom of expression. I raised these concerns with Prime Minister Hun Sen on my visit in January. We continue to urge the Government and opposition to engage in substantive dialogue to deliver long-term political and judicial reforms that strengthen the democratic process. We remain concerned about the lack of an independent and impartial judiciary, corruption and weaknesses in the legal and judicial system. We urge Cambodia to implement the Special Rapporteur's recommendations on electoral reform and to undertake an urgent review of economic land concessions before the current moratorium on them is lifted.

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK took (a) unilaterally and (b) through the EU prior to elections in Cambodia in July 2013 to ensure they were free and fair. [187421]

Mr Swire: The focus of the UK's effort since the 2008 elections has been to press for the recommendations of the EU Election Observation report to be fully implemented. With regard to the July 2013 elections:

(a) Bilaterally, our embassy in Phnom Penh worked with local partners on two election-related projects, providing £100,000 in funding to promote election observation and voter awareness/education;

(b) Through the EU we worked to lobby the Cambodian National Election Committee, the Interior Ministry, and the Council of Ministers. We focused on the campaign environment, as well as ongoing inequitable media access and the misuse of state resources. An EU statement was issued in Phnom Penh on 26 June which raised these issues and urged all sides to refrain from using threatening and inflammatory rhetoric.

House of Commons Commission

Parliament: Access

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the entrance and exit gates at Carriage Gates were closed to traffic, including hon. Members, on 13 January 2014; what steps he is taking to prevent such closures taking place again during periods when the House of Commons is sitting; and if he will make a statement. [187256]

John Thurso: The closure of the Carriage Gates on 13 January 2014 appears to have been the result of an operator error which resulted in security measures being triggered. The contractor responsible has made changes to the controls and has been asked to provide further training for staff who operate the equipment to avoid this happening again.

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Treasury

European Investment Bank

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution the UK makes to the funds of the European Investment Bank. [184880]

Sajid Javid: This information can be found at:

www.eib.org/infocentre/publications/all/financial-report-2012.htm

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the average price of a bottle of (a) spirits and (b) wine is comprised of tax; and if he will make a statement. [186816]

Nicky Morgan: HMRC’s ‘Alcohol Factsheet October 2013’ provides a range of data on alcohol, including the proportion of the average price of a drink that comprises of tax. This can be found here:

https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutyBulletins.aspx

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the conclusions he has given to Ernst and Young's economic impact assessment of the wine and spirit industry in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [186817]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect that removing the alcohol duty escalator would have on levels of alcohol fraud in 2014; and if he will make a statement; [186818]

(3) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that would be created as a result of the alcohol duty escalator in 2014; and if he will make a statement. [186819]

Nicky Morgan: HM Treasury keeps all taxes, including alcohol duties, under review. HM Treasury are considering the Ernst and Young report alongside all other Budget representations.

The Government have taken recent action that will help the alcohol industry. A major business rates package was announced at autumn statement 2013 that will help ease the tax burden on business. The Government will also abolish employer national insurance contributions for under-21s earning below £813 per week from April 2015.

Freedom of Information

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time taken by his Department is to answer a freedom of information request. [187439]

Nicky Morgan: In 2013, the average time elapsed for freedom of information requests answered by HM Treasury was 17 working days. The Freedom of Information Act requires public authorities to reply within 20 working days.

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Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who will become higher rate taxpayers between 2010-11 and 2014-15 as a result of changes to income tax rate thresholds. [187396]

Mr Gauke: The estimate of the number of taxpayers liable at the higher rate of tax is published in the HMRC National Statistics publications at table 2.1 which is available from the following address:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-statistics/table2-1.pdf

These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) outturn data up to 2011-12, and then projected to 2013-14 in line with the Office for Budget Responsibility's December 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.

The estimate for the year 2014-15 is not currently available but is due to be published in April 2014.

Mining: Colombia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received on whether the Colombian mining industry, including companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, is contracting army units for private security purposes in Colombia. [187141]

Mr Swire: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

We are not aware of any reports of Colombian companies contracting army units for private security purposes.

National Insurance Contributions: New Businesses

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms benefited from the regional employer national insurance contributions holiday in each region. [187438]

Mr Gauke: The NICs holiday attracted around 26,700 applicants over a three year period. The latest publically available regional statistics on the scheme are available on a factsheet at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/nics-hol.htm

Revenue and Customs

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much HM Revenue and Customs paid to private debt collection agencies in 2012-13; [184001]

(2) how many private debt collection agencies are currently used by HM Revenue and Customs' Debt Management and Banking unit; [184002]

(3) how much revenue was collected by private debt collection agencies on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs' Debt Management and Banking unit in the last year for which data is available. [184003]

Mr Gauke: Following ministerial agreement under the previous Government HMRC ran a pilot on the use of debt collection agencies in 2009-10.

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In the 2010 emergency budget, we set out that the Government would collect an additional £140 million in tax revenue from existing debts through debt collection agencies.

A total of 12 private sector debt collection agencies are currently being used by HM Revenue and Customs' Debt Management and Banking unit.

The agencies are paid on commission but rates are commercially confidential.

Andrew Percy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average holding time was for telephone calls made to HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) customer service helpline in each of the last 12 months; what the longest such holding time was; and how many complaints on telephone holding times for the helpline have been made to HMRC in that period. [184174]

Mr Gauke: The Government publish monthly performance figures for queue times from 2011-12 onwards are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-plan-indicators

HMRC does not hold the data for complaints in the format requested, and it would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in each HM Revenue and Customs business stream was in each of the last five years. [184934]

Mr Gauke: In every business stream the average duration of single periods of sickness absence has fallen. The overall fall from 6.86 to 5.77 is a drop of 15.89%

Comparable data are not available for the earliest two years. The average duration in days of single periods of sickness absence taken by staff in each HM Revenue and Customs business stream in each of the last three years was:

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff have left each HM Revenue and Customs business stream in each of the last five years. [184960]

Mr Gauke: The number of people leaving HMRC has dropped by almost a half. The following numbers of staff have left HMRC in each of the last five years:

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Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days were lost due to staff sickness in each HM Revenue and Customs business stream in each of the last five years. [184961]

Mr Gauke: The Department has been working to reduce the amount of days lost due to sickness absence. Between 2009 and 2013 the number has fallen by 45.65%

A breakdown by business stream is available as follows:

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Tax Allowances: Married People

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the assessment by the Office of Tax Simplification of his proposals for a transferable tax allowance. [187393]

Mr Gauke: The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has not made an assessment of the proposals for a transferable tax allowance.

This policy will be delivered in the simplest, most user-friendly way possible as part of the Government's commitment to user-friendly digital services. The Government have also provided more than £200 million over the next three years as part of HMRC's digital strategy to make paying tax easier for ordinary people.

The OTS is currently focusing on a project to improve the competitiveness of the UK tax administration.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many staff HM Revenue and Customs expects to dedicate to administering the transferable tax allowance (a) in its first year of operation and (b) each year thereafter; [187394]

(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to HM Revenue and Customs of administering the transferable tax allowance in (a) its first year of operation and (b) each year thereafter. [187395]

Mr Gauke: The detail of how this policy will be administered by HMRC is being developed. HMRC will ensure that the process will be simple for customers.

VAT

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made of the net effect in (a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of the average annual income of the 2.5 per cent increase in the standard rate of value added tax on (i) pensioner couples, (ii) single pensioners, (iii) couples with children and (iv) single parents with children; [187437]

(2) what estimate his Department has made of how much more VAT a couple with two children and earning £20,000 a year have paid in (a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of their household income as a result of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax to 20 per cent. [187436]

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Mr Gauke: The Government publish distributional analysis and this information is available in the autumn statement documentation.

Home Department

British Nationality

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list all the people who have been deprived of British citizenship since 2010. [186564]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 10 February 2014]:For reasons of confidentiality, the Secretary of State does not routinely comment on individual cases.

Human Trafficking

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2014, Official Report, column 185W, on human trafficking, what data is collected in the Case Information Database; how such information is collated and reviewed; and if she will make a statement. [185598]

Karen Bradley: The Case Information Database holds relevant personal data and case information on individuals who have made an immigration application.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many identified victims of human trafficking did not participate in criminal proceedings in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [185638]

Karen Bradley: The requested information cannot be obtained as it is not collected or held centrally.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2014, Official Report, column 233W, on human trafficking, who will undertake the review of the National Referral Mechanism; and if she will make a statement. [185644]

Karen Bradley: An announcement on the review of the National Referral Mechanism will be made shortly.

Human Trafficking: Convictions

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were convicted of human trafficking offences in each of the last five years; [186426]

(2) what estimate her Department has made of the number of people trafficked into the UK in each of the last five years; [186427]

(3) what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of those trafficked into the UK for the purposes of (a) domestic servitude, (b) forced labour and (c) prostitution. [186428]

Karen Bradley: All the data requested are contained in the Home Office Inter-Ministerial Group report, 'Human trafficking: inter-departmental ministerial group report, 2013'. The report can be found at:

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https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251487/9794-TSO-HMG_Human_Trafficking.pdf

Police: Recruitment

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of how representative each police service is of its community. [186775]

Damian Green: Diversity in policing as part of a modern, diverse society is absolutely essential as forces continue to cut crime. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are responsible for the totality of policing in their areas, including ensuring that community needs are met, and that forces secure the trust and confidence of the public.

Figures for police officers in post on 31 March 2013, broken down by gender and ethnicity, are published in the 'Police Workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2013' statistical bulletin, which can be accessed using the following link, I am also placing a copy of this report in the House Library:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2013

PCCs and police forces should use this data to assess how representative the police workforce is of their local communities, and, where necessary and with the support of the College of Policing, take steps to make improvements. For example, the College of Policing has embarked on a major programme looking at recruitment, retention and progression of black and ethnic minority officers.

Transport

Aviation: South East

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of additional airport capacity in the South East of England on the economies of other regions of the UK. [186827]

Mr Goodwill: The Government have established the independent Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, to examine the scale and timing of any requirements for additional capacity to maintain the UK's position as Europe's most important aviation hub.

As part of its interim report the Airports Commission identified the economic impacts associated with constrained airport capacity—this was undertaken at a national level. As part of the Commission's second phase of work it will look at the impacts of the short-listed schemes on the economy in more detail, including at a local and national level. This assessment will consider the needs of other regions in the UK, outside the South East of England.

British Transport Police

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the British Transport Police adhere to the College of Policy standards. [187328]

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Stephen Hammond: I understand from my hon. Friend's office that his question refers to the College of Policing. The British Transport Police (BTP) supports the College of Policing in its objective to become the professional body for the police service. The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA)—the BTP's governing body—has played an active part in the development of the role and status of the college in the new policing landscape. During this period of transition, both the BTP and the BTPA have closely followed the new professional guidance published by college and have made progress in implementing new standards.

Parking

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he made of the recent survey by the charity, Guide Dogs, on the number of blind and partially-sighted people who report that cars parked on pavements frequently cause problems for them. [187230]

Mr Goodwill: The survey reports that over half of the drivers surveyed who park on pavements have considered the problems this could cause blind and partially sighted people and have still parked on the pavement, and that many do not appear to consider the negative impact that pavement parking can have.

Local authorities have the powers they need to permit or prohibit pavement parking and to enforce restrictions. It is their role to balance the needs of all users of the public highway and I would encourage them to address this issue where it is a particular problem.

Northern Ireland

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the office space owned or leased by her Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if she will place in the Library a copy of her most recent departmental real estate valuation. [186871]

Mrs Villiers: All office space owned or leased by my Department is in regular use and has not been subject to a real estate valuation.

Business: Loans

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had with banks in Northern Ireland on the level of business lending. [186989]

Mrs Villiers: I regularly hold discussions with different businesses and business organisations, including banks, on a range of economic issues such as access to finance.

Economic Growth

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the effect of the 2013 Autumn Statement on the prospect for economic growth in the Northern Ireland economy. [186993]

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Mrs Villiers: In the 2013 autumn statement, the OBR increased their growth forecasts for the UK economy to 2.4% for next year. The autumn statement also announced a number of measures which will support economic growth across the UK including Northern Ireland.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, Official Report, columns 189-90W, on electoral register: Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Deputy Prime Minister and Electoral Commission on transferring the best practice in Northern Ireland on registration of attainers to the UK. [187297]

Mrs Villiers: The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland has had a number of meetings with Cabinet Office officials and the Electoral Commission about lessons learned in implementing individual electoral registration in Northern Ireland.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, Official Report, columns 189-90W, on electoral register: Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of registration levels for attainers in the year prior to the introduction of individual electoral registration, the years after the introduction of individual electoral registration and the most recent date for which data is available. [187298]

Mrs Villiers: The number of attainers registered was as follows:

December 2000: 16,984

December 2001: 17,894

December 2002: 8,888

February 2004: 5,953

December 2012: 11,477

December 2013: 9,945.

The December 2013 figure includes all those registered during the 2013 canvass, but not through schools visits in the academic year 2013-14, which were delayed due to canvass activity.

There was significant concern about the level of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland prior to the introduction of individual registration. Registration statistics relating to the period immediately prior to the introduction of individual registration in Northern Ireland may therefore be less reliable than those in subsequent years.

Foreign Investment in UK

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what most recent assessment is of the outcome of the 2013 Investment Conference. [186987]

Mrs Villiers: Responsibility for the follow-up from the Investment Conference is being taken forward by Invest NI which reports to the Northern Ireland Executive Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

I understand that follow-up from the Conference has been positive with Invest NI hopeful that it will lead to a number of investments from companies already established

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in Northern Ireland and new investors. Experience from previous Investment Conferences show that it can take up to two or three years from first contact to the signing of contracts in respect of new investments.

I am very pleased about recent announcements such as Fujitsu's intention to create 192 new jobs in Londonderry, BT's announcement that it is to create 165 jobs at a new BT Flex customer contact centre in Belfast and Ryobi's recent confirmation of its £32 million investment in its Carrickfergus plant creating 100 new jobs. Hosting the G8 Summit and the International Investment Conference has greatly reinforced Northern Ireland's deserved reputation as an excellent location for overseas investors and a good place to do business, and the recent announcements are testimony to that.

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with UK Trade & Investment since the 2013 Investment Conference on following-up opportunities for investment and trade into Northern Ireland. [186988]

Mrs Villiers: UKTI promotes trade and investment across the UK and works closely with Invest NI in respect of opportunities of specific interest to Northern Ireland. Both organisations worked closely together to deliver a very successful investment conference in October 2013. I have yet to meet Crispin Simon, the newly appointed acting head of UKTI, but hope to meet either him or the new permanent head of UKTI, when appointed, at some point in the future. My Department engages with UKTI at all levels.

I continue to work closely with Arlene Foster MLA, the Northern Ireland Executive Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in respect of promoting trade and investment to Northern Ireland. Last year we jointly held the Northern Ireland investment seminar at Lancaster House for selected high commissions and embassies. We are currently issuing joint invitations to those high commissioners and ambassadors to lead trade delegations to Northern Ireland during the course of 2014.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the dates and duration were of each meeting she has held with the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland since 1 January 2014. [186472]

Mrs Villiers: I am in regular contact with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland both in person and by telephone.

Richard Haass

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the dates and duration were of each conversation she had with Dr Richard Haass between 25 December 2013 and 1 January 2014. [186471]

Mrs Villiers: I have met and spoken to Dr Haass regularly since his appointment. Between 25 December 2013 and 1 January 2014, I spoke to him at length on two occasions. In addition, my officials were in regular touch with Dr Haass and his team.

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Tourism: VAT

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of the level of VAT on the tourism and hospitality sectors. [187041]

Mrs Villiers: I regularly hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive and Treasury Ministers on a wide range of issues. Measures to provide a boost to tourism in Northern Ireland were included in the economic pact, Building a Prosperous and United Community, which was agreed between HM Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Women and Equalities

Equality: Public Appointments

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of whether the recruitment process for non executive directors of Government departments meets equality and diversity guidance used in the wider Civil Service. [187509]

Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

The protocol governing enhanced departmental boards in Whitehall is contained in “corporate governance in central government departments: code of good practice 2011”, which requires Departments to pay due attention to diversity.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/220645/corporate_governance_good_practice_july2011.pdf

Pupils: Bullying

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what organisations have applied to conduct an evidence review into tackling homophobic bullying in schools. [186810]

Jenny Willott: The tender process for the evidence review into what works in preventing and tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying has not yet concluded and, as all bids are commercially confidential, I am unable to name the bidders.

Education

Free Schools

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from any local authorities with a projected school place shortage that will not be met by free school provision. [187198]

Mr Laws: The Department for Education recently announced an additional £2.35 billion in basic need funding, to support local authorities to create the additional

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places that will be needed by September 2017, in addition to the £5 billion already committed for the period 2011-15.

The Department has received representations from a number of local authorities, seeking more information about the methodology used to allocate funding. The Department allocates funding for new school places based on information provided by local authorities through an annual survey of the current capacity of schools in the area, and forecasts of future pupil numbers.

GCSE

Mr Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children in England in 2012-13 failed to get a GCSE grade A*-C in both English and mathematics. [187302]

Mr Laws: The requested information is published in the “GCSE and equivalent results in England, 2012 to 2013 (revised)¹” statistical first release. It is available in table 2 in the “National tables: SFR01/2014” document.

40.1% of pupils at the end of key stage 4 did not achieve English and mathematics GCSEs at grade A*-C in 2012/13 academic year compared with 46.0% in 2009/10.

¹Available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised

Schools: Admissions

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from local authorities about overprovision of school places in areas where a free school or schools are (a) established or (b) proposed. [187197]

Mr Laws: Under Section 9 of the Academies Act 2010, the Department for Education writes to local authorities where a free school is being proposed to seek their views on the impact that establishing the school would likely have on existing schools and colleges.

Any representations from local authorities are considered by the Secretary of State for Education before he decides to enter into a funding agreement with the relevant academy trust.

Schools: Fire Extinguishers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools were built (a) with and (b) without fire sprinklers in each of the last 10 years. [187226]

Mr Laws: The information requested is not held centrally.

Teachers: Training

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's withdrawal of bursaries for trainee religious education teachers on the level of recruitment of religious education teachers; and if he will make a statement. [187097]

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Mr Laws: Bursaries are designed to attract applicants to initial teacher training (ITT) to ensure that we have enough teachers capable of teaching religious education (RE) by the time they qualify. When bursary decisions for 2014/15 were taken in October 2013, we did not have the enrolment data for 2013/14.

While there was a shortfall in recruitment to RE this year, there was significant over-recruitment in previous years, which will give protection against any under-recruitment.

We will continue to monitor RE recruitment closely this year.

Communities and Local Government

Curzon Institute

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 157W, on the Curzon Institute, if he will publish the minutes of meetings between his Department and the Curzon Institute at which this contract was discussed. [180228]

Stephen Williams [holding answer 16 December 2013]:Ministers have not met with the Curzon Institute/Curzon Education. Civil servants have met representatives of Curzon Education on 21 June 2013, 4 July 2013, 5 September 2013 and 10 October 2013. Mr Amin, who is their projects adviser, attended the first three meetings.

There are no formal minutes to publish, simply because, as was the case under previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to take or publish formal minutes of informal meetings between officials and interested parties.

I would like to take this opportunity to add to the comments made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on this topic in response to the oral question on 20 January 2014, Official Report, columns 17-18, by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald).

The Government are committed to honouring the contribution of the every one of the brave men and women who served during the First World War-those from the UK, from the Commonwealth and beyond, whose bravery and service was so crucial to the Allied victory.

The Department was approached by Curzon Education with a proposal to deliver a series of lectures around the country, focusing on the little-known contribution of people from all faiths and all backgrounds, from Canada to the Caribbean, in fighting for the Allied cause and the defence of liberty. Accompanying the lectures, Curzon Education will also be producing educational material covering the contribution made by the Commonwealth during the First World War.

To date, Curzon Education has delivered nine lectures across the country, including Birmingham, Bristol, London and Leicester. These lectures have attracted over 1,300 people, from different faiths, schools and community groups. More events are to follow. Further information on the programme can be found at:

http://ww1commonwealthcontribution.org/

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This grant to Curzon went through the standard civil service vetting and approval processes. What one of representatives of the Curzon Institute does in his spare time was not relevant in the slightest. Mr Amin may be active in Conservative party politics, but I am sure that many parliamentary candidates from other parties have sat and assisted voluntary sector organisations which may have received government funding under previous Administrations.

This worthwhile project will help to make the Government's First World War centenary fitting, meaningful and relevant. It encourages integration by sharing the message that people of all faiths and all backgrounds can be united in service and bravery.

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) on what dates (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have met representatives of the Curzon Institute; [184941]

(2) on what dates (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have met Afzal Amin. [184918]

Stephen Williams [holding answer 28 January 2014]:I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore) today, PQ 180228.

Enterprise Zones

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, column 363W, on Enterprise Zones, how many jobs have been created in each enterprise zone since April 2012. [184489]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 27 January 2014]: This Department does not produce estimates of the net number of jobs secured by Enterprise Zones since April 2012. Enterprise Zones do provide us with regular figures on new employment positions filled in zones but these may be subject to local commercial sensitivities. For this reason, it is for individual zones to determine whether they make their net job numbers available.

Government Departments: Property

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many Government-owned properties and public land sites (a) have been sold since 2010, (b) are projected to be sold in the next two years and (c) are in the process of being sold; [184975]

(2) what the current use is for each of the Government-owned properties and public land sites (a) that have been sold since 2010, (b) are projected to be sold in each of the next two years and (c) are in the process of being sold; whether such properties are sold at the full market value; how many such properties are suitable for housing development; how many would require a change of use application to be used for housing development; how many change of use applications were made on such properties whilst they were still in Government ownership; and if he will make a statement. [184976]

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Kris Hopkins: The Public Sector Land programme, which identifies land suitable for housing in this spending review and has so far sold 439 sites in England and Departments are forecasting to sell a further 355 sites by March 2015. This Department does not hold data on projected future land sales beyond 2015.

The Government Property Unit runs e-PIMS the central database of the Government Central Civil Estate properties and land, and this records the precise location of property, along with the associated information such as landlord, lease details and usage. Decisions about seeking planning consent for change of use before disposal are made on a case by case basis. We do not keep a central record of either current planning status or change of use applications. All Government land assets are sold in accordance with the principles set out in managing public money.

Housing Benefit

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department expects the cost of installing, maintaining and repairing special equipment and adaptations for housing will be met after universal credit replaces housing benefit. [186376]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 6 February 2014]: The Disabled Facilities Grant, which funds over 40,000 adaptations annually, will continue to be available to those who qualify. My Department secured £725 million for the grant in the 2010 spending review for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15 and over the last two years the Government has invested a further £60 million. In the 2015-16 spending round, the Government announced that the initial grant allocation will increase by 19% to £220 million.

The Government also fund Foundations, the national body for home improvement agencies, to provide advice and disseminate good practice on the provision and maintenance of adaptations. In addition, the Homes Adaptations Consortium last year updated the Government guidance on adaptations, including advice on repair and maintenance. The guidance encourages local councils and home improvement agencies to think carefully about the installation, maintenance and repair of adaptations, and these decisions will continue to be made locally. The guidance can be found at:

http://www.careandrepair-england.org.uk/reports.htm

Retirement Housing

Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many units of retirement housing of all tenures were completed in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [186751]

Kris Hopkins: The requested information is not centrally collected.

Local Government Finance: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total funding from his Department was for each London borough in each of the last five years. [184666]

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Brandon Lewis: The funding allocated through to each local authority in previous Local Government Finance Settlements can be found online at:

http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/

There will be other grants and payments given to local authorities. Current and historic figures for departmental spending over £500 (and since 2013, over £250) can be found online on my Department's website as part of our wider transparency agenda.

Information on councils’ income will also be outlined in London boroughs’ annual accounts, which should be on their council websites.

Local Government: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 18 December 2013, Official Report, column 759, on local government finance, what support to meet future equal pay commitments his Department will provide to local authorities that have followed his advice to use reserves for front-line services. [186774]

Brandon Lewis: Most councils have fully addressed their equal pay liabilities. For those that are yet to do so, the Government amended capital finance regulations to provide continued flexibility in the way such liabilities can be treated in authorities' annual accounts and to enable authorities to use capital receipts raised from asset sales in or after 2012-13 to fund such costs.

However, there can be no blank cheque from national taxpayers to bail out councils which dragged their feet on delivering pay equality. Councils have to take responsibility for their decisions (and indecision).

National Parks: Planning Permission

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department will consider introducing an exemption for extending permitted development rights in national parks. [187057]

Nick Boles: We are currently considering responses to the consultation ‘Greater flexibilities for change of use’. An announcement on the detail of any new permitted development rights will be made in the spring.

Official Hospitality

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library details of all transactions recorded by his Department under the Catering and Hospitality expenses types in the calendar year 2013 including (a) copies of invoices and (b) proof of payment, including date of payment. [187235]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 11 February 2014]:I am placing in the Library of the House, a copy of the recent letter by the permanent secretary in response to his letter on the issue of recorded catering and hospitality spending. It notes how the recent media claims on this

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issue were incorrect and based on factually. inaccurate research. A detailed and accurate listing of our spending is available on our website.

The right hon. Member may wish to encourage his researchers and/or the Labour party to take up an Excel training course from Parliamentary ICT Training to avoid future mistakes and spurious claims.

Social Rented Housing

Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirement the Homes and Communities Agency imposes in respect of the proportion of one-bedroom properties to be provided in social housing developments funded through a social housing grant. [186769]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 10 February 2014]:The Home and Communities Agency is now inviting bids for a share of £1.7 billion grant funding for the 2015-18 Affordable Homes Programme outside London. Bids are sought for schemes which meet local needs and priorities in their proposed locations, including building more one bedroom properties in areas where these are in short supply. This will give more households who are under-occupying a social home an opportunity to move to a suitably sized home, and free up larger homes for larger families in housing need.

Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's announcement in January 2014 of a review of how more social homes can be built, what selection process was used leading to the appointment of Natalie Elphicke and Keith House to lead the review; who was consulted before the decision to commission the review was taken; who was consulted about the appointment of the leaders of the review; where the appointment process was advertised; who made the appointments; what remuneration is being paid to the review leaders; and what resources of his Department are being committed to the review. [186912]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 10 February 2014]: The decision to conduct a review into the role of local authorities in housing supply was announced in the autumn statement.

The appointment of those leading the review was taken jointly by Ministers in my Department and HM Treasury. They were selected on the basis of their considerable experience of housing, local government, finance and law, and in light of the desire for a fresh perspective on this policy area.

In terms of remunerating the leaders of the review, and departmental resources committed to the review, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 177W, to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Simon Danczuk).

Cabinet Office

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the

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total

(a)

rental and

(b)

retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation. [186859]

Mr Maude: Since 2010 this Government have been working to rationalise their estate and dispose of unnecessary properties. We have got out of hundreds of properties, which were previously under-occupied or superfluous to needs. We now publish more details than ever before on how Departments are using their buildings. Our work to rationalise the Government's property estate resulted in the disposal of 401 buildings in 2012-13, saving the taxpayer £620 million last year alone.

Unoccupied property held by the Cabinet Office includes Admiralty Arch which will soon be handover to Prime Investors Capital (a lease on which was sold in 2012 for £60 million) and 36Whitehall which is being modernised.

The Government residual estate is now part of the Cabinet Office. Birch House in Bristol is office space that is currently empty with a rental value of £60,000 per annum. The Government Property Unit (part of the Cabinet Office) is working to dispose of this and other unnecessary properties. The remainder of the Cabinet Office estate is in regular use.

Information about property valuations for the Cabinet Office's Land and Buildings, which have been audited by the National Audit Office, are contained in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2012-13, available from the Libraries in the House and publicly on line via

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-to-2013

Charities

Mr Nuttall: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the prevalence of fundraising by charities in streets and other public places. [186746]

Mr Hurd: Effective and responsible fundraising underpins the success of the charity sector, and is essential for charities' independence. Cash collections in the street require a licence from the local licensing authority. Face-to-face (direct debit) fundraising is self-regulated by the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA). The PFRA agrees site management agreements with local authorities to control the extent of face-to-face fundraising and prevent nuisance.

Emergencies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department has taken to ensure that local resilience forums have effective and linked websites providing public information before, during and after an emergency. [186938]

Mr Maude: The Civil Contingencies Act assigns primary responsibility for emergency planning to local emergency responders. This includes a duty to make the public aware of the risks of emergencies and how responders plan to deal with them if they occur; and to warn the public and provide them with information and advice as necessary if an emergency is likely to occur or has occurred.

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To support local responders with their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act the Cabinet Office provides a range of statutory and non-statutory guidance. The core statutory guidance 'Emergency Preparedness' sets out the duty to communicate information about risk and warning and informing during an emergency and provides advice on how those duties might be carried out.

In addition the Cabinet Office provides further information and examples of good practice for communicating with the public.

Public Appointments

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what proportion of chairs of public bodies appointed since 5 May 2010 are (a) men and (b) women; [187047]

(2) how many chairs of public bodies were (a) men and (b) women in each of the last five years. [187049]

Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 2014, Official Report, column 301W, to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart).

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the public appointments made by Government in each department between 1 April and 30 September 2013 were to remunerated posts; and in what pay band each such appointment was. [187121]

Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.

RAF Croughton

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the Intelligence and Security Committee has visited RAF Croughton during the last two years. [R] [187448]

Mr Maude: The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) does not comment on the detail of its work programme.

Energy and Climate Change

Hunterston Power Station

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on storage of waste from Hunterston nuclear power station. [187343]

Michael Fallon: The Department has not had any recent discussions with the Scottish Government about storage of waste from Hunterston nuclear power station.

Nuclear Power Stations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department submitted its application to the European Commission for approval of providing state support for the financed radioactive waste and decommissioning plans for new

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build nuclear power plants; when he expects the decision on this application to be made; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the application. [186997]

Michael Fallon: Under the Energy Act 2008 operators of new nuclear power stations are required to have a Funded Decommissioning Programme (FDP) approved by the Secretary of State before construction can begin. There is no provision for state support in the FDP framework and the Government do not intend to make any application to the European Commission under state aid rules in regard to the FDP framework.

Alongside the approval of an operator's FDP, the Government will expect to enter into a contract with the operator regarding the terms on which the Government will take title to and liability for the operator's spent fuel and intermediate level waste (ILW). In particular, this agreement will need to set out how the price that will be charged for this waste transfer will be determined (the “Waste Transfer Price”). The Government have published a methodology which sets out how the Waste Transfer Price will be determined. This is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42629/3798-waste-transfer-pricing-methodology.pdf

The methodology states that the Government's approach to taking title to and liability for ILW and spent fuel will be subject to ensuring compliance with EU state aid rules. The Government have therefore been in contact with the European Commission in order to ensure that the Government's approach is compliant with EU state aid rules and expects to submit a formal notification of this case in 2014 in accordance with EU procedures. All state aid decisions by the European Commission are published on the European Commission website.

Nuclear Power: France

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the UK-France Declaration on Nuclear Energy of 31 January 2014, what the dates and themes have been of the joint meetings held between respective national ministries, regulators, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the Gendarmerie to date; what decisions were taken and what actions arose; and what the cost has been of such co-operation since May 2010. [186979]

Michael Fallon: Representatives of the UK and France met on 11 January and 14 June 2013. The theme each time was respective security frameworks. It was agreed that the main steering group would meet annually and that between these meetings working groups would further exchange best practice on cross-cutting civil nuclear security matters, for example covering physical security and guarding. Costs to DECC so far are approximately £2,400.

Sellafield

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of contracts connected to decontamination work at Sellafield have been awarded to parent companies of Nuclear Management Partners; and what the value of those contracts is. [187344]

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Michael Fallon: The 2012-13 Sellafield Ltd (SL) Annual Report and Accounts notes that SL traded with URS, Amec and Areva in the ordinary course of business with total purchases during 2013 of £53 million—approximately 6% of total supply chain spend (2012: £54 million). This figure includes reach-back costs (£25 million in 2013).

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess whether there was a benefit to the local supply chain in West Cumbria from the work of Nuclear Management Partners at Sellafield. [187345]

Michael Fallon: Annual local supply chain spending has been increased by over £100 million since Nuclear Management Partners were awarded the Parent Body Contract at Sellafield in 2008.

Sellafield Ltd currently spends over £300 million per annum in the local supply chain (34% of total annual supply chain spend).

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Government's commitment to give due consideration to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when making new policy and legislation, if he will place in the Library all assessments of how new policy and legislation from his Department since January 2013 has given due consideration to the UNCRC. [186584]

Gregory Barker: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has been considered in the context of broader human rights issues at the time of formulating DECC's primary legislation during the period specified. Given the terms of the Convention and the content of the legislation no further assessment has been thought necessary.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bovine Tuberculosis

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 21W, on bovine tuberculosis and with reference to the response to request number RFI 2218 made by Natural England on 15 November 2013, if he will review his policy on parliamentary information to written parliamentary questions to ensure that the standards of openness applied under parliamentary proceedings are no less favourable than those applied under statutory requirements. [186517]

George Eustice: The information released by Natural England in response to request number RFI 2218 was on the numbers of badgers culled by shooting and cage trapping in the first six weeks of each pilot only. Those six week periods came to an end prior to the hon. Member's previous question. Further details on the method used to remove badgers for the full period of

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each pilot will be released in due course, as previously stated. Ministers' obligations to Parliament are set out in the ministerial code.

Energy

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring off-grid energy within the remit of the energy regulator. [187114]

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Ofgem regulates the monopoly companies that run the electricity and gas networks. There is no natural or structural monopoly for supply and distribution in off-gas grid fuels, and a market study conducted by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in 2011 found few competition concerns, with 97% of heating oil consumers having access to four or more different suppliers.

We believe that an open and competitive market in such fuels is the best way to protect the interests of off-gas grid consumers. The third Ministerial round table on heating oil and LPG is due to be held in May, to take stock of the off-gas grid fuel market over the winter heating period. This will include looking at the impact of the Customer Charter and the voluntary Code of Practice that the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers introduced in September.

Firearms: Licensing

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Secretary of State for the Home Department on charges for firearm licences. [186462]

George Eustice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs raised this issue with Home Office Ministers on a number of occasions last year as part of DEFRA’s responsibilities to ensure all Government Departments rural proof their policies. DEFRA is closely involved in the Home Office working group looking at the issues of firearms fees, the efficiency of the licensing administration and the impact of moving to online licensing processes.

Flood Control

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of private sector investment has been in flood defences in the UK in each of the last five years. [186930]

Dan Rogerson: Flood risk management is a devolved issue. Many defences are privately owned. The Government do not collect data on private sector investments in flood defences in the UK.

Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken since 2008 to raise awareness among vulnerable residents in flood risk areas. [186889]

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Dan Rogerson: In 2008-09 the Environment Agency set up ‘Floodwise’, a national project that aimed to raise the awareness of flood risk among vulnerable residents in flood risk areas.

Between April 2009 and September 2012, the Environment Agency informed over 875,000 people about their flood risk. The Floodwise project specifically targeted the elderly, those with young children and those on low incomes. Of the 875,000 people that were informed about their flood risk 148,000 were elderly, 78,000 were parents with young children and 227,000 were people on low incomes.

As a result of the Floodwise project:

Around 75,000 people checked their flood risk;

Around 34,000 people signed up to the free flood warning service;

Around 8,500 people completed personal flood plans; and

Over 670 communities developed community flood plans (helping to reduce the risk of flooding to over 300,000 people).

Since the project ended in 2012, the Environment Agency has continued to engage with priority at-risk communities. It has also run two national flood action campaigns promoting individual and community flood action.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of local authority flood control centres during and after major flooding. [186939]

Dan Rogerson: There is much to commend local authorities for in how they have responded to and managed recent flooding events. However, in every emergency response there are lessons that can be learned to better inform us for the next event.

We will look at the communications between the different agencies involved and the preparedness of different organisations to carry out their respective responsibilities in order to identify ways to improve our response to future events.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to introduce a public information campaign for use by the media and local authorities to give a definitive set of flood prevention and mitigation advice for householders and businesses; and when such advice was last updated. [186944]

Dan Rogerson: Information about flood risk management is available on the Environment Agency website. The Environment Agency also runs a national awareness raising campaign each year.

DEFRA is currently funding a two-year Flood Resilience Community Pathfinder Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to assist communities who are trialling simple and effective ways to minimise their flood risk, improve levels of preparedness and build confidence and increased peace of mind among those at risk.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Association of British Insurers and other relevant organisations about exploring and

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developing technological and process improvements to speed up the drying out and stabilising process after a household or business has been flooded. [186945]

Dan Rogerson: There have been no discussions with the Association of British Insurers or other relevant organisations on this matter. DEFRA has policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management. Operating authorities and technical experts are free to investigate the effectiveness of any technique or material, subject to existing regulatory constraints.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health on developing a single set of flood-related health advice for householders and businesses to be used by local and national organisations dealing with flooding. [186946]

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA worked closely with the Department of Health, Public Health England, the Environment Agency, NHS England and others to produce the National Flood Emergency Framework, published in October 2013. The framework sets out the Government's strategic approach to planning for and responding to flooding. It includes a section on the health consequences of flooding, and gives guidance on how local authorities and others should give advice to the public in emergencies, including information on health and welfare.

The Environment Agency and Public Health England have also produced a public flood advice leaflet, published in early December 2013. This advice is issued through the Local Resilience Forum Strategic Co-ordinating Group in its public communication to local communities.

Floods: Brighton

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on flood protection in Brighton, Pavilion constituency in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11, (e) 2011-12 and (f) 2012-13; and how much has been allocated by his Department for flood protection in that constituency for (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16. [186793]

Dan Rogerson: The Department does not record flood defence spend on the basis of constituency boundaries in this area.

The following DEFRA flood defence grant in aid allocations have been made by the Environment Agency to Brighton and Hove city council. Some of this will relate to work on flood protection in the Brighton Pavilion constituency.

2007-08: nil

2008-09: nil

2009-10: £180,000 to develop a Surface Water Management Plan

2010-11: £95,000 to develop a Surface Water Management Plan.

2011-12: £14,000 to fulfil obligations as Lead Local Flood Authority.

2012-13: £440,000 (£248,000 to fulfil obligations as Lead Local Flood Authority and £192,000 for Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy).

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2013-14: £283,000 (£108,000 to fulfil obligations as Lead Local Flood Authority, £55,000 Brighton Kemp Town to Shoreham Port recycling scheme, and £120,000 for Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy).

2014-15: £24,000 for Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.

2015-16: Allocations for 2015-16 have not yet been made.

Floods: Somerset

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he received from public authorities in the Somerset Levels for assistance following the flooding in late 2013. [186003]

Dan Rogerson [holding answer 4 February 2014]: DEFRA has not received any formal requests for assistance from public authorities in the Somerset Levels.

However, through the local Strategic Command Group, planners have engaged and continue to engage with council emergency managers.

Royal Marines are actively engaged in supporting Somerset county council in its response to the flooding. They and further military personnel and equipment are available to the front line responders as required.

Somerset Fire and Rescue service has been in receipt of high volume pumps from the national assets register and is able to call upon flood rescue assets from the same source.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date his Department received requests for assistance from Somerset County Council arising from flooding incidents. [186023]

Dan Rogerson [holding answer 4 February 2014]: DEFRA has not received any formal requests for assistance from Somerset county council in relation to flooding incidents.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates his Department received requests for assistance from Sedgemoor District Council arising from flooding incidents. [186024]

Dan Rogerson [holding answer 4 February 2014]: DEFRA has not received any formal requests for assistance from Sedgemoor district council in relation to flooding incidents.