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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Northern Ireland

Terrorism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether any of 187 on-the-runs issued with administrative letters were being sought in connection with the Omagh Bombing of 15 August 1998; and if she will make a statement; [190653]

(2) of how many murders the 187 on-the-runs issued with administrative letters had been suspected; and if she will make a statement; [190654]

(3) of how many bomb explosions in total the 187 on-the-runs issued with administrative letters had been suspected; and if she will make a statement. [190655]

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the people issued with letters under the administrative scheme for on-the-runs are from (a) Northern Ireland, (b) the rest of the UK, (c) the Irish Republic and (d) elsewhere. [190836]

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 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.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if she will take steps to inform (a) hon. Members and (b) the public about (i) the progress of the judge-led inquiry into the administrative scheme to deal with on-the-runs before the conclusion of that inquiry, (ii) the papers being considered by that inquiry and (iii) the current and former Ministers who are invited to give evidence to that inquiry; [190737]

(2) if she will meet all hon. Members from Northern Ireland who take their seats in the House to discuss the implications of the matters to be considered by the judge-led inquiry into the administrative scheme to deal with on-the-runs for the ongoing Haass process. [190738]

Mrs Villiers: Right hon. Lady Justice Hallett DBE has been appointed to conduct the judge-led inquiry. This independent investigation will provide a full account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme

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for dealing with so called “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. I would be happy to meet with hon. Members thereafter.

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will review the answers to written and oral parliamentary questions given by Ministers in her Department in Parliament about the issue of an amnesty or any other process dealing with on-the-runs since 2006; and if she will make a statement. [190835]

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 so called “on-the-runs”.

This review will also 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.

The right hon. Member may also wish to be aware that Ministers have no responsibility for statements made by members of a previous administration. If hon. Members from the previous Government wish to come to the House and clarify what they have said previously, that is a matter for them.

Attorney-General

Currencies

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General (1) whether the Serious Fraud Office has plans to investigate allegations of currency market manipulation by employees of British banks; [190811]

(2) what discussions the director of the Serious Fraud Office has had with his counterparts in (a) the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) prosecutors and regulators overseas on allegations of currency market manipulation by employees of British banks. [190812]

The Attorney-General: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 4 December 2013, Official Report, column 679W.

The director of the Serious Fraud Office and other officials meet with the Financial Conduct Authority, and liaise with overseas jurisdictions regularly. For the reasons outlined in my previous answer, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on whether specific allegations had been discussed.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General when he became aware that the Serious Fraud Office had been wrongly claiming VAT on barristers' fees; and what steps he took when he had received that information. [190809]

The Attorney-General: The director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) informed me that there was an issue concerning VAT liability in March 2013. I was satisfied that the director was taking appropriate steps in response.

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Terrorism

Mr Dodds: To ask the Attorney-General in how many cases under the administrative scheme for on-the-runs his Department has been involved in (a) between 2001 and 2010 and (b) 2010 to date. [190833]

The Attorney-General: 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. Rt. Hon Lady Justice Hallett has now been appointed to conduct this review. Her report is expected to be provided to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Mr Dodds: To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland on the administrative scheme which gave on-the-runs letters regarding their status within the UK. [190837]

The Attorney-General: I have had no discussions on this matter with the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland.

Justice

Computer Misuse Act 1990

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funds are dedicated to the rehabilitation and management of offenders convicted under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. [190329]

Jeremy Wright: On conviction for any offence, it is for the court to determine the appropriate sentence in each case. Where a community order or custodial sentence is imposed, the allocation of resources to the management of individual offenders is usually based on an offender's risk of harm to others and likelihood of reconviction, taking into account a wide range of factors such as past offending, drug misuse, educational attainment or their thinking and behaviours. Typically, assessments are carried out by an offender manager and the legislation under which the offender is convicted would not determine the content of the sentence. Offenders convicted under the Computer Misuse Act will receive different levels of supervision and different types of intervention, within the parameters of the sentence handed down by the Court. It is not possible to provide information on funding allocated to offenders sentenced under different Acts.

Distress Warrants

Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for how long approved enforcement agents hold distress warrants before they are returned to his Department as uncollected. [190297]

Mr Vara: The present contract states that the distress warrants should be returned after 180 days, but allows for this to be extended in blocks of 30-days with the approval of an HM Courts and Tribunals Service

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(HMCTS) enforcement manager. Extensions are normally granted where the approved enforcement agents have engaged with the offender and have entered into a payment plan or they have new intelligence to pursue, which could result in the payment of the debt.

HMCTS takes the issue of financial penalty enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters is a continued priority nationwide. HMCTS actively pursues all outstanding impositions until certain they cannot be collected. Collection reached an all time high at the end of 2012-13 and collection has continued to rise in this financial year.

HMCTS is actively seeking an external provider for the future delivery of compliance and enforcement services. This will bring the necessary investment and innovation to significantly improve the collection of criminal financial penalties and reduce the cost of the service to the taxpayer.

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to HM Courts and Tribunal Service is of an appeal regarding an employment and support allowance decision. [190730]

Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of benefits and credits.

HMCTS cannot isolate costs data relating to particular benefits. The estimated average cost of an individual SSCS tribunal case across all benefits in 2012-13 (the most recent figure available) was £248. Costs remain below the average in 2009-10 (£293).

ICT

Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department paid to Steria UK for its work on the Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning system for shared services. [190170]

Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice contracted with Steria, following a competitive process under OJEU regulations (contract award reference number 2011/S 61-098274), for the provision of Application Development and Maintenance Services in relation to the development of a new Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning system for shared services. The actual amount paid is commercial in confidence but it did not exceed the contract limit.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what services his Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only. [190368]

Mr Vara: None of our services is available only online. To support those that do not have access to digital channels the information and services provided online can still be accessed via phone, post or face-to-face interaction dependant on the service.

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Although the aim is to make Government services digital by default, the Government also recognise that not everyone who uses these services is online, so digital support will be available to those users that need it.

Pay

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employees of his Department and its agencies had a salary in excess of (a) £100,00 and (b) £142,000 per annum on 1 February (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013 and (iv) 2014. [190286]

Mr Vara: The number of officials in the Ministry of Justice and its agencies (Ministry of Justice HQ, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Office of the Public Guardian and Legal Aid Agency) that earned a full-time equivalent (FTE) salary in excess of £100,000 and £142,000 as of 1 February 2011, 1 February 2012, 1 February 2013 and 1 February 2014 is broken down as follows:

This information is based on payroll reports from 31 January of each year requested, as payroll reports reflect the end of month position, and is the nearest date to 1 February.

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders convicted of (a) murder and (b) manslaughter and serving prison sentences were later reassessed and re-categorised to the open prison category; and how many of such offenders have absconded from an open prison since 1984. [189850]

Jeremy Wright: Despite the slight increase in 2012-13, absconds have been falling for nearly two decades. In 2011-12 there were just 175 absconds, the lowest numbers since central records began. This compares to 952 in 1995-96.

It is not possible to give the numbers of prisoners convicted of specific offences who have subsequently been recategorised to Category D/Open. Details of the index offence of absconders are only available in an accessible format since April 2004, this is provided in table 1; table 2 provides details of how many of these remain unlawfully at large. To provide details of the index offences prior to this date would require manual interrogation of different sets of electronic records which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners may only be recategorised to Category D/Open if they are assessed as low enough risk to be safely managed in conditions of lesser security. Recategorisation to Category D/Open is never an automatic progression.

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Open prison plays a valuable role in the effective rehabilitation and re-integration into the community of many long sentence prisoners and as such is an important factor in reducing future re-offending and in protecting the public. For indeterminate sentence prisoners in particular it is an opportunity to be tested in less stringent conditions in order to help demonstrate to the Parole Board suitability for release into the community.

Figures for the number of absconds since 1995 are provided in the Prison Digest contained in the Prison and Probation Trusts Performance Statistics. This can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225234/prison-performance-digest-12-13.xls

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to his Department was of a social security tribunal case in each year since 2010. [190847]

Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of benefits and credits.

The following table shows the estimated average cost to HMCTS of an individual SSCS appeal in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 (the latest date for which information is available).

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The increase in the average cost of an appeal in 2012-13 was due to a change in the mix and volume of cases that the SSCS tribunal receives. Employment and support allowance (ESA) appeals now comprise a larger proportion of the caseload. ESA cases require more members on the tribunal panel, which increases the average cost. Costs remain below the average in 2009-10 (£293).

Culture, Media and Sport

Arts: Disadvantaged

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of levels of involvement in the arts of people in socially deprived areas. [190841]

Mr Vaizey: DCMS' Taking Part Survey collects information on levels of engagement in the arts for people resident in socially deprived areas. Latest data show that 67% of adults who live in the 10% most deprived areas in England had engaged in arts in the last year by either attending or participating. DCMS provides funding for the arts via Arts Council England which has specific initiatives in place to encourage engagement in the arts, for example: Creative People and Places investing in areas where involvement in the arts is below the national average, and its Strategic Touring programme, supporting places which rely on touring for much of their arts provision.

Deputy Prime Minister

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2014, Official Report, columns 509-10W, on electoral registration, if his Department will sponsor a national registration week. [190814]

Greg Clark: The Government welcome initiatives that promote democratic engagement, such as the British Youth Council's Make Your Mark campaign and the recent Parliament Week programme. In February it announced that all 363 local authorities and valuation joint boards in Great Britain, and five national organisations, will share £4.2 million funding to promote voter registration.

The Government continue to consider further ways to promote voter registration and welcomes discussions with national organisations about such initiatives.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Argentina

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) steps the Government have taken and (b) advice his Department

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has given to operators of cruise liners in respect of cruise liner companies being requested to remove the red ensign when docking in Argentina; and if he will make a statement. [189730]

Mr Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains regular contact with companies operating cruise liners around Argentina and the South Atlantic.

I was very concerned to hear reports that the Red Ensign of the Cunard cruise liner, the MS Queen Victoria, was lowered when the vessel docked in Argentina.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have investigated the matter with Carnival UK, the owners of the MS Queen Victoria. They have confirmed that the Argentine pilot assigned to the MS Queen Victoria by the Argentine Port Authority advised the company that it would be better to lower the Red Ensign flag and to fly the Cunard flag while entering the Port of Ushuaia on 30 January 2014. The matter has been raised with the Argentine ambassador to London.

It is unacceptable that a ship should have to lower its flag. We have not received further reports of similar requests from operators, but we continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to offer advice and support to any British companies or passengers as required.

Christianity

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make lessening the persecution of Christians worldwide a key part of his foreign policy. [190869]

Mr Lidington: The promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief is a key priority for this Government. Lessening the persecution of Christians is a fundamental part of this policy. We regularly raise our concerns about the persecution of Christians with other countries either bilaterally, with EU partners or in multilateral fora.

Last November the Senior Minister of State, my noble friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, gave a speech in Washington stressing the need for an international response to the rising tide of religious persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. We believe that the best way to combat the persecution of Christians is by adopting a cross-faith approach. History points to the fact that intolerance is only defeated when we come together across divides and argue for the case of freedom for all. Building on the Washington Speech, Baroness Warsi will host a conference later this year focusing on promoting the benefits of religious pluralism, responsible media reporting and better practical projects, as well as encouraging countries to protect this fundamental, yet threatened, human right.

Egypt

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the British journalists employed by Al-Jazeera put on trial by the Egyptian authorities; and if he will make a statement. [190719]

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Hugh Robertson: We can confirm that we have received representations in respect of the British journalists who are being tried by the Egyptian authorities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs issued a statement on 6 February drawing attention to our concerns with the restrictions on freedom of the media and the charges laid against journalists in Egypt. We are watching closely the ongoing trial in Cairo and we have raised our concerns about media freedoms at a senior level within the Egyptian Government and we will continue to do so. The UK has clearly stated that freedom of expression, including freedom of the media and the ability for citizens to debate issues and challenge their Governments, is fundamental to building a democratic society.

Eritrea

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of levels of enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 2023 on Eritrea and the diaspora tax; and if he will make a statement. [190887]

Mr Lidington: The UK supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 2023, which condemned Eritrea's use of the diaspora tax to destabilise the Horn of Africa region and decided that Eritrea should cease this along with the use of illicit means to collect it.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has reminded the Eritrean ambassador to the UK of the Eritrean Government's obligations under the resolution. We have also urged members of the Eritrean diaspora to report to the police the use of coercion or other illicit means to collect the tax. We will continue to engage with the diaspora and other enforcement bodies in the UK on this issue.

Pakistan

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Pakistan on implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1618. [190710]

Hugh Robertson: We have not held discussions with the Government of Pakistan on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1618, which concerns Iraq.

We have had extensive discussions with the Government of Pakistan regarding Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 on combating religious intolerance. The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, regularly raises the issue of religious intolerance at the highest levels. She is actively involved in encouraging states, including Pakistan, to take practical measures to implement UN HRC Resolution 16/18. Last September during UNGA week, she brought together Ministers and senior officials, including those from Pakistan, to discuss what more politicians could do to fight religious intolerance. Further meetings are planned this year, with an emphasis on building support for practical solutions to sectarianism and violence.

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Sri Lanka

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Statement by the Prime Minister of 18 November 2013, Official Report, columns 959-61, on Commonwealth meeting and the Philippines, what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Sri Lanka since the Prime Minister's call for an independent into alleged war crimes in that country. [190712]

Mr Swire: The Government regularly discuss the situation in Sri Lanka at ministerial and official level with both the Sri Lankan Government and with other foreign Governments. We have had a number of meetings with the Sri Lankan Government since November 2013, including a meeting between the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Peiris in December 2013. In addition, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to London was invited and attended the gathering of Commonwealth High Commissioners that I hosted at Lancaster House on 24 February 2014.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has now called for an international investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law on both sides during the civil war. We agree that, given the lack of a credible domestic accountability process to date, an independent international investigation is now needed. I set this out in my speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 3 March. We are now working to achieve a UN Human Rights Council resolution which calls for an international investigation, in addition to addressing ongoing human rights concerns in Sri Lanka.

Transport

Business: Road Works

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidance he issues to the Highways Agency on minimising the effect of road works on local business; [191164]

(2) whether his Department issues guidance on the level of acceptable disruption to local traffic and business caused by road works. [191166]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport does not provide guidance on the acceptable level of disruption caused locally by road works.

The Highways Agency and local highway authorities co-ordinate planned roadworks, and emergency roadworks, to minimise disruption by controlling the times of day, week and year that work can be done on different streets.

The Traffic Management Act 2004 requires highway authorities to manage their road network to secure expeditious movement of traffic, whilst taking into account their other obligations.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle owners registered to use Dart-tag in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013. [190676]

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Mr Goodwill: The number of new registrations to use Dart-tag between 2010 and 2013 are as follows:

These figures include registrations for the local resident discount scheme.

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the full cost of operating the toll booths at the Dartford crossing was for the last five years. [190677]

Mr Goodwill: The full cost of operating the toll booths at the Dartford crossing, where figures are available, is:

Costs prior to 13 September 2009 were paid to the previous crossing operator, Le Crossing. The figures for September 2009 to March 2010 include re-organisation costs.

These costs include:

Plaza-The cost of running the physical plaza operations (toll booths).

Cash Office-The cost of handling all the cash from the plaza, banking it, and allowing it to be transferred to the Secretary of State.

Customer Centre-The cost of providing a Dart-tag pre-paid system for use by customers.

Highways Agency

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Highway Agency's complaints procedures. [191165]

Mr Goodwill: The Department regularly meets with representatives from its executive agencies to discuss complaint handling.

In October 2013, an Independent Complaints Assessor (ICA) reviewed access to the Highways Agency's own complaints procedure. He was positive about the information supplied on the website and the information leaflet. He also considered the two stage process before referral to the ICA, which includes a review and response from the Chief Executive, as good practice. Putting Things Right, the leaflet which explains the agency's complaints procedure, is available on their website at:

http://www.highways.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us/complaints-procedure/how-to-make-a-complaint/

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Defence

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps he has taken to protect personnel in recruitment offices. [190839]

Dr Murrison: A protective screening system for all mail to Armed Forces Career Offices has been implemented by Royal Mail and British Forces Post Office. We will keep this system in place for as long as necessary. We are examining how we might introduce similar screening measures across all UK Ministry of Defence facilities but, given the current threat assessment, this would not be a proportionate response at this stage. We will keep this matter under close review.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether prosecutors who undertake rape and serious sexual assault prosecutions for the Services' Prosecuting Authority are required to undergo the Crown Prosecution Service's rape specialist training and accreditation. [190808]

Dr Murrison: Yes. The Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) has a number of prosecutors specifically trained to conduct cases involving rape and serious sexual offences. There are currently 10 officers who have had training and have the experience to conduct such cases as they arise. That training will include attendance on the rape and serious sexual offences course run by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 67W, on conflict resolution: females, with which bodies (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had discussions on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. [190331]

Dr Murrison: The Ministry of Defence is engaged fully with the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and the associated resolutions, alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development. The FCO have the policy lead and their Ministers maintain the lead on this resolution.

The three Departments are responsible for the UK National Action Plan for UN Security Council Resolution 1325; the third iteration is due to be launched in June of this year at the Global Summit on Ending Sexual Violence. In the production of this National Action Plan officials from the three Departments meet regularly with members of civil society and representatives from non-governmental organisations, co-ordinated through Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) who also provide the secretariat for the Associate Parliamentary Group on UNSCR 1325.

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Officials are also engaged with allies, notably the US and Canada, in identifying best practices and also with NATO which has made substantial progress in the development of doctrine and procedures for the implementation of UNSCR 1325.

Electric Vehicles

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to spend the funds for plug in vehicle charge points announced by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles in January 2014 allocated to (a) his Department centrally and (b) the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. [190328]

Mr Dunne: The plans to spend funds for plug in vehicle charge points will be to install two or three vehicle charge points at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, RAF Northolt and possibly RAF Halton by the end of March 2014 and to install 13 vehicle charge points at DSTL sites primarily in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Kent over the next two years.

War Memorials: World War II

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will support the placing of a commemorative plaque in Whitehall to honour those who served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. [190722]

Dr Murrison: Those who served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) have undertaken a wide spectrum of tasks, from cryptography to meteorology, engineering, driving, and operating barrage balloons. They are the embodiment of selfless service to their country, and I would welcome any plans to honour them, perhaps in association with the existing monument to the Women of World War II on Whitehall.

The WAAF is already specifically commemorated at the National Memorial Arboretum. It is the policy of successive Governments that the cost of erecting new memorials is not usually met from public funds, but from private donations or public subscription. Responsibility for the design, location, maintenance, protection, and any decision about what a memorial commemorates rests with the owner, or the organisation in which ownership is vested.

Treasury

Air Passenger Duty

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on a short-term air passenger duty holiday to incentivise new long haul air routes. [190623]

Nicky Morgan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer provided on 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 103. The Treasury keeps all taxes under review.

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Alcoholic Drinks

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of Ernst & Young's report entitled Economic Impact Assessment into the Wine and Spirit industry in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [191160]

(2) what assessment he has made of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association's Budget 2014 submission; and if he will make a statement. [191163]

Nicky Morgan: The Government carefully consider all the representations we receive ahead of Budget.

Alcoholic Drinks: Sales

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of units of alcohol sold in the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available. [190274]

Nicky Morgan: Duty on alcohol becomes due when the alcohol leaves a duty suspension regime to go for consumption to the UK market. As a result, HMRC only holds data on the amount of clearances of alcohol (and related receipts).

HMRC publishes statistics on clearances and duty received for beer and cider, wine of fresh grape, made wine, and spirits, on both a monthly and annual basis, here:

https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulletins

Bananas

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the Fairtrade Foundation's Make Bananas Fair campaign. [190624]

Nicky Morgan: The UK Government are a committed Fairtrade partner and are providing £18 million over six years to help Fairtrade International have a greater impact in their work and make the global Fairtrade system stronger.

There is evidence that the grocery retail market is currently working well for UK consumers. As such, the Government do not intend to intervene to regulate what businesses may or may not charge consumers for bananas. Pricing policies such as these are commercial decisions for the trader, and are best left to the market. However, if there is evidence that anti-competitive practices are having a negative impact on the supply chain, this should be reported to the Office of Fair Trading (or the Competition and Markets Authority from 1 April) for consideration.

Career Development

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of civil servants in his Department who were promoted in each of the last five years were (a) male and (b) female; [189151]

(2) 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; [189171]

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(3) 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. [189191]

Nicky Morgan: The proportion of civil servants in HM Treasury promoted in each of the last five years who were:

male/female;

white British/from any other ethnic minority group; and

disabled/non-disabled

are set out in the following table:

The percentages of HMT staff in diversity groupings in the years in question are:

Corporation Tax

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax was paid by (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) large companies in each of the last five years. [190631]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs releases National Statistics on an annual basis, providing information on corporation tax receipts and liabilities.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/ct-receipts/corporation-tax-statistics.pdf

Since 2010 the Government have cut the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 23%. It will fall further to 21% in April 2014 and to 20% in April 2015. The Small

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Profits Rate was cut to 20% in April 2011. These corporation tax cuts will be worth around £7.8 billion per year to businesses by 2016-17.

Figures on the amount of tax paid, broken down by company size, are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In line with the latest published Corporation Tax liability figures, released in October 2013, the following table shows a break down of the total Corporation Tax liability by the rates at which Corporation Tax is charged on companies' chargeable profits, for the past five years for which figures are available.

Credit: Databases

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Bank of England on the creation of a national consumer credit lending database; [190617]

(2) what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the creation of a national consumer credit lending database; [190618]

(3) what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of a national consumer credit lending database. [190647]

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Financial Conduct Authority and Bank of England to discuss relevant regulatory issues.

The Bank of England confirmed in its Financial Stability Report, published 28 November 2013, that it has been considering the merits of developing a national database of credit information and that the Financial Policy Committee would review the benefits of such an action.

The Government believe credit data are important in enabling lenders to assess whether an individual has the ability to repay any credit that is offered, and allowing borrowers to access the credit that they need.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax is levied on a (a) 330ml bottle of beer with an alcohol by volume of 4%, (b) 750ml bottle of wine with an alcohol by volume of 11% and (c) 700ml bottle of Scotch whisky with an alcohol by volume of 40%. [188538]

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax is levied on a (a) 330ml bottle of beer with an alcohol by volume of 4%, (b) 750ml bottle of wine with an alcohol by volume of 11% and (c) 700ml bottle of Scotch whisky with an alcohol by volume of 40%. [190592]

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Nicky Morgan: The duty levied on a 330ml bottle of beer with an alcohol by volume of 4% is 26p for 2013-14.

Information relating to the tax levied on wine and Scotch whisky is available from HMRC's Alcohol Factsheet October 2013. Link:

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

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what average (a) amount and (b) percentage alcohol excise duty has changed per wine bottle (i )between 1997 and 2010 and (ii) 2010 to date. [190590]

Nicky Morgan: Current and historic Wine of Fresh Grape and Made Wine duty rates for each strength-related band are available in table 12 of HMRC's monthly Alcohol Bulletin, which is published here:

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

The average wine bottle falls into the tax category for still wine of alcoholic strength 5.5% to 15%.

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effect of removing the Alcohol Duty Escalator on levels of alcohol fraud in 2014; and if he will make a statement. [190691]

Nicky Morgan: No assessment has been made of the effect of removing the Alcohol Duty Escalator on the levels of alcohol fraud. HMRC publishes estimates annually of alcohol fraud in “Measuring Tax Gaps”.

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of changes in employment levels in 2014 if the Alcohol Duty Escalator were removed; and if he will make a statement; [190692]

(2) what the total economic contribution of the wine and spirit industries to the UK economies is; [190591]

(3) what estimate he has made of the total annual economic contribution of the (a) domestic UK wine growing industry, (b) the Scotch whisky industry and (c) the gin distilling industry. [190673]

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which would be created in 2014 if he removed the Alcohol Duty Escalator in that year rather than in 2015; and if he will make a statement; [191158]

(2) what the total annual economic contribution of the wine and spirit industries to the UK economy is. [191162]

Nicky Morgan: The Government are aware that the Wine and Spirits Trade Association commissioned Ernst and Young to undertake an economic analysis of the wine and spirits industry in the UK. Ernst and Young's report includes their estimates of the impact the wine and spirits industry has on the UK economy as well as their assessment of changes to the pre-announced alcohol duty increases.

The Government keep all taxes under review.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect

12 Mar 2014 : Column 224W

of removing the Alcohol Duty Escalator on levels of alcohol fraud in 2014; and if he will make a statement. [191159]

Nicky Morgan: No assessment has been made of the effect of removing the Alcohol Duty Escalator on the levels of alcohol fraud. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes estimates annually of alcohol fraud in “Measuring Tax Gaps”.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to maintain the current fuel differential between road fuel gases and petrol and diesel for a rolling 10 year period. [190922]

Nicky Morgan: The autumn statement announced that the fuel duty differential between the main rate of fuel duty and the rate for road fuel gases such as compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas and biomethane will be maintained at current levels until March 2024. The Government will review the impact of these incentives on vehicle up take and the public finances at Budget 2018.

Financial Services

Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the new prudential requirements for commercial debt managers in the last six months. [190714]

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Financial Conduct Authority to discuss relevant regulatory issues.

The Financial Conduct Authority is an independent non-governmental body, with statutory powers to make rules, publish guidance and authorise firms.

In the FCA's new rules for regulating the consumer credit market, it has confirmed that prudential requirements will apply to debt management firms and large not-for-profit debt advice bodies, reflecting the size of their ‘debts under management’. They will also be subject to client money requirements, if holding clients' money, with additional requirements for larger firms.

Fuels: Tax Evasion

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland have been fined as a result of fuel fraud offences in each of the last 10 years. [183456]

Nicky Morgan: Figures are only available for the years 2011-12 and onwards. The number of people fined as a result of fuel fraud offences in each year since then is as follows:

12 Mar 2014 : Column 225W

These data relate to the total number of oils related offences recorded by HMRC Criminal Investigation, they are not subdivided into specific regimes.

HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. HMRC has also recently concluded the evaluation of a possible new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

HMRC uses several avenues to tackle fraud: criminal prosecution, civil action (such as seizing fuel or pumps) civil penalties and strong regulatory controls.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of fines issued in the UK is as a result of fuel fraud offences in each of the last 10 years. [183460]

Nicky Morgan: Figures are only available for the years 2011-12 and onwards. The total amount of fines issued since then is as follows:

These data relate to the total number of oils related offences recorded by Criminal Investigation, they are not subdivided into specific regimes.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. HMRC has also recently concluded the evaluation of a possible new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

HMRC uses several avenues to tackle fraud: criminal prosecution, civil action (such as seizing fuel or pumps) civil penalties and strong regulatory controls.

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many confiscation orders have been issued by HM Revenue and Customs for fuel laundering in each of the last 10 years. [183462]

Nicky Morgan: Figures are only available for years 2010-11 and onwards. The number of confiscation orders issued in those years is as follows:

These will only be applied for in respect of the most serious cases, as the court will always consider whether the level of criminality warrants such an approach. HMRC can, and has, adopted other less costly methods in respect of recovering arrears namely using civil procedures.

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These data relate to the total number of oils related offences recorded by HMRC Criminal Investigation, they are not subdivided into specific regimes.

HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. HMRC has also recently concluded the evaluation of a possible new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

HMRC uses several avenues to tackle fraud: criminal prosecution, civil action (such as seizing fuel or pumps) civil penalties and strong regulatory controls.

Public Sector: Redundancy

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received regarding concerns that black, Asian and minority ethnic women are disproportionately likely to be affected by public-sector job losses. [190870]

Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials receive a wide variety of representations from both the organisations in the public and private sectors. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

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

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

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Nick de Bois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of changes made to the stamp duty land tax regime since 1997 on the functioning of the housing market; [190750]

(2) what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of stamp duty land tax rates on house-buying in England. [190751]

Mr Gauke: Many factors affect transactions volumes and prices in the housing market. The Treasury has not made a recent assessment of the effect of stamp duty land tax on the functioning of the housing market or house-buying in England.

Tax Allowances: Offshore Industry

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of withdrawal of drilling rig tax concessions on investment and activity in the oil and gas sector on the UK Continental Shelf. [190630]

Nicky Morgan: At autumn statement 2013 the Government made an assessment of the impact of the oil and gas chartering measure, which was certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. This can be found on page 79 of the autumn statement document:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263942/35062_Autumn_Statement_2013.pdf

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The assumptions and methodology underlying this assessment can be found on page 26 of the policy costings document:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263434/autumn_statement_2013_policy_costings.pdf

Since autumn statement, the Government have consulted with industry on the specifics of the proposal and on its assessment of the impacts, and is currently reviewing the responses received.

Taxation: Consumer Goods

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which consumer goods sold in the UK have the highest level of tax per item; and how much the tax is per item. [190633]

Nicky Morgan: Excluding customs duties, the most heavily taxed consumer good sold in the UK as a proportion of price is tobacco. Information on tobacco duty is available in HMRC's Tobacco Factsheet at the following link:

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

Customs duties could be included only at a disproportionate cost.

Working Tax Credit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have had working tax credits stopped in each of the last 10 years in each constituency. [190403]

Nicky Morgan: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Energy and Climate Change

Carbon Emissions

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that the UK's carbon reduction targets are met in the event of Scotland's withdrawal from the UK. [190693]

Gregory Barker: The UK was the first country to set legally-binding limits on domestic carbon emissions, and through the Climate Change Act 2008, committed to reduce emissions by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050. This target was chosen to reflect the views of the Committee on Climate Change on a fair UK share of a global effort to tackle climate change, and Government remain committed to this principle.

Latest projections show that our comprehensive policy portfolio puts the UK on track to meet its carbon budget targets to 2022. As well as cutting carbon, these policies are supporting jobs and creating new investment across the UK.

The Government are confident that the people of Scotland will choose to remain part of the UK.

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Electricity Interconnectors: Iceland

Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has held in the last 12 months with Landsvirkjun on the Icelink power cable proposals. [190757]

Michael Fallon: DECC officials have had updates on the Icelink proposals from Landsvirkjun. I have had no discussions with Landsvirkjun in the last 12 months but I met the Icelandic Energy Minister to discuss Icelink on 10 March.

Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with Ofgem on steps to take against energy companies that do not comply with the (a) carbon emissions reduction target and (b) community energy saving programme. [191313]

Gregory Barker: Ministers and officials regularly meet Ofgem to discuss a range of issues. However the administration and enforcement of these schemes are a matter for Ofgem rather than the Government.

Energy: Billing

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of customers in (a) Glasgow North West, (b) Glasgow City, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK who will receive the refunds of direct debits announced by his Department on 18 February 2014. [189773]

Gregory Barker: DECC does not hold the specific information requested.

Under the agreement, at the 12-month anniversary, direct debit arrangement customers of British Gas, EDF Energy, EON, First Utility, nPower and SSE with a credit balance over a minimum threshold (varying up to £10) will be given an automatic full refund, unless they prefer to roll forward the amount to reduce future payments for the 12-month period.

Overall, 55% of energy consumers pay by direct debit arrangements.

Energy: Prices

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make an assessment of the effect of Scottish independence on energy prices in the UK. [190694]

Michael Fallon: Ahead of the Scottish independence referendum, to inform the debate about Scotland's constitutional future, the UK Government are undertaking a programme of analysis of Scotland's place in the UK and how it contributes to and benefits from being part of the UK. DECC will set out a full analysis of the implications of independence for the energy sector shortly.

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Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Banbury of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 389, on energy efficiency, what recent steps he has taken to improve the experience of the green deal for (a) consumers and (b) the supply chain. [190671]

Gregory Barker: We are supporting energy efficiency improvements to buildings through an extension of the current cashback scheme to June; a £450 million package of energy efficiency incentives over three years; increasing the funds available to local authorities this year to £80 million to promote Green Deal on a street by street basis through Green Deal Communities; and consulting on the future of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) with certainty provided to 2017.

We have also been improving the Green Deal, both for consumers and the supply chain, through a number of changes and enhancements. For the customer, these include:

working with the Green Deal Finance Company to enable customers to get Green Deal finance in a day, if that is right for them; and

improving the content and search tools through which customers can find Green Deal companies on gov.uk;

improving the signposting services to companies and information on offers provided by the Energy Saving Advice Service;

working with the Green Deal Finance Company to develop standard documentation explaining, in simple terms, the purpose and content of different credit and installation agreements involved in Green Deal finance, which can be used by Green Deal providers.

For the supply chain, the recent steps we have taken include:

amending the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to give Green Deal providers more confidence to operate in the rented sector;

setting up a dedicated advice service to help Green Deal providers become active in the market; and

working with the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body and the Green Deal Finance Company to speed up authorisation processes.

Offshore Industry

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure the UK based supply chain to the oil and gas sector is supported in the future development of the UK continental shelf. [190621]

Michael Fallon: The Department works closely with operators and supply companies in the UKCS to ensure full understanding of the capability and capacity of the UK supply chain. This work is being further reinforced by an extensive Supply Chain Mapping report which is being carried out as a key action from the Oil and Gas Industrial Strategy which we published last year.

In addition, we provide key industry intelligence through the Project Pathfinder database allowing the UK supply chain the opportunity to bid for new projects. Pathfinder is currently showcasing around 60 UKCS projects and can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/oil-and-gas-project-pathfinder

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Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether membership of the new regulator scheme covering the UK continental shelf recommended by the Wood Review will be a compulsory requirement for operators in the North Sea oil and gas fields. [190635]

Michael Fallon: The Wood Review recommended that stewardship of the UKCS should be conducted by a new arm’s length body, funded by industry and better resourced. Subject to further detailed work to support the business case, the Government will proceed with moving the stewardship of the UKCS into the next phase, with a new arm’s length body, funded by industry, with new resources and any necessary statutory powers to meet that challenge. We will publish a formal response to the report, including further details on implementation plans, later in the spring.

House of Commons Commission

Fairtrade Initiative

Sarah Newton: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission (1) what recent assessment the Commission has made of the use of Fairtrade produce by the catering services of the House; [191007]

(2) what steps the Commission is taking to promote Fairtrade produce in Parliament. [191008]

John Thurso: The House of Commons Catering Service recognises its responsibility to carry out its procurement activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and has been developing a sustainable procurement policy for a number of years. Fairtrade options are regularly assessed.

House of Commons catering outlets stock several high-profile Fairtrade products including coffee, sugar sticks, confectionery, chocolate, cookies and muffins. A number of other products which are not Fairtrade have received accreditation from other ethical schemes—for example, all tea products that are not Fairtrade are accredited by the Ethical Tea Partnership; our water supplier gives all profits to the charity WaterAid, and some of our snack foods are Rainforest Alliance accredited.

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, which ran from 24 February to 7 March 2014, all Fairtrade products were actively advertised in the cafeterias.

Parliamentary Tours

Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, who authorised the restrictions on Members' tours to Mondays during short recesses and to after 3.30pm on non-sitting Fridays. [190773]

John Thurso: Following the Administration Committee's report ‘Visitor Access and Facilities’ (HC 13, 2012-13) the House of Commons Commission agreed to a package of income generation activities in July 2012. This was the subject of a debate in the House on 8 November 2012.

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In line with these decisions Visitor Services managers have been working to expand the number and range of commercial tours that are available. The new visiting model extends paid tours from the summer recess and Saturdays, to include part of the short recesses and non-sitting Fridays. During short recesses, Members' tours are available on Mondays, and there is also provision for 180 Members' visitors per day, escorted by a passholder, to be accommodated on the other recess days. By increasing the size of tours groups from 20 to 25 during sitting times and maximising capacity on Member tour days during short recesses, the overall capacity for Members' visitors has been maintained across the year.

Following feedback from Members, the Administration Committee will review the arrangements on 17 March to assess whether the right balance has been struck between Member-sponsored and commercial tours.

Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, how many Members' tours will no longer be able to take place between 1 February 2014 and the summer recess as a result of the new restrictions during short recesses and non-sitting Fridays. [190774]

John Thurso: Between February and August 2013 73,560 people participated in Member-sponsored tours. Between February and August 2014 there will be capacity for 77,500 visitors. However, plans for 2014 have less capacity on recess days than in previous years, but more capacity on sitting days. The new visits model was designed to maintain the overall capacity for Members' visitors across the year. Historically, Members' tours have only been booked to an average of 50% of their capacity during short recesses. Reserving Mondays for Member-sponsored tours during short recesses matches the practice during the summer recess, makes better use of available capacity, maintains overall capacity for Members' visitors, and ensures that constituents still have the opportunity to visit Parliament throughout the year.

Following feedback from Members, the Administration Committee will review the arrangements on 17 March to assess whether the right balance between Member-sponsored and commercial tours has been struck.

Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 394W, on parliamentary tours, (1) of those in-house guides that are not substantive employees, how many are classified as (a) contractors and (b) employees of the House; [190775]

(2) how many in-house guides are (a) substantive employees of the House, (b) former employees of the House and (c) employed as only in-house guides. [190776]

John Thurso: As at 31 December 2013, 53 of the in-house tour guides were substantive employees of the House and 55 were engaged only as in-house guides. Of the 55 that were not substantive employees, 27 had worked in other substantive roles on the Parliamentary

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Estate, including 17 who are known to have been former employees of the House of Commons. None of the 55 tour guides who were not substantive employees were contractors: all of them were casual workers paid through the House of Commons payroll. May I take this opportunity of correcting my answer of 10 February 2014,

Official Report,

column 394W. As the information above shows, it would have been more accurate to refer to:

“staff employed or previously employed on the Parliamentary Estate”

rather than

“retired House staff”.

I have written to the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead (John Cryer), to inform him.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Business: Advisory Services

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on devolution of locally based UK Trade and Investment, Manufacturing Advisory Service and GrowthAccelerator initiative contracts to (a) combined authorities and (b) local enterprise partnerships. [190620]

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) operates an integrated international trade support model which ensures companies have an integrated experience whether dealing with UKTI's advisers throughout the country or in embassies and consulates overseas.

Devolution of trade support to combined authorities or Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) would risk confusing the customer journey and undermining this integrated offer to business. However, UKTI works very closely with LEPs and local authorities and is currently working with LEPs, including the North East LEP, to develop additional trade support activity in support of their European Structural and Investment Funds Strategies.

GrowthAccelerator and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) are nationally contracted with support delivered locally in all areas of England. GrowthAccelerator and MAS work with local partners including local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships to tailor delivery to meet local needs.

Coal Gasification: Chemicals

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential for synergy between coal gasification projects and the UK chemical sector. [190632]

Michael Fallon: This Department is aware of the importance and of the opportunity from exploiting a range of unconventional gas and oil resources, both onshore and offshore. I co-chair the Chemistry Growth Partnership (CGP)—the sector council for the chemical industries which is working to support plans for sustainable, reliable and affordable energy. Through its innovation work stream, the CGP is co-ordinating a range of activities designed to enable second generation industrial biology applications.

12 Mar 2014 : Column 233W

Coal gasification is attractive both as an energy resource and as a source of carbon feedstock for the chemical sector. Work is now underway to engage through Local Enterprise Partnerships to establish links between related projects in different localities and to exploit these synergies between industries.

Foreign Investment in UK: North East

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total amount of inward investment in the North East has been since May 2010; and how much such investment is accounted for by the sale of Northern Rock. [190622]

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) currently reports inward investment success in terms of number of projects which have landed. The number of projects landed in the North East is as follows:

1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 54 projects

1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 66 projects

1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 44 projects

UKTI does not recognise a link between foreign direct investment success and the sale of Northern Rock.

ICT: Employment

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many jobs were created in the UK online and digital industries in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [191110]

Mr Willetts: There is no agreed definition of “online and digital industries”. Following the Government's Information Economy Strategy, the IT services, software, and telecommunication services sub-sectors were combined to define the Information Economy sector. The numbers of jobs created is not recorded, though the ONS does collate the overall number of jobs, allowing the net change to be calculated.

Minimum Wage

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to begin naming employers who do not comply with the national minimum wage under the revised scheme adopted on 1 October 2013; whether all employers investigated by HM Revenue and Customs where a notice of underpayment is then issued will be named; where that information will be published; and whether his Department will take steps to inform the media of the publication of that information. [191067]

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Jenny Willott: The Government are committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it.

The revised naming scheme will automatically consider all employers for naming that have been issued with a notice of underpayment (NoU) by HMRC. Employers have 28-days to appeal against the NoU and make representations to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and if these are unsuccessful the employer will be named, except in very exceptional circumstances.

On 28 February 2014 the Government named the first five employers. Between them they owe workers a total of over £6,800 in arrears and have been charged financial penalties totalling £3381.40.

The five employers are:

Peter Oakes of Peter Oakes Ltd, Macclesfield, neglected to pay £3619.70 to two workers.

Lisa Maria Cathcart of Salon Sienna, Manchester, neglected to pay £1760.48 to a worker.

Mohammed Yamin of Minto Guest House, Edinburgh, neglected to pay £808.56 to a worker.

Anne Henderson of Chambers Hairdressers, Middlesbrough neglected to pay £452.22 to a worker.

Ruzi Ruzyyev, a car wash operator in Carmarthen, neglected to pay £225.38 to a worker.

Under the revised scheme, employers who fail to pay the national minimum wage will be named publicly by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. A press release issued for the most recent cases can be found on gov.uk at:

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-gets-tough-with-employers-failing-to-pay-minimum-wage

Official Receiver

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints about official receiver fees were received in each year between 2010 and 2014. [190893]

Jenny Willott: The Insolvency Service does not hold records that categorise complaints for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. Complaints have been categorised since 2012-13. In 2012-13 there were three complaints about fees charged in official receiver cases. In 2013-14 (to end of February 2014) six such complaints were received.

Overseas Trade: Israel

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of bilateral trade between the UK and Israel was in 2013. [190610]

Michael Fallon: Data on the total value of UK trade in goods and services with Israel will be published for 2013 by the Office for National Statistics in October 2014.

For goods alone, the value of exports was £1.4 billion in 2013, and the value of imports was £1.9 billion.

Post Office and Royal Mail

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he last met the Chief Executive of (a) Post Office Ltd and (b) Royal Mail Group. [191152]

12 Mar 2014 : Column 235W

Jenny Willott: Ministers hold regular meetings with senior representatives from Post Office Ltd to discuss a wide range of matters. In addition, officials from the Department's Shareholder Executive team maintain an ongoing dialogue with the company.

Details of all external meetings undertaken by Ministers at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills are published on a quarterly basis on the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and I last met the Chairman and Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd on 5 March 2014.

With regard to Royal Mail, the Minister of State for Business and Energy, the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon), last met Moya Greene on 15 October 2013 and the Secretary of State last met her on 25 February 2013.

Since the Royal Mail initial public offering in October last year, the Government's relationship with Royal Mail is that of a minority shareholder. As set out in the Prospectus, the Government will manage their shareholding in a commercial manner. The Shareholder Executive represents Government with respect to their residual shareholding on a day-to-day basis; in this capacity, Shareholder Executive personnel will meet senior Royal Mail representatives, as do other shareholders, on a regular basis.

Post Office Card Account

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post office accounts have been opened as part of the Post Office Ltd pilot in East Anglia and the East Midlands. [191148]

Jenny Willott: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, Chief Executive Officer of Post Office Ltd, to reply to the hon. Member directly, and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions his Department has had with Post Office Ltd on the Post Office card account. [191154]

Jenny Willott: The Post Office Ltd has a contract with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide the Post Office card account (POCA). This is regularly used by some three million people to access their pensions or benefits and is available across the post office network.

The current arrangements for collecting pensions and benefits at post offices will remain in place until at least 2015. Any decision about the future of POCA arrangements and related commercial negotiations are a matter for DWP.

However I can confirm that DWP and the Post Office are in discussions about a long term successor to the Post Office card account and that all options under consideration conclude that access to pensions and benefits will continue, beyond March 2015, across the whole post office network of at least 11,500 branches.

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Post Offices

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and which post offices were subject to temporary closure in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and what the length of the temporary closure was in each such case. [191140]

Jenny Willott: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd, I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, Chief Executive Officer of Post Office Ltd, to reply to the hon. Member directly, and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House. However, I would note that the Government have committed nearly £2 billion to Post Office Ltd since 2010, enabling it to maintain, modernise and protect a network of at least 11,500 branches that is compliant with the strict Government-set access criteria. It is important to stress that under this Government the network as a whole is at its most stable for two decades.

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the total value of Government business given to Post Office Ltd was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; [191149]

(2) how much was received from Royal Mail by Post Office Ltd in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [191155]

Jenny Willott: The information requested relates to commercial contracts between Post Office Ltd and its clients, which include Royal Mail and Government Departments and agencies. These are operational matters for Post Office Ltd and I have therefore asked Paula Vennelis, Chief Executive Officer of Post Office Ltd, to reply to the hon. Member directly, and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Video Games: EU Action

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps her Department is taking to encourage the European Commission to bring forward a directive which would implement across the EU the Office of Fair Trading's guidance on micro-transaction gaming. [191133]

Jenny Willott: We welcome the Office of Fair Trading's guidance on micro-transaction gaming. Their principles for online and app-based games are based on existing European legislation under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the Consumer Rights Directive. We support moves to implement similar guidance across Europe to improve transparency for consumers, and create a consistent approach to enforcement in the area of micro-transaction gaming. We also welcome the recent meetings facilitated by the European Commission with industry and European enforcement authorities, to discuss the issues around in-app purchases and to find solutions which ensure better protection for consumers, particularly children.

Video Games: Regulation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture,

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Media and Sport on steps to take to reduce the regulatory burden on video games producers. [190594]

Michael Fallon: It is important for any business sector that regulatory burdens are minimised, targeted and proportionate. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller) and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), are co-chairs of the Creative Industries Council which meets every six months and provides a forum for Government and industry to consider the regulatory burdens on creative businesses and in particular how our video games industry can continue to grow and compete in the world market.

Better regulation is an important driver of growth, and the Government's strategy is to consider regulation as a last resort rather than the first option. Our programme of reform aims to reduce the quantity of regulation and the burden it places on businesses.

International Development

Uganda

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if her Department will review all its development programmes in Uganda to ensure that no UK aid is being provided in a way that gives support to the promotion of homophobia and repression. [190804]

Lynne Featherstone: The UK ended budget support to the Ugandan Government following concerns about corruption last year. Our development programme continues to support poverty reduction and growth in Uganda. We have consistently raised concerns about the Anti-Homosexuality Bill with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels. The Minister for Africa most recently raised the issue with the Ugandan Foreign Minister in January 2014, and with the Deputy Foreign Minister in February 2014. We will continue to press the Ugandan Government at the highest levels to defend human rights for all.

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to support health programmes in Uganda which may become illegal or put vulnerable groups at risk following the passage of anti-homosexuality legislation in that country. [190805]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID is providing £16.3 million over four years to support an improved HIV prevention response in Uganda, which will include provision for specifically targeting most at risk populations (MARPS).

Health

Abortion

Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which persons and organisations will (a) analyse the responses and (b) be consulted in drafting the response to his Department's consultation on required standard operating procedures for independent sector places for termination of pregnancy; [190739]

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(2) whether the Government's proposed guidelines on compliance with the Abortion Act 1967 will contain punitive provisions for breaches of Government regulations and advice concerning abortion provision. [190743]

Jane Ellison: Responses to the consultation on the required standard operating procedures (RSOPs) for providers of independent sector abortion to be approved by the Secretary of State for Health are being analysed by officials in the Department and we hope to publish a response shortly.

Abortion is only legal if it is carried out within the terms of the Abortion Act 1967. The chief medical officer for England has written twice (on 23 February 2012 and 22 November 2013) to all practitioners reminding them of their responsibilities under the Abortion Act. We will be following this up by issuing more detailed guidance to doctors shortly. Breaches of the Act and regulations are for the police to investigate and, where appropriate, enforce.

Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neonatal deaths were recorded following a legal termination of pregnancy in each of the last five years for which records are available. [190740]

Jane Ellison: The Government do not collect these data.

Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were commissioned by the NHS for delivery in the private sector by (a) the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, (b) Marie Stopes International and (c) any other independent provider in each of the last five years for which records are available. [190741]

Jane Ellison: Information held by the Department is set out in the following table:

Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ground E abortions were performed after diagnosis by (a) amniocentesis, (b) ultrasound, (c) chorionic villus sampling and (d) other diagnostic tests in each of the last 10 years; what other methods of diagnosis were cited under other in each such year; and how many such diagnoses were recorded in each such year. [190744]

Jane Ellison: The information held by the Department is in the following table.

Ground E covers a range of conditions, and one or more of the diagnostic methods specified in the question are likely to have been used in all pregnancies involving these conditions over the time period regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy.

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