Minimum Wage

Andy Sawford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many companies have received financial penalties from HM Revenue and Customs for non-payment of the minimum wage in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2014 to date and what the total amount was of penalties issued in each such year; [186657]

(2) which individuals and companies that have received financial penalties from HM Revenue and Customs for non-payment of the minimum wage. [186698]

Mr Gauke: The Government take the enforcement of NMW very seriously. In addition to reviewing every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline, HMRC carries out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 31W

The number of penalties issued to employers identified as owing workers arrears of pay under national minimum wage legislation is set out in the table.

I have written to the hon. Member in relation to investigations specifically in his constituency.

HMRC is bound by a duty of confidentiality to tax payers and I cannot therefore publish the names and companies. However, employers identified as owing workers arrears of pay under national minimum wage legislation can be considered for naming by BIS. BIS revised their naming policy with effect from 1 October 2013 to make it easier to name and shame those employers where investigations commenced on or after that date.

Minimum Wage: Bradford

Mr Ward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to tackle cases of employees being paid below the minimum wage in Bradford. [188577]

Mr Gauke: The Government take the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforces the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and has done so since the introduction of NMW in April 1999. It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Strood (Mark Reckless) on 22 January 2014, Official Report, column 238W, regarding enforcement of the national minimum wage.

Mortgages: Regulation

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mortgage regulations to protect homeowners who took out mortgages before October 2008 from changes to the terms of tracker mortgages; and if he will make a statement. [188245]

Sajid Javid: The independent Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for the conduct regulation of mortgages, and sets the rules lenders are required to meet to ensure that consumers are treated fairly.

Non-domestic Rates

Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received (a) in writing and (b) in person from (i) petrol retailers, (ii) art galleries, (iii) cinemas and (iv) building societies prior to guidance being issued on which premises would be entitled to the business rates discount he announced in his 2013 autumn statement. [187728]

24 Feb 2014 : Column 32W

Mr Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials receive a wide variety of representations from organisations in both the public and private sectors.

Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Margot James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to introduce legislative proposals for reoccupation relief for businesses occupying vacant shops. [187789]

Mr Gauke: The autumn statement announced a 50% business rates relief for 18 months up to the state aid limits for businesses that move into retail premises that have been empty for a year or more. Businesses which move into empty premises between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2016 will be eligible.

The relief does not require legislative changes. It will be applied by local authorities through their existing discretionary relief powers in line with government guidance. The Department for Communities and Local Government will issue this guidance shortly.

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of current levels of business rates on small firms; and if he will make a statement. [188217]

Mr Gauke: The UK has a diverse tax base. Any assessment of the business environment for small firms would need to take into account the entirety of the tax base and the wider support given to small businesses. However, this Government have recognised that business rates are a proportionately higher fixed cost for small businesses and that is why, alongside other support for small business announced at the autumn statement, the Government extended the doubling of small business rate relief (SBRR) for a further 12 months from April 2014 for England.

Business rates are devolved and the Scottish Government have the power to change business rates bills in Scotland as they see fit.

Non-domestic Rates: Manufacturing Industries

Bill Esterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of business rates on the international competitiveness of UK manufacturing firms. [187681]

Mr Gauke: The UK has a diverse tax base. Any assessment of the international competitiveness of UK manufacturing firms would need to take into account the entirety of the UK tax base and the wider support given to UK businesses. No assessment has been made of the effect of business rates alone on the international competitiveness of UK manufacturing firms. The Government's ambition is for the UK to be the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business.

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Occupational Pensions: Fraud

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with regulators on eliminating pensions liberation scams; and if he will make a statement. [187798]

Mr Gauke: A multi-agency group across Government, Project Bloom, was set up in 2012 to tackle the issue of pensions liberation. This group comprises the National Crime Agency, Department for Work and Pensions, the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Fraud Office. Each agency has already taken a number of steps to combat the issue. HM Treasury have been closely involved in the work and will continue to consider further steps to combat pensions liberation alongside other relevant agencies, making pensions liberation in all its forms harder to carry out.

Railways: North West

Michael Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Barnett consequential for Scotland from the expenditure of £600 million on the Northern Hub rail upgrades will be. [187875]

Danny Alexander: The Barnett formula is only applicable to changes in the departmental expenditure limits of UK Government Departments. Network Rail's funding is derived from several sources, including the Transport departmental expenditure limit. It is not possible to attribute Barnett consequentials to individual projects.

Revenue and Customs

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in each HM Revenue and Customs business stream have taken sick days due to (a) stress and (b) mental health and behaviour disorders in each of the last five years. [184962]

Mr Gauke: The number of people taking sickness absence due to both stress and mental and behavioural disorders has fallen since 2011.

Comparable data are not available for the earliest two years. The number of HMRC staff who have taken sickness absence due to stress and mental and behavioural problems in the last three years is as follows:

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Tax Allowances

Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to Chapter 4 of the Office for Tax Simplification Review of Tax Reliefs Final Report, published in March 2011, which tax reliefs are still in force and have not been abolished. [187525]

Mr Gauke: The Government are committed to simplifying the tax system, and abolished a total of 43 reliefs in response to the OTS's two reports on tax reliefs.

Information on the reliefs abolished can be found in Budget 2011:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130129110402/http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_complete.pdf

and the Government response to the consultation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/190281/condoc_responses_tax_reliefs.pdf

Tax Allowances: Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent assessment he has made of the effects of a cap on lifetime allowance for tax relief on pension contributions; [188191]

(2) what recent assessment he has made of additional revenue accruing to the Exchequer of (a) changes in place since 2010 and (b) planned changes to come into force by 2015 to the lifetime allowance for tax relief on pension contributions. [188192]

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Mr Gauke: The lifetime allowance limits the total value of tax relieved savings that may be accrued by an individual throughout their life. This allowance affects only the wealthiest 2% of pension savers.

(a) The reductions in the lifetime allowance and annual allowance for pensions tax relief announced in 2010 are expected to raise £4 billion per year in steady state. Disaggregated figures for the revenue from each of these measures are not available due to the level of interaction between them. Further information may be found in the accompanying Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN):

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130102171134/http://hmrc.gov.uk/budget-updates/pensions-tax-relief.pdf

(b) The reductions in both allowances announced at autumn statement 2012 and effective from 2014-15 are expected to raise around £1 billion per annum in steady state. Further information may also be found in the TIIN:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1046.pdf

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the threshold of pension pots before the recipients can receive a lump sum. [188294]

Mr Gauke: People with total pension wealth of less than £18,000 can take this as a lump sum under the current rules. Additionally, individuals can also take two personal pension pots and (subject to certain conditions) unlimited occupational pension pots under £2,000 as lump sums, regardless of total pension wealth.

As with all aspects of the tax system, these thresholds are kept under review.

Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners have been affected by the 2012 Budget announcement not to increase the age-related personal allowance of £10,660 from 2012-13; and what the average amount is of additional tax pensioners affected by that change paid from 2012-13. [188399]

Mr Gauke: The effects of the 2012 Budget announcement are set out in HMRC’s tax information and impact note, available at the following address:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/tiin-2046.pdf

Tax Avoidance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people employed by large accountancy firms were (a) involved in and (b) consulted on the draft general anti-abuse rule regulations and whether the draft proposals were circulated to the Big Four accountancy firms before publication. [188393]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs had the benefit of five secondees from the legal and accountancy profession in developing the general anti-abuse rule (GAAR). They provided very valuable expertise in helping to ensure that the GAAR legislation meets the Government’s clearly stated objectives, in drafting the guidance and designing the procedures.

The consultation document was publicly available and a number of accountancy firms were among the 169 substantive responses.

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HMRC engages regularly with business and tax professionals, and this included discussions about the GAAR at all stages of its development. The published consultations were formal, public processes open to all on an equal basis—no representations or responses were sought on the proposals before their publication.

Tax Collection

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the payment system for the collection of taxation through HM Revenue and Customs is able to process taxation in a currency other than sterling. [188490]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs maintains sterling accounts with commercial banks for the receipt of taxation revenues. Payments in foreign currency can be made into these accounts and will be converted into sterling at the prevailing market rate. It is the responsibility of the remitter to ensure that sufficient is sent in the originating currency to meet their sterling taxation liability unless any separate agreement has been made with HM Revenue & Customs.

Taxation

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of incorrect P800 notices likely to be sent in July 2014; and if he will make a statement. [188524]

Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made of the number of incorrect 2013-14 P800 Tax Calculation notices likely to be issued in July 2014.

Last year analysis indicated an accuracy level of over 99% in respect of 2012-13 P800 Tax Calculations where HM Revenue & Customs held the customer’s information.

Taxation: Greyhound Racing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue was raised from the greyhound industry in each of the last five years. [187930]

Mr Gauke: The information is not available. Tax and duty returns are not broken down to the level of detail required to identify tax revenue from the greyhound industry.

VAT

Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average annual benefit to households and individuals in each constituent part of the UK and each region in England of reducing the rate of value added tax on (a) books and periodicals, (b) food and (c) children's clothing to zero. [187426]

Mr Gauke: Books and periodicals, most food and young children's clothing are VAT zero-rated. The estimated cost to the Exchequer of these and other VAT reliefs is published on the HMRC website at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/expenditures/table1-5.xls

The estimate is not broken down by UK region.

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Northern Ireland

Polling Stations

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects details of the Polling Station Scheme in Northern Ireland for the forthcoming European and local elections to be announced. [188274]

Mr Robathan: This is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. However, I understand that on 13 February 2014 the Chief Electoral Officer issued a draft polling station scheme for local and European elections to political parties for consultation.

Home Department

Animal Experiments

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether promoting an understanding and awareness about the use of animals where no alternatives exist as set out in the Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research Delivery Plan will lead to a reduction in the number of animals used in scientific research. [187818]

Norman Baker: I am committed to reducing the use of animals in research. The Coalition Government's Delivery Plan, "Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research", shows how alternative methods can deliver fast, high quality research that also boosts economic growth.

Essential to this is our continuing development of new technologies that replace animal use. We must look to encourage investment in this area and strengthen the UK growth agenda through industry-linked initiatives. The scientific case for developing new techniques that do not involve animals is just as strong as the moral one. Where alternatives are available, they can deliver better science which is faster and more cost effective.

With increasing globalisation of commerce and science comes a need for greater harmonisation of approaches. The UK is in a prime position to globally influence uptake of the 3Rs, replacement, refinement and reduction, and we must look to export our knowledge.

Internationally recognised standards in regulatory safety testing are essential to give public assurance when bringing products to market. However, some tests require the use of animals and there is considerable inertia on the part of regulators to change. In the Delivery Plan we set out our commitment to accelerate the international uptake of validated alternatives to ensure they are accepted by regulators internationally.

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the publication, Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research, published on 7 February 2014, whether any consideration was given to baseline numbers. [187889]

Norman Baker: The Coalition Commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research encompasses the replacement, refinement and reduction (3R's), putting them at the heart of a science led approach.

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I am committed to reducing the use of animals in research. The Coalition Government's Delivery Plan, “Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research”, shows how alternative methods can deliver fast, high quality research that also boosts economic growth.

Asylum: Pregnant Women

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on revising guidance relating to procedures for dispersing and accommodating pregnant women who seek asylum in the UK. [187811]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has been consulting with the Refugee Council and Maternity Action with a view to updating the guidance. The Refugee Council and Maternity Action sent a response to the proposed revision of the guidance in January and this is now being considered.

British Nationality

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2013, Official Report, column 908W, on British nationality, how many of the 814 cases in 2012-13 that were concluded after 12 months were concluded (a) between 12 and 18, (b) between 18 and 24 and (c) after more than 24 months; and of those cases that took longer than 24 months to conclude, how long each such case took. [187921]

James Brokenshire: The information requested is shown in the following table.

Our reporting system counts 24 months from the date the report is completed.

Other decisions will now come within that reporting period; therefore it is not possible to isolate the original 249 cases reported on.

Reflects cases decided in the financial year.

These data have not previously been published in this format.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been secured for wildlife crimes and trafficking offences at UK airports in each of the last five years. [185172]

James Brokenshire: Border Force is able to confirm that, between January 2009 and September 2013 there were 49 such prosecutions. This includes both police and Border Force prosecutions in relations to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Control of trade in endangered species (COTES) offences. There were 41 wildlife crime prosecutions in this period, and eight cases of trafficking offences at UK airports. The cases break down as follows:

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Trafficking offences are defined as the illegal importation, exportation or re-exportation, or conspiring to smuggle species and their derivatives in general. The species are identified and enacted by EC Regulation 338/97 and subsequent updates. These trafficking figures do not include human trafficking offences.

Detention Centres

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how UKBA monitors contractual levels of staffing provided by GEO Group UK Ltd at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres. [187415]

James Brokenshire: The UK Border Agency was abolished in March 2013 and replaced by Home Office UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office Immigration Enforcement; this followed the creation of Border Force as a separate Home Office command in March 2012.

The organisational changes have not altered the way in which contracts with service providers are managed. The contractual staffing levels for GEO at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) and for Serco at Colnbrook IRC are monitored by the on-site Home Office Immigration Enforcement Team and through monthly staffing and self-audit reports detailing the hours worked by detainee custody officers and managers.

Drugs: Misuse

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 395W, on drugs: misuse, what the budget was for the communications campaign mentioned in the answer; how many people that campaign was expected to reach; and what evaluation of the effectiveness of the campaign has been produced. [187966]

Norman Baker: The total spend on communication activity was £67,616. This includes the cost of digital and radio media, but excludes production costs, VAT and agency fees.

The communication activity was projected to reach 45% of 15 to 18-year-olds, and reached a potential estimated audience of over 50% of 15 to 18-year-olds (data are not collected for those under 15).

An internal evaluation of the campaign was conducted utilising web analytics and a web survey (served to those visiting the campaign landing page on the FRANK website) to monitor the effectiveness of the activity in achieving its objective.

Over the campaign period there were 74,184 unique visitors to the legal highs campaign page. The legal highs A-Z page on FRANK saw an 84% increase in traffic compared to the pre-campaign period (24,169 visitors pre-campaign/44,667 visitors post-campaign).

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Top line findings from the self-selecting web survey on the FRANK website showed that of those respondents who reported to be 13 to 18 years old, 78% claimed they are more likely to take at least one positive action following their visit to FRANK, while 27% claimed they are more likely to take at least one of the negative actions.

Examples of the positive actions are ‘Consider not taking legal highs in the future’ and ‘Talk to somebody about legal highs’.

Entry Clearances

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully applied for permission to enter the UK were described as self-employed in each year since 2010. [187824]

James Brokenshire: The available information on grants and refusals of entry clearance visas for the calendar years 2010-12 and for each of the first three quarters of 2013 are published in the Department's quarterly release Immigration Statistics. The latest edition is available from the Library of the House and from gov.uk at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Data for the fourth quarter of 2013 are planned to be published on 27 February 2014.

It is not possible to identify from the available statistics how many of the people granted and refused visas were self-employed.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Secretary of State for Education to discuss campaigns against female genital mutilation; and if she will make a statement. [188180]

Norman Baker: On 6 February 2014, Ministers from across Government, including the Minister for Children and Families and myself, met with charities and stakeholders to discuss progress being made in tackling Female Genital Mutilation, and signed a joint declaration announcing a range of measures to combat this harmful practice in the UK and internationally.

I have also written to my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Education on the matter.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria will be used to determine the allocation of funds from the Female Genital Mutilation Community Engagement Initiative. [188181]

Norman Baker: We will determine the allocation of funds from the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Community Engagement initiative, by inviting bids. Bidders are required to meet the following criteria:

That they are submitted by a voluntary sector organisation.

That the proposed project will raise awareness about socio-cultural, ethnic-legal, sexual health and clinical implications of FGM.

That the proposed project will strengthen the voice of communities speaking out against FGM.

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That the proposed project will create new opportunities to talk about FGM.

The proposed method of evaluation.

This is set out in the guidance notes for bids which have been published on the Home Office website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-genital-mutilation-fund-guidance-notes

Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many hate crimes have been committed against transgender people in each year since 1997; [188097]

(2) how many offences have been recorded in the UK as motivated by hostility towards the victim on the grounds of being transgender in each year since 1997. [188093]

Norman Baker: Hate crime data recorded by the police have only been collected by the Home Office since 2011-12. In 2011-12, the police recorded 309 transgender related hate crimes in England and Wales and in 2012-13 the figure was 361.

More detailed information on hate crime can be found in the most recent statistical publication on hate crime at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-overview-of-hate-crime-in-england-and-wales

The Association of Chief Police Officers has collected data on the number of transgender hate crimes recorded by police since 2009 and this information can be found here:

http://www.report-it.org.uk/hate_crime_data1

These figures are not directly comparable to the figures collected by the Home Office. However, they show the total number of transgender related hate crimes recorded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be 312 in 2009, 357 in 2010 and 299 in 2011.

Data for Scotland are published by The Scottish Government and are available here:

http://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Equality_ Diversity/Hate%20Crime%20in%20Scotland%202012-13.pdf

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of progress the Government has made on tackling hate crimes against transgender people. [188098]

Norman Baker: Hate crime, including that committed against transgender people, is an issue the Government takes very seriously. One of our coalition commitments was to improve the recording of such crimes, and as a result, we know that 361 transgender hate crimes were recorded by police forces in England and Wales in 2012/13.

However, we also know that transgender hate crimes in particular are under-reported, and building victims' confidence to come forward is a key part of ‘Challenge it, report it, stop it', our action plan on hate crime. That is why we have supported voluntary sector organisations to develop third party reporting services for transgender victims. We have also amended criminal legislation to give courts the power to increase sentence lengths for crimes motivated by hostility towards transgender people,

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and to increase the sentencing starting point for a murder motivated by hatred of transgender people from 15 to 30 years.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many businesses in (a) Chelmsford constituency and (b) Essex have been fined for employing illegal foreign national workers in each of the last five years. [185593]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 10 February 2014]: The information requested is shown in the following table. The figures are based on the number of civil penalties served at visited business addresses.

Penalty table for Chelmsford/Essex

Please note the figures are for penalties issued at the initial decision stage which may be reduced, cancelled, increased or reissued at the objection or appeal stage.

Immigration

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many named people without indefinite leave to remain are currently listed on the (a) National Operations Database, (b) Case Information Database, (c) National Allegations Database, (d) Migration Refusal Pool, (e) Warnings Index and (f) Watch Lists. [188359]

James Brokenshire: The National Operations Database, Case Information Database and the National Allegations Database do not record information on illegal migrants in the format requested. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The latest Migration Refusal Pool figures are published and sent to the Home Affairs Select Committee each quarter and are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

It is long-standing policy not to discuss either the specific information held on the Warnings Index and Watch Lists, or details relating to the volumes of data on them, as to do so would not be in the interests of border and national security.

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Immigration Controls

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the guidance on the UK Border Agency's website entitled Checks for staff employed from 1 May 2004 to 28 February 2008 was last updated. [187602]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 13 February 2014]: This guidance on the website contains historical information about previous provisions under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 which were repealed when the current rules under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 came into force on 29 February 2008. The guidance itself has not been updated as the checks required for staff employed between 1 May 2004 to 28 February 2008 have not changed.

Khat

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the proposed ban on khat will come into force. [187094]

Norman Baker: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2013 which proposes to control khat as a Class C drug was laid before Parliament on 31 October 2013. It is awaiting Parliament's approval under the affirmative resolution procedure.

Subject to Parliament's approval, the legislation will come into effect 28 days from the date on which it is made by the Privy Council.

Licensing Laws

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she is taking to ensure that regular checks on online retailers' compliance with laws on the sale of alcohol are carried out; [188114]

(2) what steps she is taking to ensure that supermarkets and other businesses have measures in place to ensure that young people cannot purchase alcohol online for delivery. [188116]

Norman Baker: The mandatory conditions reform of the Licensing Act 2003, introduced in October 2010, re-enforces the criminal offences on underage sales by requiring retailers of alcohol to have policies in place to check the age of a person at the point at which alcohol is served. The amended statutory guidance for licensing authorities issued under the Licensing Act 2003 specifically covers online sales. This states that licence holders should carefully consider what steps are appropriate to ensure that age verification takes place before alcohol is physically delivered to ensure the recipient is at least 18 years of age.

Licensing authorities are responsible for ensuring that retailers of alcohol comply with the law.

Members: Correspondence

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will be replying to the letter sent to her by post and email on 30 December 2013 by the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling regarding Mrs Rene Chung requesting a reply by 20 January 2014. [184906]

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James Brokenshire [holding answer 28 January 2014]:I replied to my right hon. Friend’s letter on 18 February 2014.

Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to his letter to the interim director general, UK Visas and Immigration of 15 January 2014 on behalf of a constituent, CTS ref M697/14. [188225]

James Brokenshire: The hon. Gentleman received a reply from the director general of UK Visas and Immigration on 13 February 2014.

Mental Illness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police authorities in the UK have adopted the Newcastle health screening tool to assess patients with mental health issues; and what steps her Department is taking to increase its uptake across clinical commissioning groups. [187979]

Damian Green: No police force across the UK has adopted this tool. However, for three months in 2012, the Metropolitan police piloted the use of the tool in one police custody suite in London. Newcastle university designed and evaluated the outcomes of the pilot study. The Home Office is currently exploring with NHS England the benefits of health screening tools more generally, of which, the Newcastle screening tool is one example.

Ministers' Private Offices

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) staff, (b) senior staff and (c) staff in ministerial private offices in her Department are female. [186835]

Karen Bradley [holding answer 10 February 2014]: In the Home Department (a) 52% of staff, (b) 34% of senior civil servants and (c) 74% of staff in ministerial private offices are female.

Ministerial private offices include the offices of the Home Secretary, Minister of State for Immigration, Minister of State for Crime Prevention, Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime and Security, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Criminal Information.

The figures provided are at 31 December 2013.

NHS: Foreign Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to ease visa or work permit restrictions for doctors and other medical staff from outside the UK wanting to work in UK hospitals. [187821]

James Brokenshire: The Government recognise the valuable contribution doctors from overseas make to our health service. There are several immigration routes available to doctors and there is no reason why those who are needed to fill gaps and who have a job offer from a UK sponsor cannot come.

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Several roles for doctors, including emergency medicine, are on the shortage occupation list, which means they qualify for a visa under the Tier 2 (skilled work) route. For other roles not on the list, overseas doctors can be sponsored to work in the UK if it is not possible to fill the role from the resident labour market.

Doctors who graduate from UK medical schools can undertake foundation training in Tier 4 of the Points-Based System and then progress into Tier 2 with no need for a resident labour market test.

Northern Ireland

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets her Department has sold in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the value of each such sale was. [186574]

Karen Bradley: The Home Department's only asset sale in Northern Ireland in the last five years was a Toyota Prius recorded as sold for £3,073 net of sale costs in the current financial year. This was sold via the Government Procurement Service as part of the routine disposal of official vehicles that have reached the end of their economic life.

Offences against Children: Internet

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to protect children from online paedophiles. [188230]

Damian Green: The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command of the National Crime Agency (NCA) is central to protecting children online. As part of the NCA, CEOP can access more resources to deal with complex cases of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and benefits from support from other NCA specialist functions such as the National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU). Every officer in the NCA, over 4,000 people, has a legal duty to safeguard children and promote child welfare.

The NCA’s UK and global reach is extensive, with officers stationed in over 40 countries overseas to ensure our international partners are working alongside us to tackle the abuse of children.

We have made additional progress in tackling child abuse online through work we are doing with the internet industry. Internet search engines have made changes to their search mechanisms, and these new measures have been effective in making it harder to access child abuse images. Britain and the US have also created a new taskforce to work with industry to counter online child sexual exploitation.

Police: Finance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds have been top-sliced from individual police forces to pay for (a) double inspection, (b) the Direct Entry Scheme, (c) City of London Police and (d) the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [188029]

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Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the Police Grant Report 2014-15 (HC1043) which was laid on 5 February 2014 and the accompanying Written Ministerial Statement on 5 February 2014, Official Report, columns 23-27WS. The Police Grant Report is available in the Vote Office.

Procurement

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of services supplied to her Department by (a) Capita and (b) G4S in each of the last five financial years by (i) casework, (ii) decision-making, (iii) the serving of official documents and (iv) dealing with removals. [187718]

James Brokenshire: The Home Department's expenditure on contracts with Capita in financial year 2008-09 was £57.8 million (this does not include Her Majesty's Passport Office spend as they were using a different finance system to record their spend during these financial years). For financial years 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 June 2013, Official Report, columns 686-7W.

The Home Department's expenditure on contracts with G4S for the last five financial years is detailed in the following table:

Information is not collated on how this expenditure is divided between casework, decision-making, serving of official documents and dealing with removals.

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Chapter 4 in Part 5 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, what steps she has taken to (a) implement provisions to enable individuals to apply to have relevant offences disregarded and (b) raise awareness of the new provisions on erasing historic convictions for consensual homosexual sex contained in that Act. [186878]

Karen Bradley [holding answer 10 February 2014]: The Government commenced Chapter 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 on 1 October 2012. The provisions enable individuals to apply to the Secretary of State to have their relevant offences, which meet the criteria set out in the Act, disregarded. A disregarded conviction or caution will never need to be disclosed in any circumstances. Further information, including an application form, can be found on the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disregarding-convictions-for-decriminalised-sexual-offences

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The disregard provisions were developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Government Equalities Office and a range of lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) organisations. The commencement of these provisions was announced in the media, and details were provided online on the gov.uk website and on several national LGBT organisation websites.

Schengen Agreement

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission a review of the operation of the Schengen Agreement and the UK's non-participation in the Schengen area arrangements. [187106]

Karen Bradley: The UK participates in Schengen provisions relating to police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters (except hot pursuit), to narcotic drugs, and to carriers' liability. The UK is also working to join the second generation of the Schengen Information System (SISII). However, the UK is not part of Schengen arrangements on visas and border controls. The Government believe that the retention of frontier controls at ports and airports in the UK is the most effective means of controlling immigration and combating organised and cross-border crime. This is particularly so given our island geography and the high volume of people travelling in and out of the UK, and transiting the UK to travel to other parts of the world. Any future application to join those parts of the Schengen Protocol that would remove any UK border control would require an Act of Parliament and referendum under the terms of the European Union Act 2011.

Telecommunications: Databases

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations her Department has made to the US Administration about improving the operation of mutual legal assistance treaties for obtaining communications data. [187961]

James Brokenshire: The Government work closely and have regular discussions with the US Administration, to help ensure that British law enforcement have the evidence they need to undertake investigations. This currently includes work to improve the secure transfer of requests under the US-UK mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). We are clear that the US-UK MLAT process does not provide a sufficiently timely or reliable solution to the requirement for communications data in tackling crime and protecting the public.

Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to provide de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration for people subject to terrorism prevention and investigation measures. [187964]

James Brokenshire: The police, Security Service and Home Office have developed comprehensive and detailed plans to manage the former terrorism prevention and investigation measures (TPIM) subjects.

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Those plans include consideration by the police of Prevent interventions related to the individual, their family and local places they might attend. They also include identifying stabilising factors to assist TPIM subjects to move away from extremism, such as employment and education.

As detailed in David Anderson's annual report published in March 2013, we also engaged probation to work with TPIM subjects during the final months of their TPIM notices.

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of services carried out by her Department in Wales in relation to the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Welsh Language Standards. [187772]

Karen Bradley: Since September 2009, the Home Office has adopted a Welsh language scheme. The measures set out in the policy document form the basis of an annual report sent to the Welsh Language Commissioner where the Home Office provides evidence to ensure compliance with the agreed measures for the scheme. This was last reviewed in July 2013 as part of the Home Office's Welsh language scheme report for 2012-13 and was sent to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for New Forest East, on 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 191W, on Afghanistan, how much has been reported as misused in reports he has received in his Department from the United Nations and from advisers within line Ministries in each of the last six years. [188203]

Hugh Robertson: The UN does not provide individual states with reports of this nature. Where multilateral trust funds are used to support programmes in Afghanistan, funding from donor states is pooled. It is not therefore possible for the UN to provide reports to individual donors on any allegation of misuse of their funding contributions in this way.

The UK played a key role in the development of the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework that ties future aid flows to the Afghan Government's progress on key reforms, including meeting transparency and anti-corruption targets. We continue to help the Afghan Government tackle corruption, focussing on the principles of prevention, enforcement and accountability including improving public financial management and supporting the police and judiciary.

The UK takes the misuse of aid very seriously. We acknowledge the risks posed in contexts like Afghanistan and all our projects are subject to rigorous risk assessment and robust financial monitoring. For example, DFID's Afghan programme is subject to independent review and no evidence of misuse of UK taxpayers' funds has been identified.

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Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effect of Article 26 of Afghanistan's draft criminal procedure law, prohibition of questioning an individual as a witness, on domestic violence or forced marriage prosecutions in that country; and what representations he has made to the Afghan Government since the draft code was approved by the Afghan Parliament. [188445]

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of reports that the revised Afghanistan Criminal Procedures Code includes provisions which could limit family testimony in criminal cases. We have raised this issue with the Afghan Government and continue to remind the Afghan Government of the need to fully implement their national and international human rights commitments, including the elimination of violence against women law, and to uphold the rights of all Afghan citizens, including women, children and minorities. We will continue to support them in these efforts.

Armed Conflict: Children

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the issue of child soldiering with his counterparts in those countries where the practice is prevalent. [188038]

Mark Simmonds: We continue to raise the issue of child soldiers with a number of counterparts in countries where there is reporting of children being recruited into armed groups and forces. We work with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to urge these governments to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether grassroots women's rights organisations from conflict-affected countries have been invited to the Preventing Sexual Violence summit in June 2014. [188056]

Mark Simmonds: The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict will take place in London on 10-13 June 2014. The aim of the summit is to create a sense of irreversible momentum towards ending rape and sexual violence in conflict worldwide once and for all. It will have a strong focus on practical action and deliver a set of ambitious outcomes that bring together conflict-affected countries, donors, international organisations, the UN and other multilateral organisations and civil society.

Women's organisations, including those working directly on the ground responding to and supporting survivors of sexual violence, as well as other domestic and international civil society organisations have an important contribution to make to these discussions. They will have a prominent role at the summit.

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will grant (a) permanent habitation rights and (b) full local democratic rights to those people living on Ascension Island. [188267]

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Mark Simmonds: There is no intention to grant permanent habitation rights on Ascension Island, which has always been a place of work rather than one of permanent residence. To do so would change the nature of the Territory and lead to considerable infrastructure and development costs which would place an excessive burden on the UK taxpayer, and which would create contingent liabilities for an indefinite period into the future. Ascension Island has a functioning democratic process which operates in keeping with its Constitution, revised in 2009. A successful general election took place in October 2013, when a full seven person Council was returned. This Council represents the views of those working on Ascension Island and provides advice to the Administrator and Governor.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the advice of the Ascension Island Council was not followed by the (a) Administrator and (b) Governor of Ascension Island in 2013. [188268]

Mark Simmonds: There was only one occasion, in 2013, when the Governor formally acted against the advice of the Ascension Island Council. This was when he introduced essential legislation to prevent children from being in bars and clubs late at night, bringing Ascension Island in line with UK child safeguarding best practice and in accordance with the advice of child protection experts.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what day his Department will fly the flag of Ascension Island in 2014. [188270]

Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will fly the flag of Ascension Island on or around Ascension Day (29 May 2014).

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the British Overseas Territories are bound into the British constitution beyond any reasonable doubt. [187560]

Mark Simmonds: Each British overseas territory is a separate constitutional unit, and accordingly, is a distinct legal jurisdiction. None is constitutionally a part of the United Kingdom. Each territory has its own constitution and is administered separately from the others. But at the same time each territory has a constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom, the sovereign power.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage participation in sport in the British Overseas Territories. [187563]

Mark Simmonds: The elected governments of the overseas territories are responsible for promoting sport in their territories. However, in line with the commitment in the 2012 White Paper, the UK Government stand

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ready to provide the territories with advice, where we have specific expertise, in order to help territories expand the opportunities for their people to participate in sport.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that citizens moving from the British Overseas Territories to Britain are settled as quickly and comfortably as possible. [187564]

Mark Simmonds: The UK Government do not operate an integration or settlement scheme for British nationals moving to the UK from overseas or from the overseas territories.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that endangered species in the British Overseas Territories are protected. [187567]

Mark Simmonds: The Government are committed to assisting the territories in protecting their endangered species. Habitat and species conservation is a priority theme under the annual £2 million Darwin Plus fund, which supports environmental projects in the territories.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recently provided funding to a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds-led project to produce an ‘Extinction Risk Assessment' for the overseas territories. This work will, for the first time ever, compile data from across the territories on threatened species. The Government also provided funding towards the feral cat eradication project on Ascension Island. The removal of feral cats has allowed the globally threatened Ascension Frigatebird to breed on Ascension for the first time in almost 180 years.

We are also assisting territories with implementation of multilateral environmental agreements such as the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES). Nine overseas territories are currently included under the UK's ratification of the convention.

Burma

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of people killed in the Du Chee Yar Tan massacre in Burma. [188195]

Mr Swire: We have received reports from a range of sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, community groups and international partners concerning the killing of Rohingya Muslims in Northern Rakhine State in mid January. While the number of deaths reported varies, the majority of sources agree that at least 40 people, mainly Rohingya women and children, were killed.

On 23 January, I called on the Burmese Government to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the violence—a message I delivered directly to the Burmese Government during my most recent visit to Burma from 28-30 January. The Burmese Government must continue to provide security for all communities in Rakhine State and enable the free distribution of international assistance.

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Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on the Government's Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative in Burma. [188398]

Mr Swire: We regularly lobby the Burmese Government on preventing sexual violence against women in conflict areas. I recently raised the issue of sexual violence with senior ministers, the Commander in Chief and the Northern Ireland commander during my visit to Burma in January. We continue to invite all countries, including Burma, to join 140 nations and endorse the UN Political Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

We are providing more than £300,000 funding, over the next 14 months, to three projects supporting the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) in Burma. The first will train 60 women in Burma in basic legal skills so that they can provide advice to victims of sexual violence on how to access legal and other support services. In the second project, community leaders and local government staff in 40 target villages will participate in workshops and receive psychosocial training to gain a better understanding of their role in preventing sexual violence in their communities. These projects will be implemented by Action Aid in several conflict-affected areas: Kachin state, Kayah state, Rakhine state, Meiktila and Pyapon. To these, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is providing funding of £221,000 across this financial year (2013-14) and the next (2014-15), with the UN Trust Fund To End Violence Against Women providing the rest of the projects' funding.

The third project supports work with non-state armed groups relating to the wider peace process, and the FCO is providing just over £97,000 across the same two financial years. In this case, the implementer has requested that we do not release further information, due to the sensitive nature of their work.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ascertain whether any Burmese Army soldiers who are currently receiving training from the British Army previously committed war crimes, or crimes against humanity. [188474]

Mr Swire: There are currently no Burmese Army soldiers receiving training from the British Army.

From 6 to 17 January 2014, the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in collaboration with its academic partner, Cranfield University, delivered the Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context educational course in Burma to 30 Burmese participants, a mix of military officers and civilians. We are not aware of any involvement in human rights abuses by course participants.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government support the establishment of an international investigation into human rights abuses against the Rohingya in Burma. [188476]

Mr Swire: We believe that a credible and transparent national process is the most effective way of furthering accountability. We are extremely concerned about the situation and, in particular, the recent violence in Rakhine

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State. 1 made our concern clear during my most recent visit to Burma, 28-30 January. Where serious crimes have been committed, those who have perpetrated them must be held accountable for their actions. This should be done through a clear and transparent investigative and prosecutorial process. We welcome sentences passed on those guilty of the violence in June 2012. However, we continue to call for all those accused of having instigated, incited, or carried out violence in Rakhine State to be held to account.

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2013, Official Report, column 151W, on Burma, whether he has raised the case of Naw Ohn Hla with his Burmese counterpart following her re-arrest in December 2013. [188581]

Mr Swire: I raised the issue of political prisoners with U Soe Thane, Minister of the President's Office during my visit to Burma at the end of January. While I did not raise the individual case of Naw Ohn Hla, our embassy in Rangoon remains in close contact with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) in support of their work to identify those that have been unjustly convicted and ensure they are freed. We continue to make clear to senior members of the Burmese Government that even one political prisoner is one too many.

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2013, Official Report, column 352W, on Burma, whether he has raised the case of Daw Bawk Ja with his Burmese counterpart; and what reports he has received on whether she has been released. [188582]

Mr Swire: I raised the issue of political prisoners with U Soe Thane, Minister of the President's Office, during my visit to Burma at the end of January. I did not raise the individual case of Daw Bawk Ja as she was released from detention earlier in the month.

Caribbean

Mr Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to encourage other nations in the region to support the UK's anti-drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean. [188342]

Mark Simmonds: Through our platform of diplomatic missions in the Caribbean, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) supports wider British Government efforts to tackle drug trafficking and organised crime in the region. These efforts include National Crime Agency-led operational activity to disrupt the flow of drugs en route to the UK (particularly cocaine) and capacity building work with Caribbean law enforcement agencies and criminal justice systems. We enjoy good levels of co-operation from and co-ordination with Caribbean Governments, which is an integral part of our work in this area. As such, British high commissioners and ambassadors are regularly in touch with Caribbean Governments at the highest level and FCO Ministers with their Caribbean counterparts.

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Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on allowing British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to lay individual wreaths at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. [187562]

Mark Simmonds: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport leads on ceremonial matters, which include the Remembrance Sunday service, consulting all stakeholders involved. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), lays a wreath on behalf of the British overseas territories. There are no plans to change the existing arrangements for wreath laying.

Egypt

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 534W, what response his Department received from the Egyptian Government on restoring democratic elections in Egypt; and what further reports he has received on when democratic elections in Egypt will be restored. [188385]

Hugh Robertson: The Egyptian Government have assured us of their commitment to see through the roadmap into elections, with presidential elections preceding parliamentary elections. We expect the former to take place before mid-April and the latter before mid-June, in accordance with the election process timings set out in the new Constitution.

Equality

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years. [187640]

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all its employees. The following table shows the amounts spent by the FCO's central diversity and equality team and the staffing costs for that team over the last five years.

Diversity and equality considerations are factored into a wide range of aspects of the FCO's work as an employer, as a provider of services to British people around the world, and in the development and delivery of aspects of foreign policy. The figures in this table do

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not include spending and staff costs for all these activities that are not directly undertaken by the diversity team and for which data are not held centrally, nor for the costs of individual reasonable adjustments for officers with a disability under the Equality Act 2010. The 2012-13 budget is lower than previous years because the costs of many training initiatives are now met from other budgets. The FCO publishes an annual Equality Report which provides information about the diversity and makeup of our staff, as required by the Equality Act 2010.

Iran

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that Iran has test fired an advanced long-range ballistic missile with radar-evading capabilities. [188380]

Hugh Robertson: The reported launch of a Bina surface-to-surface missile on 10 February would appear to be another breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929 by Iran. We continue to call on Iran to comply with its international obligations. This launch does not, however, appear to represent a step forward in the range or accuracy of Iran's ballistic missile capability.

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the development by Iran of a new and more powerful generation of uranium enrichment centrifuges. [188381]

Hugh Robertson: In December the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization announced that it had completed initial tests on a new generation of centrifuges. Under the Joint Plan of Action Iran has agreed not to install or bring into operation any new centrifuges during the six-month interim deal. Iran has also undertaken not to produce centrifuges, except to replace existing machines which have been damaged, and only to do so with centrifuges of the same type.

Middle East

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking (a) to support the middle east peace talks and (b) to encourage all concerned parties to engage constructively in the negotiations; and if he will make a statement. [188477]

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is focused on creating a constructive environment that enables the middle east peace talks to succeed. That is why, in December, the UK strongly advocated the EU's offer of an unprecedented package of political, economic and security support for both parties in the event of a final status agreement.

We also hold regular discussions at ministerial and official level with Israel, the Palestinians and our international partners.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support (a) civil society in Israel and Palestine and (b) groups which are campaigning for peace. [188479]

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Hugh Robertson: Through our embassy in Tel Aviv and consulate in Jerusalem, we support civil society partners in both communities to implement projects that sustain Palestinian state-building efforts; reduce the risk of deterioration of the situation on the ground, and advance understanding of the fears and desires of both publics in the context of a lasting peace. We also support the work of trusted implementers to monitor and challenge settler violence, settlement expansion, land expropriations and evictions and demolitions in the west bank and East Jerusalem through the Israeli legal system. We also provide legal assistance to protect Palestinian rights to land and property. A key aim of this work is to support and strengthen constituencies in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories who are committed to resolving the conflict peacefully.

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. [188541]

Hugh Robertson: We condemn the recent increase in rocket fire, from Gaza towards Israel, in violation of international humanitarian law. We have received no reports of Israeli casualties in 2014. Israel has responded with several airstrikes this year, killing two Palestinians and wounding several others. We continue to urge all sides to respect in full the November 2012 ceasefire agreement and to avoid any further escalation in violence.

North Korea

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department provides to the British Embassy in Pyongyang; and for what purpose such funding is provided. [188454]

Mr Swire: The UK maintains full diplomatic relations with North Korea to deliver our policy of "critical engagement". This allows us to communicate directly our substantial concerns about North Korea's nuclear programme and human rights violations, while at the same time pursing a modest set of engagement projects. Our engagement projects are aimed at exposing North Koreans to the outside world from which they are normally isolated. We also provide some limited humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups.

In financial year 2013-14 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has so far provided the British embassy in Pyongyang with £598,640. £215,646 was to cover the costs of running the embassy including maintenance, local staff pay, travel, telecommunications and transportation.

£382,994 has been disbursed to the following projects: funding for the UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights in North Korea to gather evidence from North Korean refugees in the UK; the British Council English language teacher training programme; an English language and culture immersion course for people working in institutions in Pyongyang; an exchange visit for Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials to the UK; an exchange between the DPRK and the Royal United Services Institute; a Red Cross disaster preparedness project; a sanitation project in Singye County; and funding for three projects promoting disability rights.

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The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also funded two Chevening scholarships for people from North Korea this year.

Nuclear Weapons

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the Government did not send a delegation to the conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons that began in Mexico on 13 February 2014; for what reasons this decision was not announced until the day before the conference began; and if he will make a statement. [188254]

Hugh Robertson: The Government remain determined to continue to work with partners across the international community to control proliferation and to make progress on multilateral nuclear disarmament, to build trust and confidence between nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, and to take tangible steps toward a safer and more stable world.

The Government gave careful consideration to whether to attend the Mexico conference. However, we remain concerned that many supporters of the conference appear to have a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting nuclear weapons outright as their ultimate goal.

The United Kingdom believes that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) should remain the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and for making available the benefits from the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The UK believes that attempts to establish new conferences or bodies to discuss such approaches risk undermining the full implementation of all three pillars of the non-proliferation treaty.

Pakistan

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) nature and (b) financial value was of (i) military and (ii) other assistance given to the Pakistani Government in each of the last three financial years; what the planned expenditure for each category is in the (A) current and (B) next financial year; and if he will make a statement on areas of bilateral co-operation. [187785]

Hugh Robertson: Assistance has been given to the Government of Pakistan in a number of areas. The ties that join the UK and Pakistan are very strong. We are committed to working closely with Pakistan through intensive, practical cooperation that will capitalise on the growing, joint opportunities on security, trade, investment, education and cultural spheres.

The approximate breakdown is as follows:

Development assistance (nearest million)

FY 2010-11: £215,000,000

FY 2011-12: £215,000,000

FY 2012-13: £203,000,000

FY 2013-14 (planned): £355,000,000

FY 2014-15 (planned): £405,000,000

Defence engagement and assistance (nearest thousand)

FY 2010-11: £2,634,000

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FY 2011-12: £1,825,000

FY 2012-13: £1,723,000

FY 2013-14 (planned): £4,516,000

FY 2014-15: Not yet finalised

Other assistance, including support to elections, security cooperation and migration projects (nearest thousand)

FY 2010-11: £11,953,000

FY 2011-12: £10,802,000

FY 2012-13: £10,469,000

FY 2013-14 (planned): £6,759,000

FY 204-15 (planned): £5,369,000.

Romania

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Romanian Government on their implementation of a cull of stray dogs. [187753]

Mr Lidington: The responsibility for tackling the issue of stray dogs in Romania lies with the Romanian local authorities. I have not made any direct representations, but the British embassy in Bucharest closely monitors this issue and recently hosted a meeting between the Mayor of Bucharest and animal welfare non-governmental organisations, such as World Society for the Protection of Animals, Vier Pfoten and Save the Dogs, so that the Romanian local authorities can draw on the advice of these organisations in managing this serious problem appropriately and humanely. We would encourage Romania to allocate more funds to solve this systemic problem but recognise the difficult financial climate there. Our embassy will continue to pay close attention to this issue.

South Korea

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on continued US-South Korean military drills in and around South Korea. [187559]

Mr Swire: As a Member of the UN Armistice Commission, the UK has regular contact with the US and Republic of Korea (RoK) on defence issues on the Korean Peninsula, including US-RoK joint military exercises. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the US Commander of the UN Command and head of US Forces Korea during his visit to Seoul in October 2013. I also met representatives from the UN Command during my last visit to the RoK in February 2013.

Sri Lanka

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the initiation of an independent, international war crimes inquiry in Sri Lanka. [187499]

Mr Swire: As the Prime Minister said in his statement to Parliament on 18 November 2013, we will continue to press the Sri Lankan Government for credible,

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transparent and independent investigations into alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka's recent conflict. We have made clear that if a credible domestic process has not begun properly by March 2014 we will use our seat on the UN Human Rights Council to call for an international investigation. We are regularly discussing Sri Lanka with a range of international partners ahead of the March Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner for Human Rights' report due ahead of the March Human Rights Council will provide an assessment of Sri Lanka's progress.

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the accountability process in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [187500]

Mr Swire: As the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to Parliament on 18 November, we continued to be concerned about the lack of credible, transparent and independent investigations into alleged violations on both sides of the Sri Lanka conflict. We strongly support the position of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, that if Sri Lanka has not demonstrated a credible national accountability process by March 2014, then the international community has a duty to act. We have made clear if the Sri Lankan Government have not begun properly with credible investigations by March, then we will use our position on the UN Human Rights Council to work with the UN Human Rights Commissioner and call for an international investigation. The High Commissioner for Human Rights' report due ahead of the March Human Rights Council will give an assessment of Sri Lanka's progress.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report by ACF International entitled, The Truth about the Assassination of 17 aid workers in Sri Lanka, published on 13 December 2013; and if he will make a statement. [188198]

Mr Swire: The British Government have been consistently clear that it is vital that there are transparent, independent and credible investigations into alleged abuses and violations of humanitarian and human rights law during Sri Lanka's recent conflict. This includes the 2006 murder of 17 Action Contre le Faim (ACF) aid workers. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights observed there has been "relatively little progress" in this case when reporting to the Human Rights Council in September 2013. This was reinforced by the 3 December ACF report. The Sri Lankan Government have recently stated that investigations are ongoing; it is important that progress is made in identifying and bringing to justice the perpetrators.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the establishment of an independent investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka. [188508]

Mr Swire: Since the end of the military conflict in Sri Lanka, the British Government have been clear that there should be a credible, transparent and independent

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investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law. Following her visit to Sri Lanka last year, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that she had detected ‘no new or comprehensive effort' to investigate these allegations. We share the High Commissioner’s concerns and do not believe that processes set up by the Sri Lankan Government, such as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission or the Commission of inquiry on Disappearances announced last year, adequately address accountability.

If credible domestic investigations have not begun properly by March 2014, the Prime Minister has been clear that we will use our position on the United Nations Human Rights Council to work with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other countries to call for an international investigation.

Syria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on bringing an end to the civil war in Syria. [187558]

Hugh Robertson: The UK is actively engaging with our international partners to bring about an end to the civil war in Syria and to alleviate the terrible humanitarian suffering of innocent civilians. Most recently, the UK has championed a UN Security Council Resolution aimed at securing progress on the humanitarian crisis. In parallel, we are intensifying our support to the Geneva II process and are in regular contact with partners on the UN Security Council, the joint UN-Arab League Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the London 11 Core Group of the Friends of Syria and with EU partners—including most recently during discussions at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 10 February. All our efforts are focused on maximising the chances of the Geneva II process succeeding and achieving a political transition in Syria. A political settlement is the only way that the conflict can be brought to an end.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Syrian Government about the killing of civilians in Aleppo. [187829]

Hugh Robertson: The regime continues a campaign of indiscriminate bombardment of Syria's towns and cities and has not taken sufficient steps to address the humanitarian crisis. The UK is therefore pressing this issue at the UN Security Council and calling for stronger action, including a resolution that will require free and unfettered humanitarian access in Syria. We continue to work closely with Security Council members, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other partners to reduce civilian suffering in Syria.

Uganda

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with President Yoweri Museveni about Uganda's proposed anti-homosexuality legislation. [188226]

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Mark Simmonds: The UK Government have consistently raised their concerns about the Anti-Homosexuality Bill with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the issue with the Ugandan Foreign Minister in the margins of the Somalia Conference in May 2013. I discussed the issue when I visited Uganda and met with President Museveni, and most recently with the Ugandan Foreign Minister on 28 January 2014 and the Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs on 13 February 2014.

USA

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the US administration about improving the operation of mutual legal assistance treaties for obtaining communications data. [187960]

Hugh Robertson: The Government work closely, and have regular discussions, with the US Administration to help ensure that British law enforcement have the evidence they need to undertake investigations. This currently includes work to improve the secure transfer of requests under the US-UK mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). We are clear that the US-UK MLAT process does not currently provide a reliable or sufficiently timely solution to the requirement for communications data in tackling crime and protecting the public.

Defence

Afghanistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the Movement and Transport Safety Regulator has identified instances of dangerous goods being transported from Afghanistan in each of the last five years; what the nature and risk was in each incident; and when each incident occurred. [187234]

Mr Francois: During the last five years, the Movement and Transport Safety Regulator identified the following incidents involving the non-compliant carriage of dangerous goods from Afghanistan:

2009

Eight incidents involving incorrect or missing documentation. The resultant risk being the chance of an inappropriate response in the event of an emergency.

2010

No incidents recorded.

2011

Two incidents involving missing documentation. The resultant risk being the chance of an inappropriate response in the event of an emergency.

Two incidents where ISO freight containers were identified as containing incompatible dangerous goods. Risk that the dangerous goods could have reacted had the container been subjected to an accident or incident.

2012

No incidents recorded.

2013

One large lithium battery transported from Afghanistan to UK without necessary UN certification and therefore not cleared for transport. Risk of lithium battery fire.

Incorrectly prepared road fuel tanker flown from Afghanistan. Issue identified at transhipment point and further movement halted. Risk of product release.

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Two incidents involving incorrect documentation and degraded packaging. Minor risk of product release and the risk of an inappropriate response from personnel involved in the transport operation in the event of an emergency.

27 ISO containers containing lithium batteries arrived in UK with insufficient load restraint and incorrect documentation. Poor load restraint presented an unstable load for transportation and a risk to those personnel handling the containers.

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian casualties have been recorded by (a) his Department and (b) the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as a result of weapon release by RAF personnel operating US unmanned systems in Afghanistan. [R] [187451]

Mr Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey), on 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 187W, to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr Godsiff).

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will revise his Department's figures for weapons release from unmanned aerial systems by the UK in Afghanistan to include RAF personnel operating US systems; and if he will make a statement. [R] [187452]

Mr Francois: The UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) weapon release figures previously provided include missions involving UK-owned remotely piloted aircraft and UK use of US-owned remotely piloted aircraft. RAF personnel are subject to UK rules of engagement for all weapon releases when operating a UK or a US platform.

Air Force: Bullying

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by the RAF in response to the Service Complaints Commissioner’s report 2012 of the trebling of cases of bullying; and if he will make a statement. [188150]

Anna Soubry: Regrettably, the figures reported to the Service Complaints Commissioner for the 2012 report were later found to be incorrectly inflated. The RAF has written to the Commissioner to explain that the data provided in January 2013 for the Commissioner’s 2012 report was inaccurate and to apologise. The number of bullying cases in 2012 had been reported as 47; the actual number was 10.

The RAF takes incidents of bullying very seriously and puts a particular emphasis on prevention; every opportunity is taken to make personnel aware of what behaviour is acceptable and what is not, and what to do if they are subject to, or witness, inappropriate behaviour. Awareness is raised through RAF equality and diversity training during initial training and as a mandatory requirement every three years. Furthermore, RAF station and unit commanders have also been directed to engage early in the process by, for example, convening personal meetings with complainants. Furthermore, RAF station and unit commanders have also been directed to engage early in the process by, for example, convening personal meetings with complainants.

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Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ports in the UK the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier simulator successfully navigated and docked at. [188386]

Mr Dunne: Computer modelling has been undertaken for the navigation and docking of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers at its base port of Portsmouth and at Faslane as a contingency. This modelling has been successful.

Desktop modelling has also demonstrated that the carriers can successfully enter other UK ports. If there is a need for the ship to dock at further UK ports, modelling will be undertaken if required.

Armed Forces: Financial Services

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ban payday lending advertisements on military bases; and if he will make a statement; [188448]

(2) if he will undertake a feasibility study on establishing a credit union open to British military personnel; and if he will make a statement. [188449]

Dr Murrison: The Ministry of Defence recognises that armed forces personnel and their families can experience greater difficulties in accessing credit than other members of society as a result of their mobile lifestyle and time spent overseas. This can have a negative impact on an individual's credit rating; more stringent credit referencing in the current financial climate has exacerbated this issue. MOD has undertaken a great deal of work as part of the Armed Forces Covenant to address these disadvantages, including working with the financial industry, the introduction of UK postcodes for overseas locations and the MoneyForce financial capability programme which was launched in March 2013. As part of our ongoing efforts to better support our service personnel, the MOD is currently considering the benefits of an armed forces credit union. However, no decision has yet been taken.

The MoneyForce programme provides financial education and awareness to service personnel, combined with accessible online support for the entire armed forces community via the MoneyForce website, available at the following link:

www.moneyforce.org.uk

It incorporates impartial information and signposting to more detailed guidance where appropriate, to help users make informed financial decisions, including whether to use the services of payday loan companies. Payday loans are licensed and legal, but they carry very high interest rates, can lead to spiralling debts, and are not a long-term borrowing solution. The MoneyForce website contains detailed advice on how to break free from payday loan debt.

Although commanding officers retain discretion to decide which advertisements are appropriate for their bases, guidance has been issued to each of the services that advertisements from payday loan companies should not be carried in their internal publications. Unit administrative officers are also advised that they should

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provide financial signposting only to those businesses approved by the Services Insurance and Investment Advisory Panel.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces widows who receive a pension through the Armed Forces Scheme 1975 have voluntarily surrendered their pensions on remarriage or cohabitation in 2013. [181404]

Anna Soubry: The information for 2013 will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

Substantive answer from Anna Soubry to Katy Clark:

I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question about widows who voluntarily surrendered their Armed Forces Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) pension on 13 January 2014 (Official Report, column 439W).

There were ten AFPS 75 widows payments voluntarily surrendered in 2013.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to protect serving female personnel from sexual assault. [187479]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence is committed to maintaining a culture where it is clear to all that sexual offences of any kind are not to be tolerated. All service personnel, regardless of rank, have a right to be treated with dignity. Our aim is an inclusive working environment that delivers opportunities for all, recognises and values diversity, and eradicates bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Each of the services has a code of conduct which sets out the values and standards expected from service personnel. Both the Army and the RAF codes refer specifically to sexual harassment.

Equality and diversity training is provided to all service personnel during their initial training. It raises awareness among service personnel of what is acceptable behaviour and what is inappropriate, and to whom they should report any examples of inappropriate behaviour. This training is refreshed periodically throughout their service in the armed forces.

When sexual offences are reported they are dealt with by specially trained investigators conversant with modern techniques in identifying offences, evidence-gathering, forensics, and crime-scene management.

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) sexual harassment referrals there were from the armed forces in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013; how many such cases were directed for trial; how many trials were held; how many guilty verdicts were recorded; what the gender was of each person so referred to in the cases; and if he will make a statement. [188152]

Anna Soubry: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.