2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263986/0579.pdf

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution each of his Department's expenditure agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies made to the budget of (a) his Department and (b) HM Treasury in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15. [188520]

Dan Rogerson: None of DEFRA's Executive Agencies or non-departmental public bodies make a contribution to the Department's budget. Where Network Body income can be treated as Appropriations-in-Aid, the Department benefits as reduced departmental funding is needed. Where DEFRA provides corporate services to agencies and NDPBs, it is normal practice to charge.

A number of Executive Agencies and non-departmental public bodies act as an agent for passing monies to HM Treasury from other sources—for example, for EU payments. However, other than such agent relationships, none of the Network Bodies make any significant contributions to HM Treasury's budget. Underspends are in certain circumstances returned to the Treasury at the year end.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure was of each of his Department's expenditure agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15, broken by capital and revenue. [188521]

Dan Rogerson: Details of the total expenditure of each of the Department's executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies, broken down by capital and revenue, are set out in the appropriate organisation's Annual Report and Accounts in respect of 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, which can be found at the following links.

A breakdown of expenditure in 2013-14 and 2014-15 will be set out in the organisations' Annual Report and Accounts for each year, which will be published in July 2014 and July 2015 respectively.

Executive agencies

Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency

2010-11:

The merged organisation did not exist in 2010-11; there are instead separate sets of accounts for Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency:

24 Feb 2014 : Column 96W

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc11/1144/1144.pdf

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1210/1210.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc04/0470/0470.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc05/0504/0504.pdf

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

2010-11:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc10/1099/1099.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0216/0216.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/media/607532/cefas_ara_2012-13_web.pdf

The Food and Environment Research Agency

2010-11:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc11/1154/1154.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc01/0180/0180.pdf

2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246757/0210.pdf

Rural Payments Agency

2010-11:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1231/1231.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0230/0230.pdf

2012-13:

http://rpa.defra.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/15f3e119d8abcb5480256ef20049b53a/f7f198fb7f2d6f9f80257b9d0053ec1a/$FILE/RPA%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202012-13%20v1.0.pdf

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

2010-11:

http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep10.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep11.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep12.pdf

Executive non-departmental public bodies

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

2010-11:

http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/1093.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/AHDBAnnualReport2011-12-WEBMASTER-20June2012_000.pdf

24 Feb 2014 : Column 97W

2012-13:

http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/AHDBAnnualReport2012-13WEBFINAL.pdf

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

2010-11:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1285/1285.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/document/kppcont_061620.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/document/kppcont_080464.pdf

Commission for Rural Communities

2010-11:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc13/1333/1333.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0205/0205.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc03/0350/0350.pdf

Consumer Council for Water

2010-11:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247371/1187.pdf

2011-12:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247054/0197.pdf

2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246743/0230.pdf

Environment Agency

2010-11:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1269/1269.pdf

2011-12:

http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/geho0612bwpa-e-e.pdf

2012-13:

http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/LIT_8472_6b598a.pdf

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

2010-11:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1221/1221.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc01/0165/0165.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc01/0101/0101.pdf

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

2010-11:

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/pub11_annualreport2011.pdf

2011-12:

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/ar_20120331.pdf

24 Feb 2014 : Column 98W

2012-13:

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/JNCC_Annualreport_201213.pdf

Marine Management Organisation

2010-11:

http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annual_report_accounts_1011.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annual_report_accounts_1112.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annualreportaccounts1213.pdf

National Forest Company

2010-11:

http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2011.pdf

2011-12:

http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2012.pdf

2012-13:

http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2013.pdf

Natural England

2010-11:

http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/60018

2011-12:

http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/1746825

2012-13:

http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/6262867623936000

Sea Fish Industry Authority

2010-11:

http://www.seafish.org/media/599639/seafish%20ar%202010-2011%20final%20signed.pdf

2011-12:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246905/0624.pdf

2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263986/0579.pdf

Reservoirs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to implement the legislative changes proposed by the Environment Agency in its 2008 Annual Report, post-incident reporting for UK dams. [186975]

Dan Rogerson: The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 provided the legal basis to implement the Environment Agency's recommendations. Secondary legislation to implement that part of the Act came into force in July 2013 through amendments to the Reservoir Safety Act 1975. Further amendments to the Reservoir Safety Act will be introduced by the end of 2014.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on maintenance of buildings within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 2012-13; and if he will list each such building and the cost of repairs to it during that period. [186738]

24 Feb 2014 : Column 99W

Dan Rogerson: In 2012-13 the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew spent £9,219,993 on maintaining and repairing its buildings and associated infrastructure on its two sites at Kew and Wakehurst Place.

We do not keep records of expenditure on each building in a format that would allow reporting of spend in this way. To calculate this would be of disproportionate cost.

Squirrels

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to eradicate grey squirrels. [187695]

George Eustice: Control of grey squirrels is a devolved matter. In England, Government effort to eradicate grey squirrels is focused in or around red squirrel strongholds. The Forestry Commission is currently leading a review of the Government’s grey squirrel control strategy, with a view to re-launching it later this year. However, given the number and range of the species, widespread eradication is not currently possible.

Staff

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located. [187267]

24 Feb 2014 : Column 100W

Dan Rogerson: 26% of staff in core DEFRA and 95% of staff in DEFRA's Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are located outside London. Information on the local authority in which staff are located could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background. [188073]

Dan Rogerson: Of the core DEFRA staff recruited between 5 May 2010 and 14 February 2014 who declared their ethnicity, 87% were white and 13% were from a minority ethnic background.

We are unable to analyse ethnicity and nationality data together and therefore cannot provide the white British data requested.

Trees

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of trees that have been planted in the UK in each of the last three years. [187698]

Dan Rogerson: No assessment has been made on the number of trees planted in the UK in each of the last three years. However, the Forestry Commission publishes a range of forestry statistics for the UK, including the area of new woodland creation and the area restocked after planting. These figures are given in the following table.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 101W

In addition, as part of the Big Tree Plant in England, 133,038 trees were planted in 2011-12 and 238,322 trees in 2012-13. We will not have precise figures for the number of trees planted in 2013-14 until the planting season has finished. However, we have committed funding to support the planting of 326,466 trees during this year.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of tree planting in flood prevention. [187699]

Dan Rogerson: The Forestry Commission supports research into the use of afforestation as a means of reducing flooding. DEFRA is also funding projects in North Yorkshire, Somerset and Derbyshire which seek to demonstrate the impacts that tree planting may have on flood alleviation. When options are being considered to reduce flood risk in any particular location, it is DEFRA policy that all effective possibilities, including planting trees, should be considered.

Veterinary Medicine: Antibiotics

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 786W, on veterinary medicine: antibiotics, when the detailed measures being developed for the Government Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy will be published. [188432]

George Eustice: Implementation of the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy is being overseen by an inter-departmental High-level Steering Group (HLSG) which is developing a plan of work that is due to be published before April 2014. This document will provide an update on progress with the outcome measures.

Whales: Japan

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to stop Japan's large-scale killing of whales and breaching of international treaties. [187489]

George Eustice: The Government regularly call for Japan to cease its so-called “scientific whaling” programme. I wrote to the Japanese Fisheries Minister on 9 February and HM Ambassador to Japan wrote to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs on 24 January setting out the UK Government's position.

Japan carries out its large-scale whaling by exploiting a loophole, which permits so-called scientific whaling under the guise of research. The UK Government have made it clear that there is no valid argument for lethal research on whales. We therefore agree with Australian efforts to bring an end to these activities through the International Court of Justice. The judgment is expected later this year. We will continue to make our concerns known to Japan at every appropriate opportunity, including in the build-up to, and at, the next International Whaling Commission meeting in September 2014.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 102W

Attorney-General

Crime: Victims

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General how many referrals for review the Crown Prosecution Service has received from victims of crime under the Victims Rights to Review scheme since its introduction; and how many such reviews resulted in the original decision being changed. [187704]

The Solicitor-General: Between 5 June 2013 and 31 January 2014 the Crown Prosecution Service received 981 requests for review under the Victims' Right to Review scheme.

The Crown Prosecution Service has completed reviews in 909 of those cases.

Of those reviews which have been completed, 122 have resulted in the original decision being changed.

Domestic Violence: Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service records the number of domestic violence prosecutions that are conducted without the participation of the victim. [188414]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of domestic violence prosecutions which are conducted without the participation of the victim. To obtain such information would require a manual review of the individual case files incurring disproportionate cost.

Driving Offences: Prosecutions

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General how many people were prosecuted for manslaughter arising from driving in each of the last five years. [187703]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of people prosecuted for manslaughter arising from driving. To obtain details of the number of such prosecutions would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.

Ministers' Private Offices

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Attorney-General what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of the Law Officers' Departments' Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of the Law Officers' Departments' Ministers. [188308]

The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General's office is approximately 40m² and the Solicitor-General's is approximately 29m². Both offices include meeting spaces which are the only dedicated ministerial meeting spaces within the Department.

The two Ministers share a private office of four staff. In line with the practice of previous administrations, grades of staff are not usually disclosed to protect individual privacy when the numbers are five or fewer.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 103W

Police

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Attorney-General how many days on average were taken by the Crown Prosecution Service in each area to provide advice to the police on charges of (a) rape, (b) domestic violence and (c) violent crime offences in the latest period for which figures are available. [187744]

The Solicitor-General: The following tables show recorded data covering CPS pre-charging decisions in rape and domestic violence cases during the 2012-13 annual period. The information is drawn from the CPS Case Management System (CMS).

It is not possible to provide a similar breakdown for violent crime as this data could be obtained only by analysis of case files at disproportionate cost.

The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not collect data which constitute official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act

24 Feb 2014 : Column 104W

2007. These data have been drawn from the CPS's administrative IT system, which (as with any large scale recording system) is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the CPS.

Rape

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General who will conduct the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) review of the effects on changes in charging guidance on referrals from the police to the CPS in rape cases; when the review will conclude; and if a report of the review will be made public. [188415]

The Solicitor-General: A National Scrutiny Panel led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Policing Lead for Rape is scheduled to take place in April in order to better understand the fall in referrals of rape cases from the police to the CPS. The findings from the panel will be published shortly thereafter.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) review of the effects of changes in charging guidance on referrals of rape case from the police to the CPS will also look at referrals of cases of domestic violence and child abuse. [188417]

The Solicitor-General: The National Scrutiny Panel, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Policing Lead for Rape, has been set up to specifically consider falls in referrals of rape cases from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS will consider the outcomes from the panel, and take forward any relevant findings which may help the CPS and the police to understand further the reduction in referrals of domestic violence and child abuse cases.

Staff

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of staff recruited to the Law Officers' Departments since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background. [188066]

The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 105W

As with the rest of the civil service, the Law Officers’ Departments positively encourage applications from a diverse range of people, irrespective of race, gender or ethnic origin and are committed to opportunity and diversity in all employment practices, policies and procedures.

The Law Officers’ Departments’ declared levels of BME staff compares favourably with a wider civil service average especially the Crown Prosecution Service who have been placed in the top ten public sector organisations for both ethnicity and gender by gender and race campaigns Opportunity Now and Race for Opportunity's benchmarking survey.

Treasury Solicitor's Department

Mr Sanders: To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to relocate staff of the Treasury Solicitor's Department to the South West of England. [187676]

The Solicitor-General: There are no plans to relocate staff of the Treasury Solicitor's Department to the South West of England.

Wales

Flood Control

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much Wales will receive in Barnett consequentials following the Government's announcement of a programme of 55 new flood defence improvement projects for 2014-15. [187392]

Mr David Jones: Flood defences and road infrastructure expenditure in Wales are matters for the Welsh Government. The funding the UK Government are providing to improve flood defences in England for road repairs following flooding, and for the provision of council tax refunds for flooded homes in England, is being found from within existing departmental budgets. The Barnett formula has already previously been applied to these budgets and therefore the Welsh Government have already received their allocation of funding through the application of the formula. As such, there will be no Barnett consequentials for this expenditure.

The UK Government are also taking a range of actions to help homes and businesses across the UK following recent flooding, such as extra time for businesses to file accounts without penalties, access to a Business Support Line, and meeting with the insurance industry to discuss how they can help those people affected.

Should the Welsh Government wish to reallocate their existing budgets towards flood repair or protection work, as has been done in England, that is a decision for them to make. In the event of an official request from the Welsh Government for additional assistance, the UK Government would be willing to consider the request. In the meantime, the UK Government stand ready to provide support to Wales in the event of further extreme weather, through the mobilisation of the military as has already been seen in parts of England.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 106W

International Development

Afghanistan

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to develop her Department’s strategic priority on violence against women and girls in Afghanistan; and whether those programmes will focus on preventing violence as well as responding to violence. [188107]

Justine Greening: In November 2013, I visited Kabul and announced a series of initiatives targeted at tackling violence against women in Afghanistan. This includes plans to provide an initial £3 million for a new programme that will work with the Afghan justice system to strengthen implementation of the elimination of violence against women law, as well as activities to change community attitudes toward violence.

Additionally, from next year, at least 10 grants of up to £2 million will go to Afghan civil society organisations focusing primarily on the prevention of violence against women. These grants will be provided through an existing DFID funded programme, Tawanmandi.

Burma

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid contribution her Department has made to Burmese refugees living in camps on the Thailand-Burma border in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014 to date. [187855]

Mr Duncan: DFID has made the following aid contributions to Burmese refugees living in camps on the Thailand-Burma border since 2010:

Money has yet to be distributed for 2014.

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department provided in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to support victims of rape and sexual violence by Burmese armed forces. [188522]

Mr Duncan: It is not possible to provide a breakdown of DFID funding to support victims of rape and sexual violence by year. DFID provides support for women affected by sexual violence and rape, including referrals to specialist centres, but it is part of a wider package of assistance which is not broken down by these categories.

Developing Countries: Disease Control

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure the Post 2015 Development Framework includes as a priority tackling (a) leprosy and (b) other neglected tropical diseases. [187973]

24 Feb 2014 : Column 107W

Lynne Featherstone: Leprosy is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that together affect the lives of more than a billion people, causing disability, disfigurement, stigma and an estimated half a million deaths annually in some of the poorest countries in the world.

We are committed to the inclusion of NTDs in a future development framework, as demonstrated through the inclusion of NTDs in the health targets recommended in the report of the High Level Panel, which the Prime Minister chaired. We have to ensure that we adopt an appropriate and manageable number of indicators and we will welcome the contribution of NTD partners in the discussions which are being led by the United Nations through the Open Working Group.

Developing Countries: Leprosy

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to provide (a) healthcare, (b) education and (c) training programmes to those with leprosy. [187974]

Lynne Featherstone: The UK’s health focus is to improve the provision of basic health services for the poorest by supporting health systems strengthening, health worker capacity and access to essential medicines. Increasing coverage, equity, access and quality will strengthen health services to address all health problems.

Through our civil society challenge fund, we support the Leprosy Mission England and Wales, who work to empower people affected by leprosy to advocate for their rights and entitlements in India. We are committed to investing in education in developing countries to support all children, including the most marginalised (girls, the disabled, ethnic and linguistic minorities, slum dwellers and others), to access a good quality basic education.

Developing Countries: Poverty

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess and demonstrate the effect of Making Financial Markets Work for the Poor Programme on people in poverty. [188172]

Justine Greening: All DFID programmes include monitoring arrangements to continually assess effectiveness and impact. The original monitoring arrangements for the Phase 2 FinMark programme were established at the time of the programme design in 2010 and are regularly assessed and updated if necessary.

Disaster Relief

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to implement its 2006 disaster risk reduction policy goals of allocating approximately 10% of its funding in response to natural disasters to preparedness and mitigation measures; and what the target date for reaching that target is. [188377]

Justine Greening: The goal of allocating 10% of humanitarian funding to preparedness and mitigation measures in response to a natural disaster has now been overtaken by the UK Government’s Humanitarian Policy

24 Feb 2014 : Column 108W

“Saving lives, preventing suffering and building resilience”, published in 2011. While the 10% goal focused on investments in preparedness and mitigation following a specific disaster, the new policy commits the UK to building national and community resilience before disasters and shocks take place. This is so countries are better able to withstand disasters and quickly recover. To achieve this, DFID has committed to embedding disaster resilience in all its country programmes and to promoting disaster resilience internationally. In Bangladesh, for example, DFID is helping 15 million people better cope with floods and cyclones through improved early warning systems. We also provide core funds to the United Nations, Red Cross Movement and NGOs to improve their preparedness in countries most at risk.

Equality

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [187644]

Mr Duncan: The information is shown in the following table.

Since October 2013, DFID no longer has specific roles responsible for diversity and equality. Delivery of equality and diversity is now a responsibility of general HR staff.

Mozambique

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess and demonstrate the effect of Mozambique Regional Gateway Programme on people in poverty. [188170]

Justine Greening: All DFID programmes include monitoring arrangements to continually assess effectiveness and impact. The monitoring arrangements are assessed regularly and updated if necessary.

Re-employment

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 304W, on re-employment, how much was paid to the staff referred to as part of their retirement package. [188061]

Mr Duncan: As this question relates to a small number of individuals, the information is being withheld because releasing it could lead to the amount paid to specific individuals being identified, breaching their right to the protection of their personal information.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 109W

South Asia

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess and demonstrate the effect of the South Asia Regional Trade and Integration Programme on people in poverty. [188171]

Justine Greening: All DFID programmes include monitoring arrangements to continually assess effectiveness and impact. The original monitoring arrangements are formally assessed every six months for their effectiveness and revised accordingly.

Communities and Local Government

Bellwin Scheme

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Bellwin scheme has been activated since May 2010; and whether the payment on each such occasion was (a) 100% and (b) 85%. [184495]

Brandon Lewis: [holding answer 27 January 2014]: Bellwin provides emergency financial assistance to local authorities to help them meet uninsurable and exceptional costs they incur when responding to a major emergency in their area. The level of funding overtime is causally linked to the scale of flooding or other emergency. It operates by local authorities retrospectively claiming spending back.

There have been six activations of the Bellwin scheme that have resulted in grant payments to local authorities since 2010. Those incidents and grant rates are set out in the following table:

The exceptional decision to depart from the default grant rate in June/July 2012 was influenced by the weather being the wettest June since records began.

As outlined in the written statement of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column 31-2WS, we recognise that the current winter floods are exceptional, hence the decision to pay Bellwin grant at 100% above threshold and make a series of further enhancements.

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason the Bellwin payment in respect of the recent floods has been reduced from 100% of eligible costs to 85%. [184496]

24 Feb 2014 : Column 110W

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 27 January 2014]: The standard grant rate is 85% of eligible costs above the threshold.

In light of the exceptional nature of the current winter floods, Ministers have made a series of enhancements, as outlined in the written statement of 6 February 2014, Official Report, columns 31-2WS, including paying Bellwin grant at 100% above threshold.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether he plans to extend the deadline for applications to the Bellwin fund beyond the end of March 2014 in respect of damage caused by and recovery measures relating to the recent winter floods; [187300]

(2) what assessment he has made of the implications for consideration of applications to the Bellwin fund of the fact that the winter floods are still ongoing, making the extent of damage difficult to assess. [187301]

Brandon Lewis: Bellwin provides emergency financial assistance to local authorities to help them meet uninsurable costs they incur when responding to a major emergency in their area. The level of funding over time is causally linked to the scale of flooding or other emergency. It operates by local authorities retrospectively claiming spending back.

In relation to the recent winter floods, we recently announced that the eligible Bellwin spending period will be extended until the end of May 2014. There will be a corresponding extension for applications until the end of June 2014.

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which buildings occupied by his Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid. [183633]

Brandon Lewis: My Department currently occupies eight properties which are owned or part-owned privately. These are shown in the following table:

Due to the commercial sensitivity I am unable to provide information relating to specific rents.

24 Feb 2014 : Column 111W

Since 2010, the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its. wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals. This has seen the Department surrender six leasehold office properties through a combination of lease breaks and expiries, generating net savings in the period of around £7 million per annum. The Department has also successfully sublet surplus space across its leasehold office estate during the same period, reducing the overall property costs by around £6.5 million per annum.

Building on this success, in 2013-14, we have already secured further savings of £1.5 million by subletting further space in Eland House. Most recently the Department negotiated the early surrender of Eland House in London and is scheduled to relocate to 2 Marsham Street. This move will reduce my Department's running costs by £9 million a year, and overall, save the Government £24 million a year.

This illustrates the scope for local government, and indeed the public sector as a whole, to make sensible savings through better property management.

In June 2013, supporting the Prime Minister's commitment to support the development of small and medium enterprises, the Department agreed terms with a business incubator provider to take vacant space at 2 Rivergate House in Bristol. This is an important part of the Government's drive to assist the start-up and small and medium enterprises business and we are also working with the Government Property Unit on potential Government Space for Growth opportunities in other DCLG held properties.

The DCLG Group is reducing its annual running costs by 41% in real terms by 2014-15. This equates to net savings of at least £532,000,000 over this spending review period.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation. [186860]

Brandon Lewis: The Department assesses its properties as either being required to deliver departmental functions (core estate) or surplus to this requirement (non-core). The current classification system does not relate to the frequency of use and as a consequence we do not hold this information.

The Department does not hold the value of properties which it occupies under leasehold or Memorandum Of Terms of Occupation agreements. Due to commercial sensitivity and disposal plans, we are unable to release the values of freehold properties.

Since 2010, the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals. This has seen the Department surrender six leasehold office properties through a combination of lease breaks and expiries, generating net savings in the period of around £7 million per annum. The Department has also successfully sub-let surplus space across its

24 Feb 2014 : Column 112W

leasehold office estate during the same period, reducing the overall-property costs by around £6.5 million per annum.

Building on this success, in 2013-14, we have already secured further savings of £4.6 million by subletting further space in Eland House in London. Most recently, the Department negotiated the early surrender of Eland House and is scheduled to relocate to 2 Marsham Street. This move will reduce my Department's running costs by £9 million a year from 2015-16. Overall, these changes will save the Government £24 million a year.

This illustrates the scope for local government and, indeed, the public sector as a whole to make sensible savings through better property management.

In June 2013, supporting the Prime Minister's commitment to support the development of small and medium enterprises, the Department agreed terms with a business incubator provider to take vacant space at 2 Rivergate House in Bristol. This is an important part of the Government's drive to assist the start-up and small and medium enterprises business and we are also working with the Government Property Unit on potential Government Space for Growth opportunities in other properties held by DCLG.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187281]

Brandon Lewis: The following table sets out the details of the properties owned and occupied by the Department for Communities and Local Government, its agencies and public bodies accountable to the Secretary of State:

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24 Feb 2014 : Column 114W

The Department does not hold the value of properties which it occupies under leasehold or Memorandum of Terms Occupation agreements with other Government Departments. Due to commercial sensitivity and disposal plans, we are unable to release the values of the freehold properties in the above list.

Since 2010, the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals. This has seen the Department surrender six leasehold office properties through a combination of lease breaks and expiries, generating net savings in the period of around £7 million per annum. The Department has also successfully sub-let surplus space across its leasehold office estate during the same period, reducing the overall property costs by around £6.5 million per annum.

Building on this success, in 2013-14, we have already secured further savings of £4.6 million by subletting further space in Eland House in London. Most recently, the Department negotiated the early surrender of Eland House and is scheduled to relocate to 2 Marsham street. This move will reduce my Department's running costs by £9 million a year from 2015-16. Overall, these changes will save the Government £24 million a year.

This illustrates the scope for local government and, indeed, the public sector as a whole to make sensible savings through better property management.

In June 2013, supporting the Prime Minister's commitment to support the development of small and medium enterprises, the Department agreed terms with a business incubator provider to take vacant space at 2 Rivergate House in Bristol. This is an important part of the Government's drive to assist the start-up and small and medium enterprises business and we are also working with the Government Property Unit on potential Government Space for Growth opportunities in other properties held by DCLG.

European Commission

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will set out his Department’s priorities for discussions with the European Commission over their 2014 Work programme; and if he will make a statement. [185304]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 30 January 2014]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, on 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 625W.

My Department will continue to watch for proposals which could affect our interests and consider how best to engage with the European Commission. In 2014, this will include negotiations on the detailed content of the English European Regional Development Fund Operational Programme, which will set out the priorities for spend during 2014-20 and playing a constructive role in discussions with the Commission and other member states on Roma integration.

The European regional development fund will be delivered through local enterprise partnerships as part of a single European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme that will also include the European social fund and part of the European agricultural fund for rural development.

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Fire Service College

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on training by the Fire Service College in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 to date; how much he expects to spend in (i) this financial year and (ii) the next two financial years; and if he will make a statement. [188488]

Brandon Lewis: Spending on training by the public sector at the Fire Services College is primarily through local fire and rescue authorities. My Department has undertaken some spending on training for national resilience purposes:

I also refer the right hon. Member to my written statement of 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 33WS, on how we are bringing in new investment to secure the future of the college as well as delivering a £30 million saving to taxpayers.

Fire Services: Pay

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what guidance his Department has given to local authorities to ensure that a vote on senior fire authority officials pay is held; [187734]

(2) what assessment he has made of fire and rescue services compliance with his Department's guidance on openness and accountability in local pay; [187735]

(3) what steps his Department is taking to increase local scrutiny and accountability of remuneration of fire authority staff; [187736]

(4) what the (a) salary and (b) pension arrangements are of each chief fire officer in England; [187709]

(5) how many chief fire officers earn more than £115,000 per annum; [187710]

(6) what guidance he gives to local fire authorities on the remuneration of chief fire officers; [187711]

(7) how the remuneration of chief fire officers is (a) set and (b) regulated; [187712]

(8) if he will make it his policy that no chief fire officer should be earning more than £80,000 per annum. [187713]

Brandon Lewis: Pay and pension arrangements for fire and rescue authority employees are the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities as the individual employers.

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Details of individual rates of pay are not held centrally. A chief fire officer will either be eligible to be a member of the Firefighters' Pensions Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme depending on their individual circumstance.

Fire and rescue authorities are, under Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011, required to publish remuneration for senior employees whose salary is at least £50,000 and above in their annual statement of accounts. In addition, senior employees earning £150,000 or more must be named.

Authorities are also required to publish their annual pay policy statements in a form accessible for local scrutiny as prescribed in the Localism Act 2011. To accompany the Act, we have issued statutory guidance which includes provisions on increasing transparency and accountability on decisions made on senior pay and reward. In particular that full council (or a meeting of members for fire authorities) should be given the opportunity to vote before large salary packages of £100,000 or more are offered in respect of new appointments. Where it appears that fire and rescue authorities have not followed guidelines contained within the Localism Act 2011, I am happy to challenge them, as I did with Cambridge Fire and Rescue authority.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-policy-statement-2013-to-2014

We will also soon be publishing a revised code on local transparency; this will set out the information on senior salaries that we expect fire and rescue authorities to publish. We intend to lay regulations making it a statutory requirement for this information to be published.

The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services publish annually recommended minimum levels of salary applicable to chief fire officers/chief executives employed by local authority fire and rescue authorities.

Flood Control

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the National Flood Forum as to the use of alternatives to sandbags to increase the efficiency of barriers and post-flood community restitution. [188411]

Brandon Lewis: The Government fully understand that sand bags are only a temporary means of flood protection to be used in an emergency but they are important in this context. We are grateful for the way that local authorities across the country have supported their neighbours facing flooding by making their own stocks available for their use to protect their communities. But this is a short term measure, which is why we are making available £5,000 to every household and business flooded in recent events to make the more long term resilient repairs recommended by the National Flood Forum and the Environment Agency. This funding was announced on 18 February and the detail of how it will be paid is being determined.

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We also agree that the best measure to protect whole communities is investment in large scale flood defences, along rivers and the coast. This why we are spending £3.1 billion on flood defences over this Parliament, compared with £2.7 billion in previous Parliament, more than ever before in both cash and real terms.

Housing Benefit

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2014, Official Report, column 652W, on housing benefit, whether local authorities will continue to decide on applications for reimbursement of service charging on adaptation following the full introduction of universal credit. [188446]

Kris Hopkins: Decisions on charging for maintenance costs following housing adaptations funded by the disabled facilities grant are for local authorities. Those decisions will continue to be made by local authorities following the introduction of universal credit.

Housing: Construction

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraph 47 of the National Planning Policy Framework, whether local authorities are required to include green belt land in their five-year supply of deliverable housing sites if no other sites are available. [187222]

Nick Boles: We have maintained strong protections for the green belt. This Government continue to attach great importance to green belt as a way to prevent sprawl and encroachment on open countryside, and as a vital ‘green lung' for many communities. Our abolition of top-down regional strategies removed the threat to green belt round many towns and cities. The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that openness and permanence are essential characteristics of green belt, and that inappropriate development in green belt should not be approved except in very special circumstances. A green belt boundary may be adjusted only in exceptional circumstances, using the Local Plan process of consultation followed by independent examination. The National Planning Policy Framework also makes clear that Local Plans should meet objectively assessed needs unless specific policies, such as green belt designation, indicate that development should be restricted.

Housing: Greater London

Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were built in London last year; and what the target for such building was. [186204]

Kris Hopkins: From 1 April 2012, the Mayor of London has had strategic oversight of housing, regeneration and economic development in London.

Statistics on house building completions by tenure in each London borough are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:

http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

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In addition, the NHBC reported on 31 January that the number of new home registrations in London rose by 60% in 2013 on the year before, representing the highest number of new homes registered in a year in London since their records began.

Housing: Older People

Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what guidance he has given to (a) local authorities and (b) the Planning Inspectorate on building more retirement housing; [186752]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the current planning system on the supply of retirement housing; and what recent discussions he has had with that sector to encourage the provision of such funding. [186754]

Nick Boles: For too long not enough account has been taken of the need for retirement housing. That is why this Government included specific policies to support the provision of homes for older people when we introduced the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should assess and plan for a range of housing needs and specifically for older people.

To support this policy we have also published draft National Planning Policy Guidance, which provides further guidance on how to assess and plan housing for older people.

The final version of the National Planning Practice Guidance will go live following consideration of comments received during the test phase.

Ministers have regular meetings with a range of different partners and organisations. Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the Department's website.

Housing: Standards

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dependent children in (a) Coventry, (b) Coventry North East constituency, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England were living in homes not classed as decent in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013. [184821]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 28 January 2014]: Figures are not currently available for 2012 or 2013. However, according to the English Housing Survey, the number of families with dependent children living in non-decent homes in England has fallen from 1.8 million households in 2009 to 1.5 million in 2011. The total number of non-decent homes has similarly fallen from 6.7 million in 2009 to 5.4 million in 2011.

The coalition Government are investing £2.1 billion over the current spending review period to improve the quality of existing social housing through the Decent Homes programme and large-scale voluntary transfer gap funding. A further £160 million of funding is being committed for 2015-16.

As outlined in the written ministerial statement of 18 September 2012, Official Report, columns 31-33WS, my Department no longer publishes statistics by Government office region. Estimates are not available for Coventry or Coventry North East constituency.

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Land

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which sites owned by his Department are currently earmarked for disposal; what the current class use is of each site; what the expected planning use is for each site; whether each site already has planning permission for the expected planning use; what the market value of the site is; and whether the site will be sold for the full market value. [184979]

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, 28 January 2014, Official Report, column 514W.

Notwithstanding, I would add that my Department is currently disposing of 33 houses in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, which were formerly part of the Fire Service College. The Fire Service College was sold in March 2013 and generated savings of £3.9 million in running costs per year. The houses will remain as residential dwellings, so no change in planning permission is required.

The sale of two of the houses has now completed, generating a receipt of £450,000 and a further seven are currently under offer. The market value of the properties upon which sales have been agreed range from £215,000 to £250,000 and the total expected income from the sale of the 33 houses is c.£7,500,000.

The sale of the surplus houses was outlined in my written statement of 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 33WS.

More broadly, the new owner of the college has committed to a significant programme of infrastructure investment and transformation at the college. The collective asset sales represent a good deal for taxpayers and value for money for the public purse.

Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits for tenants and practitioners of consolidating current legislation relating to leasehold and commonhold interests in land. [186790]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 10 February 2014]: Commonhold is a form of freehold available as an alternative to leasehold tenure as a way of owning premises that share structures or facilities, such as blocks of flats. It was introduced in 2004 by Part 1 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. Part 1 has not been substantially amended, so the Government have no current plans to consolidate the legislation relating to commonhold.

Leasehold legislation is considerably older and more extensive than the commonhold legislation. The Government have no current plans to consolidate this legislation either generally or in relation to specific topics but will keep the situation under review.

Landlords

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has, other than monetary provision, to empower local authorities to further tackle unscrupulous landlords. [185266]

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Kris Hopkins: The majority of landlords are reputable and provide decent well maintained homes. However, a small minority rent out unsafe overcrowded accommodation and exploit their tenants. These rogue landlords give the whole sector a bad name and we are determined to crack down on them. In August 2012 we published guidance on this issue: ‘Dealing with Rogue Landlords—a guide for local authorities’.

Local authorities have a wide range of powers to tackle poor property conditions, including the ability to require that improvement works are carried out and prohibiting the use of a dwelling. This system provides an important safety net, ensuring that homes are safe and decent.

We have published a discussion document as the first stage of a wide ranging review of property conditions in the private rented sector. Among other things, the review is considering the possibility of requiring landlords to repay rent where a property is found to contain serious hazards.

Local Government

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to his contribution of 28 October 2013, Official Report, column 678, on the Second Reading of the Local Audit and Accountability Bill [Lords], when he intends to bring forward legislative proposals to allow local authorities in the same local enterprise partnership and functional economic area which do not have a contiguous boundary to join combined authorities. [187539]

Brandon Lewis: As stated in the White Paper, “Government's response to the Heseltine review (Cm 8587; March 2013)”, the Government are committed to make the existing legislation on combined authorities effective and sufficient for its needs, and following discussions my officials have had with certain authorities potentially concerned, we are now considering consulting before the summer on a Legislative Reform Order to amend the existing legislation so that authorities which do not have a contiguous boundary but are in the same functional economic area can join a combined authority.

Local Government Finance: Bolton

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has has made of the effect of the change in financing local authorities for 2013-14 on the spending power of Bolton council. [187553]

Brandon Lewis: The 2013-14 Spending Power figure for Bolton is £2,124 per dwelling.

The 2013-14 Spending Power figures were published with the 2013-14 Local Government Finance Settlement.

The overall yearly change in spending power across Bolton in 2013-14 (including the public health grant) was just -1%, compared to an English average of -1.3%.

Local Government Finance: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of (a) the loss of revenue to Warrington

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Borough Council arising from the 2% cap on business rates and

(b)

how much that authority will receive in specific grant allocation to cover this. [187861]

Brandon Lewis: There will be no loss of revenue to Warrington borough council as councils will be compensated for the full cost of the 2% cap based on actual outturn figures. Councils will also receive advance payments based on their estimates of costs.

Local Government: Procurement

Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of trends in local government procurement from small, local businesses. [187306]

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not monitor or assess trends in local government procurement. A joint report by the Federation of Small Businesses and the Local Government Association launched in July 2013, found that 47% of local government procurement went to small and medium enterprises and 91% of local authorities had initiatives in place to help small and medium-sized enterprises tender for contracts.

The Department has been involved in a number of events to promote local and small businesses such as the ‘Best Councils to Do Business With' competition and the ‘Small Business Saturday' event.

The Department also supports the proposals coming out of the Lord Young report on procurement which will open up procurement opportunities for local small businesses.

Non-domestic Rates

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to speed up the business rates appeals process. [188215]

Brandon Lewis: The Government are also consulting on a range of proposals to reform the non-domestic ratings appeals process. The reforms are designed to increase the transparency and efficiency of the process.

The consultation closes on 3 March 2014 and further details are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263015/Checking_and_Challenging_your_Rateable_Value.pdf

We are also committed to clearing 95% of the current backlog of business rates appeals by July 2015 and I also refer the hon. Member to my answers of 28 November 2013, Official Report, columns 387-89W, on action we have taken to date to tackle the appeals backlog we have inherited from the last Administration.

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the success of business improvement districts. [188272]

Brandon Lewis: The Government fully support the principles behind business improvement districts. They allow businesses to club together to fund improvements

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to their trading environment, through a contribution on business rates, subject to the democratic check of a referendum of local businesses. There are currently around 160 across the UK.

DCLG has no monitoring role in their operation but evidence from the sector supports the view that they are a popular and valued tool with over 90% of existing business improvement districts being renewed at ballot, according to the Nationwide Business Improvement District Survey 2013.

We do not assess the success of individual business improvement districts but—as announced in the Town Centre package announced on 6 December 2013—we will review their work in England to see how they could play a stronger role in high street regeneration and in managing town centres. The terms of reference are currently being developed and will be published in the spring.

Non-domestic Rates: Cinemas

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons cinemas in England were not included in his document Business rates: retail relief guidance, published on 29 January 2014. [187729]

Brandon Lewis: As announced in the Autumn Statement, the rate relief of up to £1,000 is for shops, restaurants and pubs with a rateable value of up to £50,000. Cinemas do not fall in that category.

I appreciate that there may be types of business premise which are not included and would understandably wish to be covered; yet, this needs to be balanced by the cost to the Exchequer of providing the relief, especially in the wider fiscal context of the over-riding need to pay off the deficit left by the last Administration.

Notwithstanding, cinemas will still benefit from the 2% cap in the increase in the multiplier, the further increase in small business rate relief for smaller venues, and the new right for ratepayers to pay their yearly rates bills over 12 monthly instalments rather than 10.

Local councils can also offer further discretionary rate relief, should they wish, using their powers to levy local discounts under the Localism Act; under local business rates retention, central Government would pay 50% of the cost, and local government the remaining 50% of such relief.

In addition, I would add that the Autumn Statement announced a number of measures for the creative industries, including a new tax relief for theatre productions and a package of changes to modernise the UK film tax relief subject to State Aid approval (HM Treasury, Autumn Statement 2013, Cm 8747, p.51). Cinemas will also benefit in the Government's broader reductions to corporation tax and employers' national insurance contributions.