4 Mar 2014 : Column 723W

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Transport

Bus Services: Disability

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to assess the effectiveness of voluntary bus driver training; and how he will take into account the experiences of disabled bus passengers. [189401]

Stephen Hammond: On 24 February 2014, my noble colleague Baroness Kramer wrote to the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the principal trade association for the bus and coach industry, requesting information by 17 March 2014 on the structure and effectiveness of disability awareness training courses currently offered by operators to their drivers.

A copy of this letter will also be sent to all bus operators who are members of CPT and disability stakeholders and charities with an interest in disability awareness training, seeking their input on this issue. All responses will inform the Government's review, in March 2014, of the use of an exemption applied under EU Regulation 181/2011, which exempts drivers from a requirement to undertake mandatory disability awareness training.

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the accessibility of buses to blind and partially sighted passengers. [189402]

Stephen Hammond: The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) outline specific requirements for the bus industry to ensure that buses are as accessible as possible for disabled passengers. These include facilities such as low-floor boarding systems, visual contrast on step edges, handholds and handrails and priority seats that can be of particular benefit to blind and partially sighted passengers.

All new buses used on local or scheduled services to carry 22 passengers or more are required to be fully PSVAR compliant, and all buses will have to be compliant by 2015, 2016 and 2017, depending on the bus type.

According to the Department's annual bus statistics (published in September 2013) 78% of the total bus fleet in England is now PSVAR compliant. We will continue to monitor compliance with the industry.

In addition, my noble colleague Baroness Kramer wrote to bus industry representatives on 4 February 2014 to encourage operators to work with manufacturers of the relevant technology to look into the possibility of developing simpler and more affordable audio/visual announcement systems for buses that can provide benefits to as many passengers as possible.

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of (a) the number of new buses which entered service in 2013,

4 Mar 2014 : Column 724W

(b)

the number of such buses which are fitted with audio visual next stop and final destination announcements and

(c)

the number of such buses so fitted which operate outside London. [189404]

Stephen Hammond: According to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on 7 January 2014, 2,842 new buses were registered in the UK in 2013, along with 843 coaches.

All buses in London currently operate with audio/visual announcement systems. Although we do not hold specific data from each bus operator on the number or percentage of new buses using audio/visual systems outside London in 2013, we are currently examining whether this information can be gathered as part of the Department's next annual bus operator survey, due to be published in the autumn.

Research commissioned by the Department for Transport estimates that in 2012 there were 8,877 buses operating in England that offered audio announcements on the destination of the bus and the next stop, compared to 8,812 buses in 2011. This amounts to approximately 25% of all buses in England.

Gatwick Airport

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect expansion at Gatwick would have on runoff water levels in West Sussex and surrounding areas in cases of severe weather; and if he will make a statement. [189891]

Mr Goodwill: The Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to them options for maintaining this country's status as an international hub for aviation. Although a Gatwick airport option has been shortlisted by the Commission for further examination, its final recommendations are not due to be published until the summer of 2015.

The environmental impacts of any proposed infrastructure development that might result from this process would be considered as part of the preparations for the detailed planning process to which the project would inevitably be subject, were it to go ahead.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are proposals to increase night flights at Heathrow Airport from 2015. [189505]

Mr Goodwill: The stage 2 consultation on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted ended on 31 January 2014. Officials at the Department for Transport are analysing the responses, and the Government will make an announcement on a new regime to commence in October 2014 this spring.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 716W, on Office for Low Emission Vehicles, whether the £170 million projected to be unspent over the period 2010 to 2015 will roll over into the next Parliament in addition to or as part

4 Mar 2014 : Column 725W

of the £500 million commitment for the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles from 2015 to 2020 referred to in the answer of 25 November 2013 to the hon. Member for Strangford,

Official Report

, column 102W, on fuels. [190034]

Mr Goodwill: No, as with all Government Departments, the Department for Transport underspends on particular policy areas are generally either used to cover other pressures within departmental budgets or are surrendered back to HM Treasury. The £400 million provision was for the period 2010-15.

Oxford-Hereford Railway Line

Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2014, Official Report, column 389W, on the Oxford to Hereford railway line, how many through passenger services operated between Evesham and London Paddington in the year immediately before the partial redoubling of the North Cotswold line; and how many such services operate under the present timetable. [190002]

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is in the following table:

Railways: Franchises

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what enforcement measures he plans to make available to passengers under the Thameslink Great Northern Franchise if the franchise falls below the passenger satisfaction obligation. [189484]

Stephen Hammond: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 239W.

Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2014, Official Report, column 389W, on the Oxford to Hereford railway line, for what reasons he does not plan to ask train operators to break down the performance of individual routes within a large franchise area when publishing Passenger Charter figures. [190001]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 726W

Stephen Hammond: In the older form of Passenger's Charter used by First Great Western, specially calculated performance figures are used to show passenger eligibility for season ticket holder discounts. These figures are calculated differently from the Public Performance Measure and the 'right-time' arrivals figures, which are otherwise the main source of published performance data.

Under the Delay/Repay form of Passenger's Charter, used by most other train operators, such information is no longer required for this purpose as it is individual journeys for which recompense is paid.

Railways: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is taking steps to allocate intercity express programmes hybrid trains to be set aside to provide direct train links from London to Shrewsbury. [189406]

Stephen Hammond: The Class 800/801 fleet procured as part of the Intercity Express programme by the DfT will be used on the East Coast and Great Western main lines only. It will be for future operators of such a route to determine which stock would be best. They will able to approach Hitachi to negotiate the purchase of Class 800 bi-mode trains under normal commercial arrangements if they so wish.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Jammu and Kashmir

16. Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. [902799]

Mr Swire: We recognise the importance of finding a lasting solution to the situation in Kashmir, but it is neither for the UK to prescribe a solution nor to mediate in finding one. It must be for India and Pakistan to resolve, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Bangladesh

17. Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the UK is playing in resolving the political situation in Bangladesh. [902800]

Mark Simmonds: On 6 January my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Warsi urged Bangladeshi political parties to work together to strengthen democratic accountability and build capacity to hold future elections free from intimidation and reprisals. She reiterated this message recently with the Bangladeshi Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

23. Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the political situation in Bangladesh. [902807]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 727W

Mark Simmonds: We continue to encourage political parties to work together to strengthen democratic accountability and build the willingness and capacity to hold future participatory elections free from intimidation and reprisals. Parties are currently focused on local elections, and we continue to urge a refrain from political violence and intimidation.

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the legitimacy of the recent Bangladesh general election results. [189311]

Hugh Robertson: The British high commissioner in Dhaka and officials in my Department have discussed the outcome of parliamentary elections with representatives from Bangladesh's political parties, other governments and international institutions. The senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, received the Government of Bangladesh's appraisal of the election results from Bangladesh's Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister on 11 February 2014 and high commissioner Quayes on 23 January 2014. The election was also debated in Parliament on 16 January and 29 January.

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the level of participation in the recent Bangladesh general election. [189312]

Hugh Robertson: Officials have discussed the level of participation in the recent Bangladesh general election with representatives of Bangladesh's political parties, other governments and international institutions, and civil society. The election was also debated in Parliament on 16 January and 29 January.

The election took place on 5 January without the participation of the Opposition 18-Party Alliance, resulting in 153 out of 300 seats being uncontested. The Awami League gained a 2/3rds majority of 232 seats. Precise election day turnout is unclear due to the lack of independent elections observers. Estimates vary from as low as 20-22% to as high as 35-40%.

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on alleged human rights abuses in Bangladesh. [189313]

Hugh Robertson: We engage extensively with human rights organisations and raise concerns with the Government of Bangladesh. We welcome assurances that they are committed to protecting human rights. The senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, discussed human rights concerns with the Government of Bangladesh during meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni when she visited Bangladesh on 12 December 2013.

Human Rights: Colombia

18. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on human rights in Colombia. [902801]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 728W

Mr Swire: My hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed human rights with President Santos and Defence Minister Pinzon during his recent visit to Colombia. He welcomed President Santos's commitment to zero tolerance of human rights abuses and underlined the importance of taking action on threats to human rights defenders and trade unionists.

He also met human rights non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and hosted a high-profile event on sexual violence in conflict, supported by the Colombian Government, the UN and local campaign groups.

Ukraine

21. Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on recent developments in Ukraine. [902805]

Mr Hague: I have made a statement today and I visited Ukraine yesterday. The UK is gravely concerned by the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Exports

22. Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department has made on raising exports to established and emerging markets. [902806]

Mr Swire: Total UK exports have increased by 12% from 2010-13.

Established markets remain important for the UK, but it is exports to emerging markets which have driven our export growth. In this period, exports to South Korea have risen by 123%, to Thailand by 73.5%, to China by 63%, to Indonesia by 54%, to Russia by 45%, to India by 29% and to Brazil by 24%.

We are undertaking a major programme to increase our diplomatic footprint in many of the major emerging economies.

Gibraltar: Spain

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish state vessels occurred in (a) December 2013 and (b) 2014 to date; and on which dates and by which Spanish Agency each of these incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters took place. [189457]

Mr Lidington: There were nine unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters by Spanish state vessels in December 2013 out of a total 496 for the whole year, averaging 41 incursions per month. The breakdown by category is as follows:

4 Mar 2014 : Column 729W

There have been 77 unlawful incursions in 2014, as of 28 February. The breakdown by category is as follows:

We continue to make formal diplomatic protests to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about all such incursions. The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns with the Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Gonzalo de Benito, on 20 February. Unlawful incursions do not weaken or undermine the legal basis for British sovereignty over Gibraltar territorial waters.

Iran

Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he is making on the receipt of compensation for damage done during the attack on HM Embassy in Tehran in 2011. [189480]

Hugh Robertson: We have made clear to Iran the need to resolve the question of compensation for the damage caused to our embassy compounds in November 2011. The UK's non-resident Chargé d'Affaires is in discussion with his Iranian counterpart on the matter, as part of our emerging bilateral engagement with Iran.

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Iranian counterpart for the release of Saeed Abedini. [189879]

Hugh Robertson: The UK Government are deeply concerned about the detention and treatment of Pastor Saeed Abedini; and have called publicly for his release and the end of all persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith. The Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about human rights in Iran when he met Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 23 September 2013 in the margins of the UN General Assembly. We will continue to do so.

Spain

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the Spanish Ambassador was summoned to his Department in 2013; on which dates the Ambassador was summoned; and what the subject of discussion was on each such occasion. [189458]

Mr Lidington: The Spanish ambassador, His Excellency Federico Trillo, was publicly summoned twice in 2013. On 2 August 2013, he was summoned in order to underline the British Government's serious concerns regarding delays at the Gibraltar-Spain border.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 730W

On 19 November 2013, he was summoned following a 22-hour unlawful incursion by Spanish oceanographic research vessel Ramon Margalef into British Gibraltar territorial waters. We also raised the British Government's concern about continuing delays at the border.

British Nationality

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for how long his Department holds information on people who have been deprived of their citizenship following orders made under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981. [R] [187940]

James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply of behalf of the Home Department.

Deprivation orders are made under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 under which the Home Secretary is empowered to deprive, by order, any person of any form of British nationality, subject to the appropriate test in section 40 being satisfied.

The figures for each year are:

(a) 2012: five orders issued on conductive grounds; fewer than five issued on fraudulent grounds.

(b) 2013: eight orders issued on conducive grounds; 12 issued on fraudulent grounds.

(c) 2014: 0 (zero) orders issued on conducive grounds; fewer than five issued on fraudulent grounds.

The grounds for the deprivation orders that were made during this period were either that:

the Secretary of State was satisfied that such deprivation was conducive to the public good and the person would not be made stateless as a result; or

the individual obtained British citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of material fact.

The nationality of the individuals who have been deprived of British citizenship since 2012 are as follows:

Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Egyptian, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen.

The deprivation decision is permanent unless and until it is revoked. In accordance with the Home Office's policy on information management, once a deprivation of citizenship order has been issued under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, records on the individual will be retained until he/she reaches the age of 75 or until his/her death.

Home Department

British Nationality

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for how long after an order under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 has been made her Department holds information on those deprived of citizenship; [R] [187869]

(2) how many people were deprived of citizenship during (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014 to date; what the nationality was of each such person; and what the ground or combined grounds were on which each deprivation order was made. [R] [187945]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 731W

James Brokenshire: Deprivation orders are made under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 under which the Home Secretary is empowered to deprive, by order, any person of any form of British nationality, subject to the appropriate test in section 40 being satisfied.

The figures for each year are:

(a) 2012: five orders issued on conductive grounds; fewer than five issued on fraudulent grounds.

(b) 2013: eight orders issued on conducive grounds; 12 issued on fraudulent grounds.

(c) 2014: 0 (zero) orders issued on conducive grounds; fewer than five issued on fraudulent grounds.

The grounds for the deprivation orders that were made during this period were either that:

the Secretary of State was satisfied that such deprivation was conducive to the public good and the person would not be made stateless as a result; or

the individual obtained British citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of material fact.

The nationality of the individuals who have been deprived of British citizenship since 2012 are as follows:

Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Egyptian, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen.

The deprivation decision is permanent unless and until it is revoked. In accordance with the Home Office's policy on information management, once a deprivation of citizenship order has been issued under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, records on the individual will be retained until he/she reaches the age of 75 or until his/her death.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals requesting citizenship to the UK were refused on the grounds of failure to pass the Life in the UK text in 2013. [189036]

James Brokenshire: The refusal of citizenship is made on the basis that an applicant failed to demonstrate the required knowledge of language and life in the UK, rather than on failure to pass the Life in the UK test. There were 103 refusals of British citizenship in 2012 on grounds of insufficient knowledge of English and/or of knowledge of life in the UK. These figures were published as part of the latest quarterly Immigration Statistics update covering July to September 2013 in table cz 09. These statistics are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259959/citizenship-q3-2013-tabs.ods

Corresponding data on refusals of citizenship in 2013 are due to be published in the Department's quarterly Immigration Statistics update on 22 May 2014, and will be available from the Library of the House and at:

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

Childbirth

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the number of live births that were not registered in each of the last five years despite a registrar writing to the parents; and what measures are available to registrars to ensure parents register live births; [189752]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 732W

(2) what estimate she has made of the number of live births that were not registered in each of the last five years; [189753]

(3) what measures are in place to ensure that live births are registered. [189754]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 3 March 2014]: The number of unregistered births reported to the General Register Office (GRO) for England and Wales by registrars in each of the last five years are:

A birth is required by the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 to be registered within 42 days of its occurrence. If a birth has not been registered within the 42 day period, and the registrar is unaware of the reason why, they will contact the parents to register the birth.

“Failure to register a birth is an offence under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, with the potential sanction being a level one financial penalty, although practise would be for GRO to issue a further directive to register”.

Although failure to register a birth is an offence under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, current practice is not to seek convictions as the sanction is a level one financial penalty, rather than a further order to register.

Child Abuse

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent advice she has received from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre on written material used in child sexual abuse. [189926]

Damian Green: The Home Secretary has received briefing from officials on the matter of written material and child sexual abuse, which included information on the NCA CEOP Command’s position on this issue. In addition, NCA CEOP Command has recently provided a short briefing paper on Child Sex Offenders and Written Material.

Counter-Terrorism

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to counter the threat of letter-bomb attacks on Army recruiting offices on the UK mainland. [189264]

James Brokenshire: It is a long-standing convention of successive governments to refrain from commenting on ongoing police investigations. Any change in the security posture of Armed Forces Careers Offices will be a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

EU Accession

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of progress by (a) Bulgaria and (b) Romania against EU post-accession benchmarks. [189769]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 733W

Karen Bradley: The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) was put in place to support and monitor Bulgaria and Romania's progress on specific post-accession benchmarks in the area of judicial reform, the fight against corruption and, for Bulgaria only, the fight against organised crime. The European Commission monitors and reports on developments in both countries. The latest CVM progress reports were published on 26 January and deposited for scrutiny in the usual way. The Government has endorsed their conclusions, which offer a comprehensive, balanced assessment of the progress achieved so far while drawing attention to those areas where further efforts are necessary. We believe the CVM should remain in place until the benchmarks are met.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 734W

Homicide: Children

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 600W, on homicide: children, how many children each (a) male and (b) female offender murdered; and what sentences were given in each case. [189504]

Norman Baker: The available information is given in the table and expands on the data provided in the answer of 11 February 2014. The data given cover the period 2007/08 to 2011/12.

The circumstances surrounding a homicide can be complex and it can take time for cases to pass through the criminal justice system. Due to this, there are a number of homicide cases where criminal proceedings have yet to reach a conclusion.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 735W

4 Mar 2014 : Column 736W

4 Mar 2014 : Column 737W

4 Mar 2014 : Column 738W

Human Trafficking: Victim Support Schemes

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to her answer of 20 January 2014, Official Report, column 26W, on human trafficking: victim support schemes, what support services are provided by local authorities to victims of human trafficking after 45 days in shelters; what other mainstream support provisions are available; what support is provided to a person who wishes to return to their home country; and if she will make a statement. [187656]

Karen Bradley [holding answer 13 February 2014]:If a victim of human trafficking has recourse to public funds in the UK, they will have access to the full range of local authority and mainstream support services. Throughout the 45-day recovery and reflection period, a service that the Salvation Army and its subcontractors provide to adult victims of human trafficking, as part of the Government's victim care contract, specialist support providers work with victims to help them gain access to relevant services and to develop a move-on strategy.

The Government's Assisted Voluntary Returns for Irregular Migrants (AVRIM) programme is available to non EEA victims of trafficking who wish to return to their home country. This programme is run in partnership with the Choices service of Refugee Action. The AVRIM scheme can provide support in acquiring travel documentation, a flight to their country of origin and onward domestic transport, and airport assistance at departure and arrival airports.

Last December, the Home Secretary announced her plans to introduce a Modern Slavery Bill and wider Action Plan. The draft Bill is currently being considered by the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Select Committee. As part of that process, and prior to introducing the final Bill and publishing the Action Plan, we are considering what more can be done to support victims of slavery and trafficking.

Immigrants: Detainees

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been detained in immigration removal centres for the purpose of age assessment in the last 12 months; and how many were found to be (a) adults and (b) children; [183481]

(2) what the (a) average and (b) maximum length of time is that a person has been held in an immigration removal centre pending an age assessment in the last 12 months; [183482]

(3) what the (a) average and (b) maximum length of time is that a person who has been defined as an age dispute case has been held in an immigration removal centre pending release to local authority care in the last 12 months. [183483]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 20 January 2014]:Our policy is that we do not detain people for the purpose of undertaking an age assessment. Where there is doubt about whether an individual is an adult, they would be released into the care of a local authority for an age assessment.

The Detention Service Order (14/2012) 'Care and management of age dispute cases in the detention estate' was implemented on 28 September 2012. This introduced the requirement to release individuals from immigration detention pending age assessment.

The specific data requested in the hon. Member's second and third questions is not routinely recorded.

Police: Complaints

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department issues to police forces on circumstances in which it should refer a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [189881]

Damian Green: The Home Office does not issue such guidance to police forces. Statutory guidance on such matters is issued to police forces by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 739W

Work and Pensions

Annuities

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who switched annuities when they retired in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013; [189703]

(2) what steps he is taking to encourage pensioners to switch annuities when they retire. [189705]

Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf the Treasury.

The Government set up the ‘Open Market Option (OMO) Review Group’ in 2011 to consider how to make shopping around for an annuity a ‘default’. Their baselining exercise showed that, in 2010, 32% bought their annuities externally. Research by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) in 2011 shows that this figure had risen to 44%. Separate work by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that, in 2012, 60% of annuities were purchased through the customer's existing pension provider or a third party with which their provider has an arrangement.

Following the work of the OMO Review Group, the ABI's Code of Conduct on Retirement Choices, which came into effect in March 2013, requires all members to provide better information to consumers to help them shop around for the best annuity to meet their needs. The OMO Review Group will be evaluating the effectiveness of these measures. The FCA has also just launched a Retirement Income Market Study, which will assess whether competition in this market is working well for consumers. Further information, including a link to. the terms of reference, can be found here:

www.fca.org.uk/news/market-studies/retirement-income-market-study

Work Choice Referrals

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of the cap on Work Choice referrals for each of the 28 contract package areas was in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [189374]

Esther McVey: The Department has not placed a cap on referrals to Work Choice in any of the Contract Package Areas since the inception of the programme.

Work Choice programme referrals are managed across Contract Package Areas in accordance with anticipated start volumes for each contract.

The numbers of referrals required to achieve the starts profiles may fluctuate across Contract Package Areas, to take into account: Failed to Starts, drop outs from the programme etc.

We do not impose caps on referrals, however, if referral levels are not managed appropriately and in accordance with this strategy we do have the option of suspending referrals until such a point that referral levels are brought into line with profiled starts expectations, but this would be seen as a last resort.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 740W

Pensions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to help those with pensions which are worth significantly less than they anticipated when purchasing those pensions. [189277]

Steve Webb: It is important that promises made to pension scheme members are met. For defined benefit pensions—where the scheme sponsor promises a specified, usually salary-related, pension—we have a protection regime in place. This includes requirements on how schemes are funded and provision for member compensation.

For defined contribution pensions, there is not a promise to the member on the amount of pension benefit they will receive as this will depend on factors such as the contribution level and investment performance.

However, even when there is no promise, it is crucially important that members are given meaningful, clear and transparent information about their pension schemes by scheme managers and trustees. In recognition of this we have revised the disclosure regulations with effect from 6 April 2014 to simplify Statutory Money Purchase Illustrations' (SMPI) requirements. On 24 February we also announced new measures requiring transparency for transaction charges in pension schemes. We tabled an amendment to the Pensions Bill 2013 to introduce this latest step in the Government's wider plans to ensure consumers receive value for money from their pension savings. Accordingly, our response to the consultation on charges, and further proposals on quality and transparency in workplace pension schemes, will be published soon.

Work Capability Assessment

Mr Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason his Department has not published statistics on the number of people who have been declared fit to work and subsequently died; and whether his Department plans to publish such statistics in future. [189762]

Mike Penning: The Department does monitor requests we receive for new statistics and consider whether we can produce and release analysis that will helpfully inform public debate. The Department is therefore looking at this issue with a view to seeing what statistics could be produced on a regular basis.

Communities and Local Government

Maternity Leave

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of civil servants in his Department who had been on maternity leave were still employed in the Civil Service (a) six and (b) 12 months after their return to work in each of the last five years. [189117]

Brandon Lewis: This information is not centrally held in the form requested. While we do hold figures for those still employed by the Department, this excludes

4 Mar 2014 : Column 741W

staff who transferred within the civil service following their maternity leave, or who may have been on loan from another Department and moved back to their sponsoring Department.

Maternity Pay

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the standard level and duration is of contractual maternity pay paid to civil servants in his Department. [189077]

Brandon Lewis: Regardless of length of service, or agreed working pattern, civil servants in the Department are contractually entitled to take up to 52 weeks statutory maternity leave.

The contractual maternity pay entitlement for civil servants in the Department with at least one year's continuous service is as follows:

26 weeks ordinary maternity leave at their full pay rate, and;

26 weeks additional maternity leave made up of 13 weeks paid statutory maternity pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave.

The contractual maternity pay entitlement for civil servants in the Department with less than one year's continuous service, but at least 26 weeks service at the 15th week before the week the baby is due, is as follows:

26 weeks ordinary maternity leave consisting of six weeks maternity leave at statutory maternity pay rate, made up of 90% of the individual's average weekly earnings, and 20 weeks maternity leave paid at the lower statutory level or 90% of the individual's average weekly earnings, if this is less than the lower statutory level.

26 weeks additional maternity leave; the first 13 weeks are paid at the statutory maternity rate described above plus a further 13 weeks unpaid maternity leave.

Civil servants in the Department with less than 26 weeks continuous service at the 15th week before the week the baby is due, are contractually entitled to 52 weeks unpaid maternity leave.

Nurseries

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many workplace nurseries (a) directly operated by his Department and (b) operated by a third party on his Department's property there were at (a) 5 May 2010 and (b) 5 February 2014; and how many such nurseries are expected to cease operating in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16. [189097]

Brandon Lewis: There have been no workplace nurseries directly operated by the Department or operated by a third party on the Department's property since the Department was established in 2006.

Pagers

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many pagers have been provided to staff by his Department since May 2010; and what the cost to the Department was of providing those pagers. [190045]

Brandon Lewis: There have been none provided for departmental staff since May 2010.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 742W

Planning Permission

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how often and for what reasons he has revoked planning permission he has allowed on appeal since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [189304]

Nick Boles: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has not revoked any planning permission he has allowed on appeal since May 2010.

Rescue Services

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes were made to the funding formula for fire and rescue services between 2011-12 and 2012-13. [188671]

Brandon Lewis: The formulas used in the 2012-13 Local Government Finance settlement are set out in the Local Government Finance Report for that year. The settlement was consulted on in the usual way in late 2011 and details of that consultation are at:

www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1213/grant.htm#con

No changes were made to the fire formulas through the statutory consultation that year.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Government's commitment to give due consideration to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when making new policy and legislation, if he will place in the Library all assessments of how new policy and legislation from his Department since January 2013 has given due consideration to the UNCRC. [186579]

Brandon Lewis: DCLG is committed to considering the impact of all new policies and legislation, including where they impact specifically on children.

An overall impact assessment and a memorandum confirming that the Bill was compatible with individuals' European convention human rights were produced for the recently passed Local Audit and Accountability Act but as there was no specific impacts on children no separate assessment was needed

More widely, the coalition Government are due to report to the UN Committee responsible for the UN convention on the rights of the child shortly. The Department for Education is co-ordinating the response with contributions from other Government Departments. Once the Government have submitted their response to the UN Committee, a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to respond to Parliamentary Questions 185480, 185481 and 185482, tabled on 28 January 2014. [190000]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 743W

Kris Hopkins: PQs 185480, 185481 and 185482 were answered on 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 445-46W.

International Development

Developing Countries: Water

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to address disproportionate use of water resources for industry and energy production. [189713]

Lynne Featherstone: The sustainable management of water resources in developing countries is critical to ensuring that there is enough water of sufficient quality for human consumption as well as for agriculture, industry, energy production and ecosystem protection. In most developing countries the United Nations notes that agriculture uses more than 80% of available freshwater resources and that its usage is not always efficient.

DFID works to promote sustainable and equitable water allocation for human consumption and use across all sectors including agriculture, industry and energy in order to promote poverty reduction and economic development. DFID funds the Global Water Partnership to improve water governance in developing countries and improve poor people's access to water for consumption and for their livelihoods. Our support for the World Bank's Water Partnership programme promotes analytical work and innovative approaches to water resources management to ensure that water use by the agriculture, industry and energy sectors does not adversely impact on poor peoples' livelihoods. Through the International Water Stewardship programme we are promoting partnerships between the public and private sector to finance improvements in water management. DFID is also working with the international community to promote the inclusion of water resources management, including efficient water usage, in the Post-2015 Development Framework.

Overseas Aid

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK Official Development Assistance was provided by (a) each government department and (b) other sources in 2013. [189640]

Justine Greening: The final estimate for UK Official Development Assistance by DFID and other Government Departments for 2013 will be published in DFID's National. Statistics publication Statistics on International Development in autumn 2014.

Procurement

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which current contracts awarded by her Department did not go through ordinary tender processes. [189977]

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 13 January 2014, Official Report, column 366-67W.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 744W

Northern Ireland

John Downey

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will take steps to revoke the effects of the letter sent to John Downey on his alleged role in the Hyde Park bombing. [189828]

Mrs Villiers: The case of John Downey was dealt with in the ruling by Judge Sweeney.

On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme relating to so-called “on-the-runs”, which will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Pagers

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pagers have been provided to staff by her Department since May 2010; and what the cost to the Department was of providing those pagers. [190057]

Mrs Villiers: My Department has not provided pagers to staff since May 2010.

Terrorism

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who (a) signed and (b) issued the 38 letters of comfort to on-the-runs issued since 2010 and since devolution of Policing and Justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly; on behalf of which Government Department they were acting; and which Minister or Ministers had oversight of this process. [189724]

Mrs Villiers: No new cases have been raised with this Government since the 2010 general election, but 38 individuals were already under consideration before the election and the checking process was allowed to continue under the current Government. Of these 38 cases, 12 received a letter saying that they were not currently wanted in relation to terrorist offences. These were signed by a senior official in the Northern Ireland Office.

On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for “on-the-runs”. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who was responsible for fact-checking statements submitted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to permit letters of comfort to be issued by officials to on-the-runs; and under whose ministerial authority were they acting. [189725]

Mrs Villiers: The administrative scheme dealing with “on-the-runs” was authorised by Ministers under the last Government. The Attorney-General referred inquiries about individuals to the prosecuting authorities and the PSNI who carried out the factual checks. The PSNI

4 Mar 2014 : Column 745W

advised whether individuals were wanted by the police. The Government communicated the response back to Sinn Fein via a letter from the Northern Ireland Office. Letters were issued based on the information provided by the PSNI.

On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme, which will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who was responsible for obtaining and fact-checking information from UK mainland police forces to facilitate the issuing of letters of comfort to so-called on-the-runs. [189726]

Mrs Villiers: The Attorney-General referred inquiries regarding individuals to the prosecuting authorities and the PSNI, who carried out factual checks. The PSNI advised whether individuals were wanted by the police. Letters were issued based on the information provided by the PSNI.

On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for dealing with “on-the-runs”, which will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by which means letters of comfort issued to so-called on-the-runs were requested, issued and transmitted to the individuals concerned. [189727]

Mrs Villiers: Under the administrative scheme for dealing with “on-the-runs”, inquiries from individuals wishing to establish if they were wanted by police in relation to suspected terrorist activities were communicated by Sinn Fein via the Northern Ireland Office to the Attorney-General. The Attorney-General referred the inquiries to the prosecuting authorities and the police who carried out the factual checks. The Government communicated the response back to Sinn Fein via a letter from the Northern Ireland Office signed by a senior official.

On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme which will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a letter in similar terms to that sent to John Downey was sent to (a) men alleged to be involved in the murder of Kenneth Smyth and Daniel McCormick, (b) men alleged to be involved in the murder of Lexie Cummins in Strabane and (c) the eight people questioned following the murder of four Ulster Defence Regiment members in Ballydougan, Downpatrick. [189829]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 746W

Mrs Villiers: On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme relating to “on-the-runs”, which will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters were sent to on-the-runs (a) between the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and December 2005 and (b) after December 2005. [189899]

Mrs Villiers: On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for dealing with “on-the-runs” established by the previous Government. This will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what evidence she has identified on whether John Downey's letter was issued in error; and what assessment she has made of whether other such letters have not similarly been issued in error; [189995]

(2) for what reason letters of comfort were issued to on-the-runs despite the absence of a police force intending to arrest or question them; [189996]

(3) which Minister is currently responsible for oversight of the letters of comfort issued to on-the-runs; [189997]

(4) who first authorised the issue of letters of comfort to on-the-runs. [189998]

Mrs Villiers: On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for dealing with “on-the-runs” that was established by the previous Government. This will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what statutory provision letters of comfort have continued to be issued to on-the-runs following the withdrawal of the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill in 2006. [189999]

Mrs Villiers: This was an administrative scheme dealing with “on-the-runs” which was established by Ministers under the last Government. No individual was granted immunity from prosecution under this scheme. Letters issued provided factual clarification on whether individuals were sought by police at the point at which the letters were issued.

4 Mar 2014 : Column 747W

House of Commons Commission

Furniture

Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the Commission has taken to ensure that office chairs for staff of hon. Members that regularly use ICT equipment are compliant with health and safety rules. [189642]

John Thurso: All chairs issued by the House comply with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. Members or their staff on the parliamentary estate can request a DSE assessment. In some instances (for example, if there is an underlying medical condition) they may be referred to the House's Safety, Health and Wellbeing Service, which would carry out a second assessment and might recommend an appropriate chair.

Scotland

Career Development

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of civil servants in his Department who were promoted in each of the last five years were (a) male and (b) female. [189149]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join the Office do so on assignment, secondment or loan from other Government bodies. Information relating to the promotion of male and female staff would be held by those bodies.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of civil servants in his Department who were promoted in each of the last five years were identified as (a) white British and (b) from any other ethnic minority group. [189169]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join the Office do so on assignment, secondment or loan from other Government bodies. Any information relating to the ethnicity of staff is a matter for the parent bodies.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of civil servants in his Department who were promoted in each of the last five years were identified as (a) disabled and (b) non-disabled. [189189]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join the Office do so on assignment, secondment or loan from other Government bodies. Information relating to promotion of disabled and non-disabled staff would be retained by those bodies.

Maternity Leave

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of civil servants in his Department who had been on maternity leave were still employed in the Civil Service (a) six and (b) 12 months after their return to work in each of the last five years. [189129]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 748W

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join the Office do so on assignment, secondment or loan from other Government bodies. Information relating to employment after maternity leave would be retained by those bodies.

Maternity Pay

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the standard level and duration is of contractual maternity pay paid to civil servants in his Department. [189089]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not recruit or employ staff directly. All staff that join the Office do so on assignment, secondment or loan from other Government bodies. Information relating to the duration of contractual maternity pay would be a matter for them.

Pagers

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pagers have been provided to staff by his Department since May 2010; and what the cost to the Department was of providing those pagers. [190058]

David Mundell: No pagers have been provided to Scotland Office staff since May 2010.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Environment Protection: Seas and Oceans

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government plan to take in the Council of Ministers to ensure protection for fragile deep-sea ecosystems and species from damaging forms of fishing. [189272]

George Eustice: The UK Government are pursuing agreement of a Council position on deep sea access for negotiation with the European Parliament that focuses on establishing spatial measures for the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems and species.

Horse Racing

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make an estimate of the number of racehorses killed outright or destroyed at (a) Cheltenham and (b) Aintree racecourse in 2013. [189927]

George Eustice: DEFRA does not keep records of horse fatalities at individual race tracks.

Livestock: Transport

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2014, Official Report, column 355W, on cattle: transport, how many applications from farmers seeking to move individual animals or an entire herd subject to disease specific movement controls during the recent flooding period his Department has (a) received and (b) granted. [189944]

4 Mar 2014 : Column 749W

George Eustice: The Department has received and approved four applications from animal keepers in the south-west seeking to move individual cattle or an entire herd subject to disease specific movement controls during the recent flooding period.

Reptiles: Imports

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reptiles were imported into the UK from (a) within and (b) outside the EU each year between 2001 and 2013. [189641]

George Eustice: The data are for commercial imports of reptiles to the UK. They were extracted from TRACES through the data warehouse facility on 27 February 2014 by searching for commodity codes 010620 (reptiles including snakes and turtles). It should be noted that full data are only available from 2005 onwards as not all EU member states were using TRACES prior to this date.

Treasury

Banks: Regulation

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on applications for challenger banks which are currently under consideration. [189382]

Sajid Javid: The Prudential Regulation Authority will annually report details of new bank authorisations.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the timescales in which the Financial Conduct Authority considers applications for potential new entrants to the UK banking sector. [189386]

Sajid Javid: The Financial Services Authority published a report in March 2013 detailing changes to reduce barriers to entry and expansion in the banking sector, including an improved authorisation process. These changes have been implemented in full by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Government have asked the PRA and FCA to conduct a follow-up review to evaluate the success of these changes, and the report on this work is due to be published in the coming months.