Pay

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him. [187240]

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Brandon Lewis: Information on number of staff by pay grade is published monthly on the Department, its Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies on both the gov.uk website and the data.gov.uk website.

Our departmental audited annual accounts for the core Department show that total staff costs fell from £216 million in 2009-10 to £99 million in 2012-13, a

24 Feb 2014 : Column 124W

reduction of 54% in cash terms, or a saving of £117,000,000 a year. The number of staff has been reduced from 3,781 full-time equivalent in 2009-10 to 1,681 in 20012-13, a reduction of 56%.

The latest published figures for data as of 31 December 2013 are shown in the following table.

Population

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of (a) population and (b) household projections available to local authorities. [187663]

Brandon Lewis: Local authority (sub-national) population projections are produced by the Office for National Statistics. The next update will be the 2012-based projections to be published this year. These will be the first to provide a full update of trends following the 2011 Census and are consistent with the 2012-based national populations published in November 2013. They are consulting with local authorities to improve the quality of these projections.

My Department plans to produce 2012-based household projections following the publications of the sub-national population projections. These household projections will take account of the most recent information on trends in household formation including the 2011 census.

Private Rented Housing: Floods

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has issued to local authorities on private sector tenants whose properties have been affected by flooding as regards (a) payment of rent when the property is no longer habitable and (b) entitlement to housing support from the local authority. [185048]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 29 January 2014]: If a tenant's home has been damaged by flooding, they should immediately contact their landlord. If it is necessary for the tenant to move out, the tenant should aim to reach an agreement with the landlord about the payment of rent while the property is uninhabitable. The tenant should check the provisions of their tenancy agreement, as it may provide for the suspension of rent payments and/or the termination of the tenancy in such circumstances.

Where an agreement about the payment of rent cannot be reached, the tenant should seek independent legal advice. Law centres provide free legal advice on a range of issues including housing or tenants can call Community Legal Advice.

The 1996 Housing Act refined and expanded the definition of a household in ‘priority need' in England (and Wales) so as to include someone homeless or threatened with homelessness as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster.

It also placed a duty upon local housing authorities to provide accommodation for those households who find themselves homeless because of flood.

Procurement

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's 10 largest contracts let since the financial year 2010-11 are; what savings have been made in such contracts; what the level of overspend or underspend

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was in each such contract; and what steps his Department has taken to monitor the performance of each supplier following the contract award. [187589]

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 421W, to the hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris Evans), on the Department's 10 largest contracts let since the financial year 2010-11.

Public Appointments

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) which paid public appointment contracts he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men; [187012]

(2) what the titles are of the individual public appointments that have been made by his Department since May 2010; and which of those appointees were women. [187073]

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, on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 607W.

Recovery Ministerial Group

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) when the Ministerial Recovery Group has met since 7 January 2014; and who has attended each meeting; [186139]

(2) if he will publish the minutes of each meeting of the Ministerial Recovery working group since 7 January 2014. [186098]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 4 February 2014]: Since the coastal and winter floods in December, Ministers have been meeting regularly to discuss and co-ordinate the Government's actions on flooding, including meetings of the Ministerial Recovery Group, of COBR, of the new Cabinet Committee on flooding and other informal ad hoc meetings and conference calls.

However, it is long-standing Government practice, under this and previous Administrations, not to provide a running commentary of every inter-departmental ministerial meeting and discussion, so as not to undermine collective responsibility, or inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views, or otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.

However, I would refer the hon. Member to the statements that Government Ministers have made to the House on flood recovery to date.

Rents: Greater London

Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to tackle rising rents in London. [186205]

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Kris Hopkins: The increase in rents has been overstated—London rents have increased by 1.6% in the 12 months to December 2013, compared with a 2.0% rise in the Consumer Prices Index. Rents have thus fallen in real terms.

Working with the Mayor of London, the Government believe the most effective way of managing rental costs in London, and across the UK, is to expand the provision of high quality, new build rented accommodation. That is why in September 2012 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced the £10 billion Housing Guarantees schemes, the Build to Rent Fund, which was increased to £1 billion in Budget 2013, and the Private Rented Sector Taskforce. Collectively these measures will help create a professionally managed institutional Private Rented Sector and contribute to economic growth.

We should also avoid disproportionate regulation and red tape on the housing market which would push up rents and reduce choice for tenants.

More broadly, according to the NHBC, new housing rose by 60% in 2013 compared to the year before. This is the highest number of new homes being built in London since NHBC records began.

River Lymington

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will oppose any application for a protective costs order from the Lymington River Association in respect of the latest application for an oral hearing from the Lymington River Association in respect of the operation of Wightlink Ferries in the Lymington River; [188401]

(2) if he will make an assessment of the effect on the economy of the Isle of Wight of the legal costs of dealing with previous and current applications from the Lymington River Association in relation to the operation of ferry services in the Lymington River. [188402]

Nick Boles: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to him today, PQ 186653. As I said in that answer, in light of the legal proceedings that are in train, it is inappropriate for me to make any comments in relation to this specific case.

Roads: Lighting

Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to promote the Green Investment Bank loan available to finance local authorities to convert to low energy street lighting. [187409]

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

BIS officials are currently exploring with the Green Investment Bank how relevant Government Departments can help promote implementation of energy efficiency measures within the public sector. This includes helping to raise awareness of the Green Investment Bank's new Green Loan facility as a means of financing such measures.

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Social Rented Housing

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps the Government are taking to ensure that local authorities are able to build or purchase properties for social housing; [186377]

(2) how much the Government have set aside for local authorities to build or purchase properties for social housing in each of the next five years. [186378]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 6 February 2014]: Following the reform of the Housing Revenue Account and introduction of self-financing of council housing in April 2012, all stock-holding local authorities have a stable source of funding with which to make long-term business plans, which can include the provision of new affordable homes. The Government will also be making available an additional £300 million Housing Revenue Account borrowing, across 2015-16 and 2016-17, to support about 10,000 new affordable homes. In addition, local authorities can bid for a share of the £3.3 billion of Government funding to support delivery of 165,000 affordable homes between 2015 and 2018. An independent review, led by Natalie Elphicke and Keith House, will review the role that all local authorities can play in housing supply, which is due to report by end 2014.

More council housing has been built in England in the first three years of this Government than in all the 13 years of the previous Administration.

Staff

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [187262]

Brandon Lewis: My Department has 26% of its staff based outside London. They are based in offices in the following local authorities:

Birmingham City Council

Bristol City Council

Cambridge City Council/Cambridgeshire County Council

Cornwall Council (Unitary)

Dacorum Council/Hertfordshire County Council

Exeter City Council/Devon County Council

Guildford Borough Council/Surrey County Council

Hastings Borough Council/East Sussex County Council

Leeds City Council

Liverpool City Council

Manchester City Council

Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council

Nottingham City Council

Plymouth City Council

Sheffield City Council

Warrington Borough Council

My Department’s Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies have staff in local authorities as follows:

The Planning Inspectorate has 100% of its staff based outside London in Bristol City Council and Cardiff Council.

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The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre has none of its staff based outside London.

The Homes and Communities Agency has 78% of its staff based outside London in:

Warrington Borough Council

Bedford Council (Unitary)

Birmingham City Council

Bristol City Council

Cambridge City Council / Cambridgeshire County Council

Medway Council

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

Guildford Borough Council/Surrey County Council

Leeds City Council

Manchester City Council

Nottingham City Council

Housing Ombudsman has none of its staff based outside London.

Leasehold Advisory Service has none of its staff based outside London.

Valuation Tribunal Service has 48% of its staff based outside London in Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.

West Northamptonshire Development Corporation has 100% of its staff based outside London in Northampton Borough Council/Northamptonshire County Council.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [188068]

Brandon Lewis: Ethnicity declaration rates for staff recruited into the Department since 5 May 2010 are included in the following table.

Proportion of staff does not include those who have not stated their ethnicity since joining the Department.

Supporting People Programme: Torbay

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much has been paid to Torbay Council for homelessness prevention and in homelessness prevention grants combined in each year since 2010; [182853]

(2) how much has been paid in supporting people grants to Torbay Council in each year since 2010. [182854]

Kris Hopkins: To provide context, the following table sets out the total amount of Homelessness Prevention Grant funding allocated to Torbay council since 2008. Torbay council also received £57,000 in 2009-10 and £38,973 in 2011-12 to help prevent repossessions.

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Since 2013-14, the Homelessness Prevention Grant has been rolled into the Local Government Finance Settlement. For the 2013-14 allocations adjustments were made to take into account new funding mechanisms for court desks. Where authorities had previously received court desk funding through a baseline uplift of the Homelessness Prevention Grant (£18,500 in the case of Torbay) the funding was moved to the Ministry of Justice. This explains the lower figure since 2013-14.

Since April 2011, Supporting People funding has been allocated through the Local Government Finance Settlement. Supporting People was unring-fenced in 2009. Over the Spending Review period, the Government are investing £6.5 billion on the Supporting People programme across the country.

Funding through the local government finance settlement is unringfenced. Authorities are able to use this funding for any service.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department monitors the number of unauthorised developments and encampments; and how many unauthorised developments and encampments have been recorded since May 2010. [187596]

Brandon Lewis: My Department publishes traveller caravan count statistics which can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/traveller-caravan-count

These statistics, summarised as follows, show a downward trend in numbers of caravans on unauthorised sites. Although the statistical return includes the number of unauthorised sites at the time of each count, the sites vary in size and therefore the number of caravans on such sites is a better measure.

As I outlined in my answer of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1166W, under the last Administration, the introduction of the Human Rights Act and weak planning rules saw a surge in the number of unauthorised developments, undermining community cohesion and fuelling public concern.

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The Localism Act 2011 has given councils stronger powers to tackle the abuse of retrospective planning permission, and we have given councils enhanced powers to issue Temporary Stop Notices to tackle such unauthorised sites.

Our planning policy on traveller sites, published in March 2012, removed guidance from the last Administration's ODPM Circular 01/06 that previously restricted councils' ability to undertake planning enforcement action. We are currently reviewing the scope for further strengthening of our practice and policy guidance.

My Department has also published a clear guide to councils on the wide range of legal powers they have to tackle unauthorised sites.

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to reduce potential tension arising from his Department's guidance on planning policy for Traveller sites. [187600]

Brandon Lewis: Under the Labour Government's flawed planning rules, a sense of unfairness was embedded in the planning system. Unauthorised developments created tensions between travellers and the settled population, while some community groups seemingly were given favoured treatment. That approach harmed community cohesion. We want to redress the balance and put fairness back into local communities and ensure everyone is treated with respect.

As outlined in my answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, column 1132W, we have revoked the top-down regional targets of the last Administration, given councils greater local discretion and removed the guidance which pressured councils to compulsory purchase land for traveller sites. Strong consideration is given to the protection of local amenity and the local environment amenity.

Through the Localism Act and our reform of Temporary Stop Notices, we have given councils greater powers to tackle unauthorised development and stop the abuse of retrospective planning permissions. The previous perception that a blind eye was turned to breaches of the planning system by certain groups was particularly harmful to community relations.

As I explained in my written statement of 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 24WS, we have revoked the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's politically correct practice guidance of ‘Diversity and Equality in Planning' which failed to strike the correct balance between the spatial impact of a planning proposal and the background of the applicant in considering a planning application.

Finally, as I indicated in my written statement of 17 January 2014, Official Report, column 34WS, we are also considering the case for further changes to planning policy and practice guidance to strengthen local environmental protection and ensure that the planning definition of ‘travellers' better reflects those who actually travel and have a mobile or transitory lifestyle.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to change planning policy to ensure that local inhabitants are not disadvantaged in consideration of applications for Traveller sites. [187601]

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Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Roberta Blackman-Woods) today, PQ 187600.

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms there are to enable local authorities to work collaboratively in relation to his Department's planning policy for Traveller sites; and what sanctions apply if local authorities do not work together. [187658]

Brandon Lewis: We introduced the Duty to Cooperate to require authorities to work together effectively on strategic planning matters that cross their administrative boundaries, including, where applicable, the provision of traveller sites.

Local planning authorities should make every effort to secure the necessary cooperation on strategic cross boundary matters before they submit their local plans for examination.

Local planning authorities must demonstrate how they have complied with the duty at the independent examination of their local plans. This locally-led approach is in contrast to the top-down regional targets of the last Administration which fuelled conflict and resentment.

Wightlink Ferries

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to recover costs against the Lymington River Association in the event that their application for an oral hearing in respect of the operation of Wightlink Ferries is successful, but the hearing rules against them. [186653]

Nick Boles [holding answer 10 February 2014]: In light of the legal proceedings that are in train, it is inappropriate for me to make any comments in relation to this specific case. The matter of award of costs is at the discretion of the Courts. It is generally the case that where costs are awarded in our favour, the Department for Communities and Local Government would take steps to pursue recovery.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) when he plans to answer Question 182854, tabled for ordinary written answer on 13 January 2014; [187730]

(2) when he plans to answer Question 182853, tabled for ordinary written answer on 13 January 2014. [187731]

Kris Hopkins: Questions 182853 and 182854 were answered today.

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer Question 184489, tabled on 22 January 2014 for written Answer 27 January 2014. [188384]

Kris Hopkins: Question 184489 was answered on 12 February 2014, Official Report, column 651W.

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Energy and Climate Change

Dounreay

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the Babcock Dounreay Partnership's socio-economic development work in Thurso. [187847]

Michael Fallon: This is an operational matter for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The requirements on Babcock Dounreay Partnership (BDP) to carry out socio-economic activity within the Dounreay travel to work area are set out in its contract with the (NDA). The NDA assess all aspects of BDP's performance, including its socio-economic work, through that contract. The Department has made no separate assessment.

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on storing waste produced in Dounreay. [187849]

Michael Fallon: Waste produced at Dounreay is a devolved issue for the Scottish Government.

Electric Cables

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for 33kW connections for distributed power under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been (a) approved and (b) rejected in the last 12 months. [187762]

Michael Fallon: Applicants seeking consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for an overhead electricity line under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are not required to specify in their applications the purpose for which the section 37 consent is required, i.e. whether to connect distributed generation or other purpose. The Department therefore does not hold complete or readily accessible data on the information requested.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what staff resource his Department made available for considering applications for approval of 33kW connections for distributed power under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 in each of the last 12 months. [187763]

Gregory Barker: The Department employs the equivalent of two full-time staff to process applications seeking consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for overhead electricity lines under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, including applications for 33 kilovolt lines to connect distributed power.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average length of time was for his Department to consider and approve an application for 33kW connections for distributed power under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 in each of the last 12 months. [187764]

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Gregory Barker: Applicants seeking consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for an overhead electricity line under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are not required to specify in their applications the purpose for which the section 37 consent is required, i.e. whether to connect distributed generation or other purpose. The Department therefore does not hold complete or readily accessible data on the information requested.

Electricity: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the size is of his proposed contracts for difference allocation pot for (a) established and (b) non-established technologies in autumn 2014. [187765]

Michael Fallon: As set out in the Consultation on Competitive Allocation, published by the Department on 16 January 2014, we are working to determine the level of the CfD budget available to National Grid for allocation under the enduring regime and will publish this in advance of the first CfD allocation by summer 2014.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the budget for contracts for difference under the levy control framework in 2015-16. [187766]

Michael Fallon: As set out in the Consultation on Competitive Allocation, published by the Department on 16 January 2014, we are working to determine the level of the CfD budget available to National Grid for allocation under the enduring regime. We will publish this in advance of the first CfD allocation by summer 2014.

Energy

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure the UK has an integrated policy on gas, nuclear energy and carbon capture. [187738]

Michael Fallon: The Government are committed to bringing forward a diverse mix of energy technologies and fuels, including gas, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage and renewables. This approach means we are not dependent on any one type or source and so helps ensure energy security.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 238, what the evidential basis is for the statement that an unprecedented number of customers switched energy suppliers in the last two months of 2013. [187755]

Michael Fallon: Industry data (from Energy UK) show that around 1.33 million households switched electricity supplier during Q4 of 2013. For Q3, it is estimated 684,000 electricity transfers took place. This figure is taken from table 2.7.1 of DECC publication on quarterly domestic energy switching statistics:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-switching-statistics

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Energy Supply

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that organisations granted STOR Long Term Contracts before May 2012 do not receive double payments for their capacity; [187900]

(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that all organisations with capacity awarded through STOR Long Term Contracts granted before May 2012 will only be eligible to participate in the Capacity Mechanism auction as existing capacity; [187901]

(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that companies which were awarded STOR Long Term Contracts in 2010 but only began construction after May 2012 are treated as existing capacity in the Capacity Mechanism auction. [187902]

Michael Fallon: The design of the Capacity Market was subject to a consultation exercise that closed in December 2013. The consultation detailed the generic eligibility criteria and proposed expenditure thresholds for accessing longer-term agreements. It also proposed how plant which began construction after May 2012 would be treated. The results of the consultation are being analysed and final legislative proposals will be laid before this House for consideration in the spring.

Energy: Competition

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria his Department used to establish which technologies should be considered an established technology for the purposes of contracts for difference competitive auctioning from 2014. [188164]

Michael Fallon: The Department recently launched a consultation on our approach to competitive allocation under Contracts for Difference. This closed on 12 February 2014 and we are considering the responses before confirming our policy position.

The Government intend to move to a competitive price discovery process for all low-carbon technologies as soon as practicable in order to reduce costs of decarbonisation for consumers. In order to secure a diverse mix of renewable technologies, we must support those technologies with significant potential for future cost-reduction as well as those that are currently cheaper. Government therefore intend to divide the CfD budget between a group of more established technologies and a group of less established technologies, and run allocation rounds for both groups.

The consultation proposed that technologies considered established are those which have already achieved cost reductions through sufficient levels of deployment to develop the scale and maturity of their supply chains and to realise early research and development and learning effects. Government therefore consider that these established technologies could be subject to immediate competition.

Less established technologies are those that have a significant long-term role in the UK energy mix, where there is potential for future cost reduction, and where delivery of that cost reduction relies on a sufficient level of on-going deployment. Less established technologies

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will not typically demonstrate the scale and maturity of their supply chains as seen with the established technologies, nor will they have realised early research and development and learning effects.

In developing the consultation proposals we have been mindful of the recently published draft EU guidelines on environmental and energy aid for 2014-20, which indicate the need for a move to competitive processes for some technologies.

Energy: Housing

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the total value of payments made by domestic customers to British Gas for the installation of energy efficiency measures in their homes under the Energy Company Obligation as at 31 December 2013. [188057]

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 218W.

Energy: Meters

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward legislative proposals to allow all (a) social and (b) private tenants to switch from prepayment to credit meters for gas and electricity supplies. [187678]

Michael Fallon: Some landlords include the use of prepayment meters in the terms of the tenancy agreement because the payment method helps tenants who are not in debt for their energy to remain in credit, as they are required to pay for their energy in advance. Since 2010, most suppliers have chosen to equalise their prepayment meter tariffs with standard credit prices. These tenants may also switch supplier to get a better deal for the prepayment meter.

Energy: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 676W, on energy: prices (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the first and second ministerial roundtables on heating oil and LPG; [187758]

(2) who attended the first and second ministerial roundtables on heating oil and LPG. [187761]

Michael Fallon: The attendance list for the first and second ministerial roundtables on heating oil and LPG are in the minutes of both meetings, which are being placed in the Libraries of the House.

Energy: West Midlands

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2014, Official Report, column 284W, on energy: finance, how much private sector investment has been made to help provide long-term sustainable energy in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Worcestershire and (c) Redditch. [188456]

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Michael Fallon: DECC estimates suggest that there has been almost £40 billion investment in the electricity sector overall (generation and networks) since 2010. We have not collected these data at a regional level.

However, DECC has collated announcements of planned investment in renewable electricity generation at a regional level. This indicates that, between January 2010 and September 2013, there was £17 million planned investment recorded for the west midlands region. I will be placing a copy of this database in the Libraries of the House.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) of 3 February 2014, Official Report, column 17W, on environment protection: taxation, what measures he is implementing to reduce the impact of policy on the costs of electricity for the most electricity-intensive industries. [187757]

Michael Fallon: The Government have already begun to implement a £380 million compensation scheme, which runs until March 2016, for electricity-intensive businesses, to help offset the indirect costs of the carbon price floor and the European Union emissions trading system. To date we have paid out over £26 million in compensation to help offset the indirect costs of the emissions trading system and await state aid clearance from the European Commission to begin payments in relation to the carbon price floor.

In addition to this compensation, we are committed to providing relief for energy intensive industries from the costs of electricity market reform, also subject to state aid. We have already increased climate change levy (CCL) relief to 90% on electricity for businesses that are part of climate change agreements. From April 2014, we are also introducing an exemption from the CCL on both gas and electricity for mineralogical and metallurgical processes.

Fuel Poverty

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) for what reasons his Department has not made a full assessment of how many individuals have been removed from fuel poverty as a result of the Energy Companies Obligation; [188305]

(2) how his Department will measure the effectiveness of the Energy Companies Obligation alleviations fuel poverty. [188306]

Gregory Barker: Assessments of the impact of individual policies on fuel poverty are complex and determined largely by both the details of the specific policy under consideration and their interaction with a large range of other policies relating to household energy use. We do seek to undertake comprehensive assessments of policy impacts on fuel poverty where possible, and usually this is part of a consultation or final stage impact assessment for an individual policy.

In relation to the Energy Companies Obligation specifically, an impact assessment for the scheme will accompany a forthcoming consultation focusing on changes announced at the autumn statement 2013.

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Housing: Insulation

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment has been made of the effect on energy efficiency measures and planned changes to the ECO and CERO funding on (a) homes, (b) job creation and (c) jobs in the insulation industry. [187972]

Gregory Barker: The Government will shortly publish a consultation document on the proposed changes to ECO (including the CERO component) which were announced in December. This will be accompanied by an assessment of impacts, including estimates of employment and of the number of homes to be treated.

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that unsuitable cavity wall insulation is no longer used in homes that are prone to flooding or at risk of flooding. [188278]

Gregory Barker: The building regulations require that the insulation material used is suitable for the wall concerned. Under the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO), the Government’s primary policies driving cavity wall insulation, energy efficiency measures (including cavity wall insulation) must be installed in accordance with the relevant standards set out in PAS 2030. Prior to commencing the physical installation of the cavity wall installation, the installer will undertake a pre-installation survey in accordance, as a minimum, with the requirements set out in the relevant sections of PAS 2030¹.

¹ See 5.2.1 “Undertaking the survey” in PAS2030.

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what financial assistance is available for homeowners whose homes have been affected by flooding to replace current insulation with material suitable for homes in flood risk areas. [188281]

Gregory Barker: On 12 February, the Prime Minister announced a comprehensive package of new measures to help homes, businesses and farmers hit by the floods. This £5,000 ‘repair and renew’ grant will top up any money received from insurers to ensure flood resilience is built into homes and businesses as they are repaired. If the cost of resilient repair to insulation cannot be met by the insurer, then they may be able to claim from this grant. The Government are working up the details of the scheme, and will announce it shortly.

Affected householders will also be able to access Green Deal finance and the Green Deal cash-back scheme to provide additional sources of funding to replace or install insulation and wider energy efficiency measures.

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many solid wall properties remain to be insulated in the UK. [188282]

Gregory Barker: DECC publish regular estimates of home insulation levels in Great Britain. The most recent publication, which contains estimates for the end of September 2013, estimated that there are around 7.6

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million uninsulated solid wall properties in Great Britain. Estimates for Northern Ireland are not available, and therefore there is no UK estimate.

The full publication is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-september-2013

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what target he has set for hard-to-treat cavity homes to receive Energy Company Obligation funding. [187934]

Gregory Barker: Under the current rules of the energy company obligation (ECO), obligated energy companies are set targets for carbon savings to be met from insulation and other measures, including hard-to-treat cavities. The Government announced in December proposals for changes to ECO which would, among other things, make for a greater role for standard (“easy-to-treat”) cavities. A consultation document will be published shortly.

Neither under current rules nor the proposed new rules is there a specific target for the number of hard-to-treat cavity homes to be treated.

Ministers' Private Offices

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of his Department's Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of his Department's Ministers. [188315]

Gregory Barker: The information requested is provided in the following table:

Natural Gas: Prices

Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of average savings for gas customers arising from reductions in spending on the gas mains replacement programme. [187912]

Michael Fallon: Decisions on, and assessment of, the Iron Mains Replacement Programme are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive, who engage with Ofgem.

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The iron mains replacement scheme was introduced by the Health and Safety Executive in 2002. It required gas distribution networks (GDNs) to replace all iron mains within 30 metres of a property over 30 years. Iron mains expenditure constituted 70% of GDNs capital expenditure during the last price control (£3.5 billion between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2013) and it is expected to form a similar proportion in the next price control (1 April 2013 to 31 March 2021).

In 2012 the Health and Safety Executive undertook a review of the scheme, details of which can be reviewed here:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr888.htm

A number of considerations including potential cost impacts led HSE to announce a more flexible policy under which GDNs use more innovative ways to reduce risk, such as through pipe insertion/spray lining, rather than just decommissioning.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what provisions there are for workers across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate to relocate to other sites. [187844]

Michael Fallon: There are provisions for workers across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate to relocate to other sites. These provisions are managed through historical collective agreements and also, more recently, through a Transition Framework which has been specifically designed for this purpose and subject to local consultation with workers and their representatives to encourage movement around the estate.

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether all grades of workers on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate will be given opportunities to relocate and access reskilling. [187846]

Michael Fallon: All grades of workers on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate will be given opportunities to relocate and access reskilling.

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy that any company involved in illegal blacklisting should not be awarded a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority contract. [188566]

Michael Fallon: The awarding of contracts by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is an operational matter for the authority. Contracts are awarded in full compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2006. These set out the criteria on which a company may be excluded from a tender process.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has undertaken any work to provide current Magnox employees opportunities to engage in nuclear new build. [188565]

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Michael Fallon: It is up to energy companies to construct, operate and decommission nuclear power stations, and industry has set out its plans to develop approximately 16GW of new nuclear power in the UK. The retention of nuclear skills across the industry is an issue that has been rightly raised as a priority and one that the Nuclear Industry Council, alongside the Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance, is seeking to address.

Ofgem

Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish all correspondence and minutes of meetings between his Department and Ofgem relating to the RIIO-ED1 process. [187913]

Michael Fallon: Discussions on the RIIO-ED1 Price Control is an integral and routine part of the Department's discussion with Ofgem on distribution network matters, both at ministerial and official level. These discussions are frequent and numerous and providing this information could be done only at disproportionate cost.

A number of documents that are already publicly available are:

The response by the former Minister of State for Energy, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), to the RIIO-ED1 Strategy consultation, which can be found at:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/47160/deccresponse-open-letter-ref-1512.pdf

Smart Grid Forum minutes. DECC co-chairs this industry group with Ofgem. A key focus of the work over the past 12 to 18 months has been DNO preparation for RIIO-ED1. Minutes and other details can be found at:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/electricity/distribution-networks/forums-seminars-and-working-groups/decc-and-ofgem-smart-grid-forum

Ofgem's RIIO-ED1 working groups to discuss matters of interest to their particular policy areas. DECC regularly attends these groups and the meeting minutes can be found at:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/network-regulation-%E2%80%93-riio-model/riio-forums-seminars-and-working-groups/riio-ed1-working-groups

Radioactive Waste

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether it is his policy that all nuclear waste and spent fuel from the UK should be stored and treated in the UK. [187845]

Michael Fallon: Government policy on spent fuel in the UK is that the question of whether or not to reprocess it and if so when, is a matter for the commercial owner of the spent fuel. To date, spent fuel originating in the UK has always been managed in the UK but our policy does not preclude owners from sending their spent fuel elsewhere for treatment, subject to regulatory requirements. In such cases the resulting waste would be returned to the UK for storage and eventual disposal.

Nuclear waste is a devolved matter; therefore the policy for its management is for the devolved Administrations to determine. UK Government policy regarding nuclear waste is that we do not import or export waste for disposal, except under some very restricted and clearly defined circumstances.

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Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he plans to reconvene his Geological Disposal Implementation Board for radioactive waste. [187994]

Michael Fallon: The Government are considering responses to our recent consultation on potential revision of the siting process for a geological disposal facility (GDF). As part of that, further consideration is being given to the format and structure of the Geological Disposal Implementation Board (GDIB) alongside other potential engagement mechanisms. The Government aim to publish our conclusions later in the year.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of likely expenditure on renewables under the levy control framework in 2013-14. [187767]

Michael Fallon: The Levy Control Framework (LCF) allows Government to control public expenditure paid for through consumers' energy bills, and reflects the importance Government places on monitoring and controlling spending on levy schemes that are funded in this way.

The two renewables schemes covered by the LCF in 2013-14 are the Renewables Obligation (RO) and the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme. Estimated spend for that year on the RO is £2,379 million in real terms (2011-12 prices, for comparability with the LCF) or £2,583 million in nominal terms (2013-14 prices), and for FITs is approximately £596 million (2011-12 prices) or £647 million (2013-14 prices).

Total estimated spend on renewable technologies for 2013-14 is therefore £2,975 million in real terms (2011-12 prices) or £3,231 million in nominal terms (2013-14 prices).

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for each renewable technology have been made for 33kW connections under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 over the last 12 months. [188209]

Michael Fallon: Applicants seeking consent from the Secretary of State for an overhead electricity line under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are not required to specify in their applications the purpose for which the section 37 consent is required, i.e. whether to connect distributed generation or other purpose. The Department therefore does not hold complete or readily accessible data on the information requested.

Sellafield

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons his Department supported the five-year contract award to Nuclear Management Partners to manage the Sellafield site. [186996]

Michael Fallon: The Government approved the contract with Sellafield Ltd under the ownership of Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) in 2008. The contract is for a 17 year period, with fixed review points at 5, 5,

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5 and 2 year intervals. The contract review at the first break point, and the decision to continue with the contract into a second five year period, was an operational matter for the NDA. The NDA reached its decision based on a thorough review of performance in the first period of the contract and consideration of all available options. The Government endorsed the NDA's decision on the basis that it represents the best way forward at this time, giving NMP the opportunity to build on the progress made in the first five years of its contract for Sellafield Ltd (it has met some 90% of its targets to date and safety at the site has improved), address weaker areas of performance, and make further real progress in this next five year term.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which other companies or management partnerships were considered for the parent body contract for the management of Sellafield. [187995]

Michael Fallon: Tender submissions were received from:

CH2MHill Nuclear Services Ltd

Fluor Ltd in partnership with Toshiba

Nuclear Management Partners Ltd consisting: URS' Washington Division, AMEC and AREVA NC

SBB Nuclear, consisting: Serco, Bechtel and Babcock & Wilcox

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what value-for-money audit has been applied to Nuclear Management Partners in respect of its discharge of its period managing Sellafield as a parent body organisation. [187996]

Michael Fallon: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) Management & Operations (M&O) contract is with Sellafield Ltd, currently owned by Nuclear Management Partners (NMP). Funding, covering all allowable costs and fees for work undertaken are paid through the M&O contract direct to Sellafield; there is no direct cash flow between the NDA and NMP. These costs and fees, together with delivery performance, are subject to a range of different assurance reviews and audits by the NDA. Sellafield also has and will continue to be subject to value for money audits by the National Audit Office.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on withdrawing the indemnification against liabilities awarded to Nuclear Management Partners in 2008. [187997]

Michael Fallon: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) included the indemnity against certain third party nuclear liabilities falling outside the scope of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 in its contract with Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) as the new Parent Body Organisation for Sellafield in 2008. There was and is no viable commercial insurance available to cover such liabilities and none of the bidders were prepared to accept liability for uninsurable claims. Given the low probability of a claim being brought against the indemnity, the NDA assessed that the benefits of contracting with the NMP outweighed the small risk that the indemnity may be called upon. The NDA has no plans to withdraw the indemnity.

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Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of criticisms contained in the Committee of Public Accounts' Report, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Managing Risk at Sellafield, 24th Report of Session 2012-13 HC 746, of the way the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has handled redactions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [188042]

Michael Fallon: We welcome the Public Accounts Committee's latest report into progress at Sellafield and take the concerns that they have raised very seriously. We will consider the detailed findings and recommendations of the report carefully before providing a full response in due course.

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the total capacity of large scale solar PV installations in the UK with a capacity of greater than 5MWp. [187768]

Gregory Barker: As at the end of December, the figure for total operational capacity is 318 MW:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-section-6-energy-trends

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the amount of large scale solar PV with capacity greater than 5MWp which will be installed in 2014. [187769]

Gregory Barker: The Renewable Energy Planning Database publishes monthly data on renewable energy projects which have received planning permission and which are either under construction or awaiting construction. The total capacity listed at the end of December as under or awaiting construction is 1504 MW over 122 sites. However, it is probable that a proportion of those will not proceed to construction or may be commissioned in later years.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much large scale solar PV with capacity of greater than 5MWp he estimates will be installed by 2020 under his Department's Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan. [187770]

Gregory Barker: The modelling for the Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan showed a deployed range of between 2.4 GW and 4 GW:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-market-reform-delivery-plan

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the Atomic Energy Authority Police adhere to the College of Policing standards. [187330]

Michael Fallon: The Civil Nuclear Constabulary works extensively with the College of Policing in order to achieve and maintain its firearms licence through the appropriate management, command and deployment

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of its authorised firearms officers, therefore ensuring compliance with the code of practice for the police use of firearms and less lethal weapons. The Constabulary has held a College of Policing Firearms Licence since 2011 and has recently put itself forward for re-accreditation and is currently awaiting the result.

The Secretary of State receives regular assurance from the Civil Nuclear Police Authority on the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of services carried out by his Department in Wales in relation to the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Welsh Language Standards. [187771]

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change is fully committed to the Welsh language and to providing services in the Welsh language where there is demand for them.

The Department has published its Welsh Language Scheme, approved by the Welsh Language Board on 29 March 2012 at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/about/welsh-language-scheme

It has since provided the Welsh Commissioner with its first annual report on progress against commitments on 12 July 2013.

Culture, Media and Sport

Arts: Finance

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the regional variation in arts and culture funding from her Department. [188043]

Mr Vaizey: Funding from the Department for the arts and the Renaissance regional museums programme is distributed independently of Government by Arts Council England, which should ensure equitable access to its funding across the country. DCMS also provides grant-in-aid to 15 sponsored museums and galleries and the British Library, including their regional branches. Decisions on how to invest grant-in-aid are made by those ALUs, independently of Government, however, within their settlements, I expect the national museums to work in partnership with other museums in the UK, through loans, exchanges of expertise, education programmes, conservation and community projects. Since 2002, a joint Fund between DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation has also made £26 million available for capital improvements to museums and galleries in the regions.

In the same way English Heritage distribute grants for heritage. These have an impact throughout the country. In 2012-13, English Heritage distributed nearly £12 million in grants to nine regions in England. Spend was not biased towards any one region but distributed throughout the country; spend in London for example accounted for 12% of the total grant spend. The region with the highest proportion of spend in 2012-13 was the East of England with 15.73% of total spend.

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Arts: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much arts funding (a) in total and (b) per head of population was allocated in (i) the North-West and (ii) Warrington in each year since 2010. [188178]

Mr Vaizey: Public funding for the arts is administered by Arts Council England (ACE) and local authorities. ACE makes its funding decisions independently of Government and as such DCMS does not hold the information requested. Nearly £3 billion pounds will be invested in the arts by ACE over the lifetime of this Parliament.

Broadcasting: Chinese

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the BBC Trust and the Arts Council on encouraging the BBC and other broadcasters to use British Chinese actors and presenters in their broadcasts; and if she will make a statement. [188405]

Mr Vaizey: I regularly meet with the BBC and Arts Council to discuss a range of issues. Last month I met with leading figures from the world of television, film and the performing arts, including the BBC and Arts Council England, to discuss what more could be done to improve the numbers of people from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds we have working in our creative industries. It was agreed that industry leaders need to be much more accountable for improving the current under-representation we find. A follow up meeting to check on progress being made is scheduled to take place in the next few months.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2013, Official Report, column 434W, on children: day care, how many childcare business grants have been allocated through the childcare business grant scheme in each month; and what estimate she has made of when funding under this scheme will cease. [187975]

Mrs Grant: An announcement on the future of the scheme will be made in due course. The total number of grants awarded as at the end of January 2014 is 2,021.

Culture

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the recommendations in the report, Rebalancing our Cultural Capital by Peter Stark, Christopher Gordon and David Powell. [187998]

Mr Vaizey: The Government note the analysis of Rebalancing our Cultural Capital. Decisions on the distribution of funding to the arts are made independently of Government by Arts Council England, which should ensure equitable access to its funding across the country.

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HMS Victory

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Government Minister signed off the transfer of ownership of the wreck of HMS Victory 1744 to Lord Lingfield's charity. [187719]

Mr Vaizey: The Deed of Gift was signed by the Secretary of State for Defence.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with Odyssey Marine Exploration regarding the excavation of HMS Victory 1744; and what was discussed at each such meeting. [187720]

Mr Vaizey: At a recent roundtable meeting, I met a representative of Wreck Watch International, who is also a consultant to Odyssey Marine Exploration. This was in his capacity as archaeological contractor to the Maritime Heritage Foundation. The future management of the wreck was discussed.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has received from Lord Lingfield or his representatives on the future of the wreck of HMS Victory 1744. [187732]

Mr Vaizey: Representations concerning the wreck site and its future management have been received from Lord Lingfield and his representatives.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column 331W, on HMS Victory, what topics were discussed and conclusions arrived at during the meeting referred to in the answer; and whether officials were present at that meeting. [187911]

Mr Vaizey: The future management of the wreck was discussed. The Maritime Heritage Foundation has been asked to provide a revised Management Plan for the site which will be submitted to the Government and the Advisory Group prior to any permissions being granted by the Secretary of State for Defence. Officials were present at the meeting.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 410W, on HMS Victory, under what conditions and criteria her Department bestows ownership of discovered British shipwrecks on private individuals. [187914]

Mr Vaizey: The Department has not bestowed ownership of discovered British shipwrecks on private individuals.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 410W, on HMS Victory, under what conditions and criteria her Department decides either to salvage discovered British shipwrecks or to leave them to remain as war graves. [187915]

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Mr Vaizey: The management of historic wreck sites must be compliant with the Rules set out in the Annex to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 410W, on HMS Victory, which body claimed ownership or responsibility for the wreck of HMS Victory 1744 prior to its transfer to Lord Lingfield's charity. [187922]

Mr Vaizey: The wreck was Sovereign Immune, and therefore property of the Crown. As a military vessel, the Ministry of Defence took on responsibility for HMS Victory 1744.

Internet

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with internet service providers on establishing common standards for automatic internet filtering software in respect of (a) the kind of material causing a website to be blocked and (b) the process for appealing wrongly blocked websites. [187507]

Mr Vaizey: Government engage with internet service providers regularly, through the UK Council on Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), on measures to keep children safe online. As a result of this engagement, the four main internet service providers have committed to giving their customers an easy way to install family-friendly filters that will protect all devices in the home. These allow parents to prevent their children from accessing potentially harmful content.

The categories of content offered as part of their family-friendly filters is a matter for the internet service providers, in some cases following consultation with their customers.

Government asked that a UKCCIS working group, including charities and parents' groups, be established to consider the effectiveness of family friendly filters and inadvertent over-blocking of content which is not harmful, including sites which provide advice and support.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of automatic internet filtering on access to sexual health advice and support services. [187513]

Mr Vaizey: Government have asked that a UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) working group, including charities and parents' groups, be established to consider the effectiveness of family friendly filters and inadvertent over-blocking of content which is not harmful, including sites which provide advice and support.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of automatic internet filtering on access to websites and forums run by or for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people. [187514]

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Mr Vaizey: The Government have asked that a UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) working group, including charities and parents' groups, be established to consider the effectiveness of family friendly filters and inadvertent over-blocking of content which is not harmful, including sites which provide advice and support.

Local Broadcasting: Radio

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish her consultation on statutory restrictions on community radio. [188124]

Mr Vaizey: DCMS published the consultation on community radio funding restrictions on 13 February and it will remain open until 23 April 2014. The consultation can be found on the Gov.UK website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments %5B%5D=department-for-culture-media-sport&publication _filter_option=consultations

Members: Correspondence

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West dated 28 November 2013 and 8 January 2014 on the effect of the changes to the art, craft and design curriculum on the creative industries and the correspondence received by the National Society for Education in Art and Design from the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey) on 24 June 2013. [187491]

Mr Vaizey: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 February 2014.

National Museum of Computing

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about disagreements between the Bletchley Part Trust and the National Museum of Computing over public access and ticketing; and what steps he is taking to help resolve such disagreements. [187776]

Mr Vaizey: I have received one representation relating to disagreements between the Bletchley Part Trust and the National Museum of Computing and I have written to the correspondent, urging the parties to work together for the good of Bletchley and take up the offer of mediation made by Arts Council England.

Sports: Finance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether an impact assessment was carried out in respect of the decision by UK Sport to reduce funding for synchronised swimming and water polo. [188453]

Mrs Grant: UK Sport assesses the impact of all of its investment decisions as part of the Annual Invest Review process. These assessments were considered by UK Sport's Board during the decision-making process. We recognise that athletes and staff will be significantly affected by a decision to withdraw funding. Therefore, UKS will be working with the sports to develop appropriate transitional arrangements.

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Swimming

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Sport England has given to local authorities for the provision of public swimming facilities in each of the last three years. [188197]

Mrs Grant: Since 2011 Sport England has invested a total of almost £25.6 million in 98 public swimming facility projects. Annual breakdown of spend:

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure the restoration of damaged war memorials over the course of the First World War centenary. [187669]

Mrs Grant: There is significant funding available across the UK for the conservation and repair of war memorials including my Department's Memorials Grant Scheme. In addition, the Prime Minister has announced a further £5 million for First World War memorials and burial sites to ensure that they are in a fit state for this historic centenary.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking over the next four years to commemorate those hon. Members and Peers who fell during the First World War. [187670]

Mrs Grant: The Government are encouraging the widest engagement with the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. I commend the work led by my noble Friend Lord Wallace of Saltaire, my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland (Mr Simpson) and House officials in marking Parliament's history of the period, and that of those who worked there. The programme's aim is to make this history better known to the public, and in particular to young people, from August 2014 and across the centenary period. My right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman) is leading on a preceding event, a concert in Westminster Hall on 9 July 2014 by the Parliamentary Choir and the Bundestag Choir.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to encourage UK citizens to visit the battlefields of northern France over the course of the First World War commemorations. [187671]

Mrs Grant: There will be a number of commemorative events at famous Western Front battlefields during the centenary. In addition, we are providing the opportunity for 12,000 secondary school pupils and teachers to visit key battlefields. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is working hard to ensure that all their

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immaculate sites are fit for the significant number of people that we expect will wish to visit them during the centenary.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to encourage foreign tourists to visit sites in the UK of relevance to the First World War. [187672]

Mrs Grant: VisitBritain is actively engaged in encouraging foreign tourists to visit UK first world war sites including an updated GREAT campaign heritage guide. In addition, VisitBritain is briefing their missions globally to provide information on the forthcoming commemorations. VisitBritain will also actively promote centenary events over their social media platforms.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in other European nations on co-operation over the commemoration of the First World War between now and 2018. [187674]

Mrs Grant: There have been numerous discussions with both European and international counterparts about the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War at both ministerial and official level. We expect these discussions to continue and intensify as the start of the centenary approaches.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops from the British Overseas Territories who took part in the First World War are commemorated during the centenary. [187675]

Mrs Grant: The Government will ensure that wherever possible, and in the spirit of the 2012 White Paper, the UK's Overseas Territories are appropriately represented and their contributions recognised as part of our centenary commemorations. We continue to look for appropriate opportunities for commemorative activities to recognise the sacrifices made by the people of the Overseas Territories.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops from Commonwealth nations who took part in the First World War are commemorated during the centenary. [187677]

Mrs Grant: The Government will mark the centenary of the First World War with a programme of national events, cultural activities, educational initiatives and community projects from 4 August this year through to Armistice Day in 2018. The significant and important contribution of all our Commonwealth partners will be commemorated as an integral part of our programme, and indeed the very first event in the UK national programme is a service of remembrance for the Commonwealth at Glasgow Cathedral. We could not have prevailed in 1918 without them.

World War I: Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the importance of education about the First World War over the next four years. [187680]

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Mrs Grant: I am working with a number of ministerial colleagues to deliver a broad and engaging Government programme to commemorate the centenary. This includes the Secretary of State for Education whose Department is co-funding the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, which begins in spring 2014. The programme will enable teachers to develop their knowledge of the First World War. They, and the pupils going on the visits, will bring back a deeper understanding of the conflict to support their school's own projects and commemorative activities.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Accountancy: EU Action

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the EU proposal to update the accounting directives to include non-financial reporting for large companies; and if he will support amendments to the legislation to require companies to report in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. [187664]

Jenny Willott: The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) sets out a globally recognised framework that outlines the roles of states and business in protecting human rights in business situations. In September 2013, the UK was the first Government to publish an implementation plan that makes clear the Government's commitment to protect human rights and sets out the clear expectations for UK businesses in this area.

In addition to our commitment to these voluntary principles, the UK Government recently introduced mandatory company reporting requirements on human rights, where relevant to an understanding of the business, in the recently adopted changes to the Companies Act 2006. In line with our domestic efforts, the UK has actively supported the inclusion of human rights reporting in negotiations on the draft EU directive on non-financial reporting. While discussions are ongoing, the UK agrees with the proposal that companies may rely on certain international frameworks including the UNGP.

Aerospace Industry

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to assist the aerospace industry. [187828]

Michael Fallon: We are working closely with the aerospace industry through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) which, in March 2013, published the UK aerospace industrial strategy. This sets out an ambitious plan to keep the UK at the forefront of world aerospace manufacturing and ensure that we can address the challenges of increasing global competition and changes in technology.

The strategy is supported by the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the latter publishing a ‘Northern Ireland Partnering for Growth' document earlier this month, setting out how the work of the AGP on civil aerospace is being taken forward there.

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A key development, set out in the UK strategy, is an agreement by industry and Government to commit over £2 billion for aerospace research and development over seven years from 2013/14, through the creation of an Aerospace Technology Institute. This provides industry with the certainty it needs to invest in the UK.

The Government recently announced ATI funding of £60 million in new aerospace facility at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry and a further £13 million to improve the research capacity of wind tunnel facilities at seven universities.

We expect to announce further R and D projects shortly, including those resulting from a competition run by the Technology Strategy Board last autumn.

In addition, the AGP has launched a National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) to help small and medium-sized companies develop innovative technologies to increase their ability to win new business with higher tier companies anywhere in the world. This is a £40 million programme, backed with £23 million of public funding won competitively through the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative. We expect to announce the first winning projects shortly along with arrangements for future bidding opportunities.

The AGP is also creating 500 additional masters (MSc) level postgraduate places for aerospace over three years, backed with joint investment by industry and Government of £6 million. Over 100 bursaries were awarded last year, with 15% going to women. The remaining bursaries will be awarded this year and next.

Apprentices

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalents were employed through the National Apprenticeship Service in April (a) 2012 and (b) 2013; and if he will estimate that figure for April (i) 2014 and (ii) 2015. [187659]

Matthew Hancock: The average number of staff employed during the following financial years within the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is as follows:

The NAS was integrated into the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) on 1 April 2013 from which point the delivery of the NAS has been a function of the wider SFA. Information for 2013-14 will be included in our annual report and accounts for 2013-14 which are due to be published in June 2014. An interim figure is available from the hard close accounts at 31 December 2013 but this information is subject to audit. We can include this as an unaudited average FTE number for Apprenticeships Division from April 2013 to December 2013 if required.

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will estimate the number of apprentices in each of the UK's 20 largest cities as a proportion of the local labour force in the most recent period for which figures are available; [187660]

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(2) if he will estimate the number of apprentices employed in each of the UK's 20 largest cities by level of (a) study and (b) apprenticeship in the most recent period for which figures are available. [187661]

Matthew Hancock: Information on apprenticeship starts by geography and level is published in a Supplementary Table to a Statistical First Release:

http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3D49B725-2FD2-451E-9A5E-116D788E43F4/0/Nov2013_Apprenticeship StartsbyGeoqraphyLevelAge.xls

http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/Apprenticeships/

We do not hold apprenticeship data by labour market information, but local labour market information is available from the Annual Population Survey:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment has been made as to how level 3 apprenticeships will be funded via the adult skills budget in 2014-15; [188551]

(2) what assessment has been made of the effect of funding level 3 apprenticeships via the adult skills budget on apprenticeships and other qualifications. [188552]

Matthew Hancock: On 13 February, the Government laid regulations to remove apprenticeships from the 24+ advanced learning loans scheme. These are set to come into force on 7 March and will make advanced-level and higher apprenticeship frameworks for those aged 24 and over eligible for funding from the adult skills budget (ASB).

The apprenticeships programme is demand-led, with the number, level and sector spread of apprenticeships being determined by employers.

Assets

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on which occasions the locked box mechanism has been used to establish the acquisition price in the sale of a public asset; and how he intends to set the acquisition price for the sale of (a) the Government's shareholding in Eurostar International Ltd and (b) London and Continental Railways property assets. [187784]

Michael Fallon: In the last five years, the Shareholder Executive has used the locked box mechanism in the sale of Plasma Resources UK and mortgage style student loans.

No decision has been made to sell either the Government's shareholding in Eurostar or London and Continental Railways’ property assets.

Business

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of micro businesses are run by (a) women and (b) people of each age group. [187502]

Matthew Hancock: Estimates from the BIS Small Business Survey show that 16.7% of micro¹ businesses in the UK were either solely led by women, or had a

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management team of which the majority were women. A total of 48.3% of micro businesses have at least one woman on the management team. We do not hold information on the age of people running micro businesses.

¹ Micro businesses are defined as private sector businesses with 1 to 9 employees.

Business: EU Grants and Loans

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to assist small and medium-sized enterprises gain access to EU funding. [187825]

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not provide specific services to help SMEs to access EU funding. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) currently fulfils this role. However, the Department supports SMEs through EU funds via our business support programmes, such as GrowthAccelerator, Manufacturing Advisory Service and UKTI trade services.

BIS's British Business Bank officials assist with a number of regional JEREMIE funds which incorporate European money across northern England (North-East, North-West and Yorkshire and the Humber). The JEREMIE funds administer over £150 million of ERDF funding from the 2007-13 structural funds programme which with matched private sector contributions gives total fund size of over £350 million.

For 2014-20 EU structural and investment funds programme, the Government have asked local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) to work with local partners to determine the priorities for their areas. This locally driven approach will ensure that funds are better targeted to support SMEs. The devolved Administrations are responsible for the design and delivery of these funds in their own nations.

There is also a new programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME) 2014-20 which will target SMEs specifically and has 60% of its budget of £1.9 billion devoted to financial instruments, thus enabling access to finance and encouraging investment into the SME sector. This programme will be launched in March at both the national and regional levels in the UK.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the number and proportion of employers that offer (a) employer supported child care vouchers, (b) workplace nursery provision, (c) flexible working arrangements not including part-time work, (d) enhanced maternity leave and pay, (e) enhanced paternity leave and pay and (f) any other measures to assist employees with child care. [187794]

Jenny Willott: The Sixth Workplace Employment Relations Study shows that, in 2011, workplaces provided flexible working arrangements (not including part-time work), enhanced maternity pay, and paternity pay to employees as shown in the table.

Currently there is a not a suitable source for estimates of the availability of enhanced paternity and maternity leave. However, this information will be available in the forthcoming Fourth Work-life Balance Employer Survey.

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The 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study First Findings and standard comparison tables were published by BIS in 2013 and can be found on gov.uk. The book of the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study—van Wanrooy et al (2013) Employment Relations in the Shadow of Recession—was published by Palgrave Macmillan.

In terms of the availability of child care vouchers, workplace nursery provision and other measures to assist with child care, the only available source for this information is the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey. Unlike the above source, which interviews employers and provides an estimate of the number of workplaces providing each measure, these interviews are conducted with employees. As a result the following data are presented in terms of the proportion of employees to whom each measure is available, rather than the proportion of workplaces which offer each measure.

The latest Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey shows that, in 2009-10, workplaces made available employer-supported child care vouchers, workplace nursery provision, and other measures to assist employees with child care as follows:

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The Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey was published by BIS and the Department for Work and Pensions in 2011 and can be found on gov.uk.