Reptiles: Smuggling

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reptiles were seized by HM Customs under CITES in each year from 2001 to 2013; and how many such seizures there were. [189656]

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

Border Force is responsible for seizing live animals listed as endangered species under Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in the EU. Prior to 5 August 2009 CITES enforcement at the UK border fell to HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor, HM Customs and Excise.

The number of live reptiles seized by HM Revenue and Customs between 2005 and 2009 and by Border Force between 2009 and 2013 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are given in the following table.

Border Force does not hold data for the number of live reptiles seized by HM Customs and Excise between 2001 and 2005.

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International Development

Afghanistan

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the safety of women's human rights defenders in Afghanistan. [191413]

Justine Greening: The UK Government share the widespread concern about attacks and intimidation faced by Afghan women who work to defend the rights and fundamental freedoms of others. Eliminating violence against women and girls is a strategic priority for DFID's work in Afghanistan and a range of programmes are being implemented.

Developing Countries: Family Planning

Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the total budget for overseas development assistance is allocated for reproductive health education and family planning. [191191]

Lynne Featherstone: Reproductive health is one of the Government's priority areas. At the 2012 Gold Moment we committed to spend £516 million on family planning over eight years towards the summit goal of enabling an additional 120 million women and girls in the world's poorest countries to be using modern methods of family planning by 2020. Our country programmes also have investments that contribute to family planning. Last year alone we spent over £200 million on family planning.

Ukraine

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much additional aid the Government plan to give to Ukraine. [191325]

Justine Greening: The UK Government are providing a package of technical assistance of up to £10 million as part of our wider effort to support economic and political stabilisation in Ukraine.

Communities and Local Government

Betting Shops

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department gives to local authorities on preventing the proliferation of betting shops and fixed odds betting terminals. [191345]

Nick Boles [holding answer 13 March 2014]: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 4 December 2013, Official Report, columns 741-42W, which outlines the broad advice we give to councils who want to use article 4 powers to tackle localised problems in relation to betting shops.

Career Development

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (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; [189137]

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(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; [189157]

(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. [189177]

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following tables. The following proportions in terms of gender, ethnic origin and disability status are based only on those staff who have voluntarily declared this information.

The Department undertook a restructuring process from October 2010 to October 2012 which caused a significant reduction in the number of promotions during its peak in 2011 as staff numbers were reduced. To put this into context, there were a total of 12 promotions in 2011 against an average of 128 promotions in the other years in question.

As at end January 2014, the total proportion of female civil servants in the Department was 51.3%.

As at end January 2014, the total proportion of civil servants in the Department reporting themselves as black, Asian and minority ethnic was 20.7%.

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As at end January 2014, the total proportion of civil servants in the Department reporting themselves as disabled was 5.3%.

Taken as a whole, and given the issues with small sample sizes, these figures show that promotions broadly reflect the general composition of the Department.

Emergency Services

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what proportion of occasions when a fire engine was despatched in response to a 999 call (a) a police vehicle and (b) an ambulance was also sent to the same incident in the last year for which figures are available. [191786]

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect this particular information.

Empty Property

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by (a) his Department and (b) any Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies of his Department in the current financial year. [191803]

Brandon Lewis: No information is held centrally on the business rates paid on vacant properties (recorded on e-PIMS or otherwise) owned by the Department for Communities and Local Government, or any Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The Government Property Unit has been supporting Departments to rapidly rationalise the Government’s estate. Since May 2010, over £1.25 billion has been raised in sales of freehold properties. Through the exiting of property across the central civil estate, we have also delivered cumulative, gross run rate savings of over £454 million per annum.

Where surplus property is awaiting disposal or lease end, the Government look to explore all disposal options, including commercially sub-letting all or part of the space. Where surplus property is awaiting disposal or lease end but cannot yet be sold or sub-let commercially, the Space for Growth scheme, run by the unit, invites small and medium-sized businesses, charities and social enterprises to utilise this space for free, boosting economic growth. Over 1,500 workstation spaces are now available in 57 different locations around England.

My Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals.

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

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

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

Fracking

Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy that planning permission is only granted on condition that shale gas pads pipe water and gas on and off sites. [191481]

Nick Boles: Local planning authorities are able to attach planning conditions to a planning permission to mitigate the effects of any development and make an otherwise unacceptable proposal acceptable in planning terms. Conditions must be necessary, relevant to planning and to the development, enforceable, precise and reasonable.

In that context, a local planning permission for shale extraction will wish to outline the appropriate arrangements for the transport of materials and equipment, and may address the issue of piped connections and highways movements. The appropriate solution will ultimately depend on local circumstances of the individual application.

Homelessness: Barrow in Furness

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individuals registered as homeless in Barrow and Furness constituency were aged (a) under 16 and (b) 16 to 18 in each of the last three years. [190315]

Kris Hopkins [holding 6 March 2014]: The Department does not collect data on homelessness at a constituency level.

I have therefore placed in the Library of the House a table containing the most relevant available figures for two local authorities that include part of the Barrow and Furness constituency: Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakeland.

The table includes:

(i) Numbers of households accepted as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need:

The applicant was aged 16-24; or

The household was in at least one of the following Priority Need categories:

Aged 16 or 17;

Household with children;

Household member pregnant.

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(ii) Numbers of households in temporary accommodation as at the end of each quarter:

Which contain dependant children or a pregnant mother, and the number of children and expected children in these households; and

Where the applicant was 16 or 17 years old.

Data from 2009 have been given for extra comparison.

The law is clear—no child should be without a roof over their head. Any child under 18 who becomes homeless and without anyone to look after them is a child in need. They must be housed by a local authority and supported by Children's Services. If a child is homeless because their parents are homeless then that family is protected by the homelessness legislation and must be housed. If a family is unable to care for a child under 18 then that child must be taken into care.

We want children to be able to stay with their families in secure and settled homes and we want to help local authorities support families before they reach crisis point. We are investing £470 million in homelessness prevention over four years of the spending review period—funding going to all local authorities and the voluntary sector. We are continuing to support local authorities to raise their game with an additional £1.7 million over two years (2012-13 to 2013-14) for a new Gold Standard support and training scheme across the country to deliver the best possible service to those that are at risk of homelessness.

We have also worked closely with leading voluntary sector organisations and local authorities to develop and promote a positive youth accommodation pathway for those who cannot stay within the family network or are leaving care. The pathway approach offers tailored accommodation options and a supportive transition into adulthood, helping young people to avoid the crisis of homelessness.

More recently, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office set up a £15 million Fair Chance Fund to support vulnerable, homeless 18 to 25-year-olds that are ineligible for assistance from local authorities under the homelessness legislation.

Housing

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what value of grants has been issued in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber under the New Homes Bonus Scheme since that scheme's introduction. [191637]

Kris Hopkins: New Homes Bonus is a clear, transparent incentive for authorities to welcome growth. Since it began in April 2011, local authorities have received £2.2 billion of New Homes Bonus funding, recognising delivery of nearly 550,000 homes and bringing over 93,000 long-term empty homes back into use.

New Homes Bonus is paid by local authority area rather than parliamentary constituency boundaries. Figures are therefore given for the councils of East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

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These figures recognise delivery of 2,475 additions to stock and 636 long-term empty homes returned to use for East Riding of Yorkshire, and 1,487 additions to stock and 204 long-term empty homes returned to use for North Lincolnshire.

The New Homes Bonus is allocated to individual local authorities based on increases in their effective housing stock. My Department no longer produces regional statistics, not least since policies like the New Homes Bonus do not operate on a regional basis.

Housing: Construction

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications were received for Get Britain Building funding in (i) round one in January 2012 and (ii) round two in July 2012. [190131]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 5 March 2014]: In my answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, columns 445-46W, I noted how the Get Britain Building programme is on track and on course, with 11,165 starts to date (and more to come), helping unlock sites that had stalled due to the last Government's housing bust.

In the first round, 106 applications were successful, 198 were unsuccessful and 101 withdrew. In the second round, 75 applications were successful, 69 were unsuccessful and 18 withdrew.

It is important that value for taxpayers' money is achieved from the programme, given the sizeable funds allocated for investment. Applications may have been rejected since they simply did not comply with the criteria laid out in the prospectus, or since they failed to meet the due diligence or value for money assessments. Applicants may have withdrawn for a number of reasons, but this could have included improving market conditions meaning that such funding was not necessary for their particular sites.

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to increase investment in house building; and if he will consider the introduction of rent controls. [190549]

Kris Hopkins: This Government are investing in housing to get Britain building again, fix the previously broken housing market and help hard-working people get the home they want:

Over 160,000 new affordable homes have been delivered over the last three years, based on New Homes Bonus figures. Our affordable housing programme will lever in £19.5 billion of public and private investment over the current spending review period. Over 2015-18, we will be investing a further £23 billion in public and private funding for affordable housing.

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Since 2010, over 100,000 people have been helped to buy or reserve their own home through the right to buy and schemes like Help to Buy: Equity Loan, which are in turn supporting new housing construction.

69,000 homes are being brought forward on locally-supported large sites, with £474 million in the Local Infrastructure Fund.

We are supporting private investment in new housing to rent, through our Built to Rent and Guarantees programmes.

A package of measures is helping self-builders, and a programme of activity is helping refurbish and bring empty homes back into use.

Action has been taken to get stalled sites building which were left uncompleted or unstarted due to the Labour Government's housing crash.

We have kept interest rates down and ensured economic stability by tackling the deficit left by the Labour Government.

House building starts for the past year (to December 2013) increased by 23%, according to DCLG statistics, the highest since 2007. The figures for the last quarter were 89% higher than during the crash. Similarly, housing construction orders are at their highest level since 2007 at over £4 billion in the third quarter of 2013 (up 42% on same period last year) according to the Office for National Statistics.

And according to National House Building Council figures, in 2013 new housing registrations rose by 30% in England on the year before. In London, new registrations rose by 60%, the highest annual total since these records began 26 years ago. Registrations across the country are at their highest since 2007. This is all clear evidence that the Government's long-term economic plan is working. By contrast, new registrations fell by 12% in Wales last year, linked to the Labour-led Welsh Government's increased regulation and their failure to support home ownership.

While I am aware that the Labour party has been actively advocating rent controls, we have no plans to re-introduce them. Rent controls would cut investment and mean less accommodation available for new tenants to rent. Previously, rent controls decimated the private rented sector, shrinking in size from 55% of households in 1939 to just 8% in the late 1980s. Rent controls also meant that many landlords could not afford to improve or maintain their homes, leading to worse conditions for tenants. The interests of tenants are best served by avoiding excessive regulation, which would ultimately force up rents and reduce supply and choice.

Land Use: Agriculture

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what formula his Department uses to value best and most versatile (BMV) land for the purposes of assessing planning applications to local planning authorities; if he will make it his policy to include in that formula the economic value of food production from BMV agricultural land over a sixty-year period, in a similar way as for infrastructure applications; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on planning applications for BMV agricultural land and their potential effects on local food security and biodiversity. [190335]

Nick Boles: The Agricultural Land Classification system is used by Natural England and others to give advice to planning authorities, developers and the public. Best

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and most versatile farmland is land identified as Grade 1, 2 or 3a. Such land is generally the most flexible, productive and efficient, and forms about a third of all agricultural land in England. Our National Planning Policy Framework requires local authorities to take into account the benefits of best and most versatile land when plan-making or deciding planning applications. If significant development on farmland is unavoidable, local authorities should seek to use poorer land in preference. As a safeguard, local authorities are required by law to consult Natural England in certain circumstances before permitting non-agricultural development on best and most versatile land that does not accord with the Local Plan.

The National Planning Policy Framework also sets out how the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural environment by minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible.

Leasehold

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what data (a) his Department holds and (b) can be estimated from the Land Registry, the Census and the Office of National Statistics on the number of leasehold domestic premises in (i) Worthing West constituency, (ii) Worthing borough, (iii) Arun district, (iv) West Sussex county, (v) South East England region, (vi) England and (vii) England and Wales; what data collection his Department makes on housing tenure types; and if he will make a statement. [191129]

Kris Hopkins: The Department does not hold data on the number of leasehold domestic properties by parliamentary constituency, local authority district, county or Wales. As outlined in the written ministerial statement of 18 September 2012, Official Report, columns 29-31WS, my Department no longer publishes statistics by Government office region. The English Housing Survey collects data from owner-occupied homes on whether the home is owned leasehold or freehold, but not from homes that are let in the private rented sector or social rented sector. In the past these partial data have been used to estimate the total number of leasehold domestic properties in England across all tenures, but the methodology is currently under review.

The census does not collect data on the number of leasehold domestic properties, so census-based estimates of leasehold domestic properties are dependent on assumptions (ie property type as a proxy for leasehold properties).

The Land Registry holds some information on leasehold properties but has not estimated the number of leasehold dwellings.

The Department collects data on housing tenure via a number of different sources, including the English Housing Survey and local authority returns.

Planning Permission

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many draft local plans have been referred back to local authorities for revision since the adoption of the National Planning Policy Framework; [190571]

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(2) in how many cases draft local plans have been referred back to authorities because of points raised about the duty to co-operate set out in the National Planning Policy Framework since the adoption of that framework. [190572]

Nick Boles [holding answer 10 March 2014]:Through our reforms in the Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework, we have ensured that local plans set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken locally. This includes amending legislation so that a planning inspector may only propose modifications to a draft local plan where invited to do so by the local planning authority.

Three quarters of local planning authorities have now published a local plan and 42 local plans have been adopted since the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework in March 2012. To place this in context, six years after the Labour Government's 2004 Planning Act, by May 2010, only one in six local planning authorities had an adopted core strategy. Labour's top-down regional strategies were one of the key reasons for this delay: adding complexity to the planning process and discouraging local decision-making.

Where a local plan withdraws from examination it will be for reasons specific to that plan; only six local plans have been withdrawn since the publication of the framework for reasons which include (but are not limited to) the effective application of the duty to co-operate.

Planning Permission: Cheshire

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will implement a moratorium on approving planning applications for greenfield sites in Addisbury constituency before local neighbourhood plans are finalised; and if he will make it his policy that a draft local plan should be taken into account when considering such planning applications. [188252]

Nick Boles: Through our reforms in the Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework the we have ensured that local plans set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken locally. Three quarters of local planning authorities have now published a local plan and over half have an adopted local plan. To place this in context, six years after the Labour Government's 2004 Planning Act, by May 2010, only one in six local planning authorities had an adopted core strategy.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that plans may gain weight in planning decisions before they are formally adopted. We have now set out in planning practice guidance where circumstances may justify the refusal of planning permission on grounds that an application would be premature in relation to the emerging local or neighbourhood plan.

Sleeping Rough: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many rough sleepers there were in each local authority in the North East in each of the last five years. [190504]

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Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to the counts/estimates which are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics#rough-sleeping

I also refer him to my answers of 20 January 2014, Official Report, columns 62-64W, which outline the action we are taking on rough sleeping.

Figures before 2010 are neither comparative nor accurate, due to fundamental flaws in the count methodology. However, those previous figures for 2008 and 2009 are accessible from:

https://www.gov.government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7388/1648099.xls

Social Rented Housing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how long the average family will spend on the waiting list for social housing before being allocated a property in (a) the London Borough of Havering and (b) England; [191390]

(2) how many people were living in local authority social rented housing in the London Borough of Havering in 2013. [191392]

Kris Hopkins: This information is not collected centrally.

Trade Union Officials

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding his Department provided for staff to carry out trade union activities in each of the last three years; and how many days staff spent on those activities in each of those years. [190236]

Brandon Lewis: Ministers in this Department believe that the taxpayer-funded subsidies and support that previously have been given to the trade unions were poor value for money and represented an unhealthy relationship between the state and voluntary sector.

Trade union activities and campaigning in the public sector should be funded by members' subscriptions, not bankrolled by the taxpayer. Greater freedom from state dependency will help ensure that trade union bosses better reflect and respond to the wishes and views of the grassroots members who pay the bill.

Following the Cabinet Office review of the use of facility time and facilities in the civil service, the Department for Communities and Local Government has made changes to its facility time arrangements. With effect from 1 April 2013, the guideline facility allocation is 0.04% of the pay bill (the private sector average benchmark). All trade union representatives now spend the majority of their time in civil service roles—we no longer fund full-time “pilgrims”. The Department does not now provide any funding for staff to carry out trade union activities. We have also taken broader steps to prevent inappropriate use of departmental facilities for campaigning purposes.

The following table sets out the costs of such departmental facility time to the public purse:

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We anticipate that the final staffing cost figure for 2013-14 may be in the region of £47,000. To place this in context, facility time staffing costs were £245,644 in 2008-09 and £177,100 in 2009-10. This represents a significant saving of taxpayers' money.

The reductions since April 2013 are also being implemented across our arm's length bodies. In my answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, columns 882-84W, I noted that our changes across my Department and arm's length bodies may save up to £400,000 of taxpayers' money a year.

We would encourage local authorities to follow our example in delivering such sensible savings, helping protect frontline services and keep council tax down; we have published helpful guidance for councils along those lines.

Energy and Climate Change

Carbon Sequestration

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to bid for European Union funding for carbon capture and storage projects; and if he will allocate part of any of such funding to Drax power station. [191144]

Michael Fallon: In July 2013 the Department submitted the White Rose Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project's bid to the second call of the NER300 programme. The White Rose project co-developers are Alstom, Drax and BOC. The aim behind the NER300 programme is to support the deployment of innovative renewable energy technology and carbon capture and storage. The European Commission is expected to make an Award Decision for the second call in June 2014. Should White Rose be successful in its bid, the funding will be directed to Capture Power Limited, the consortium founded by the project co-developers.

Drax Power Station

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change at what stage of development the conversion of Drax power station to biomass is; and when that project is due to be completed. [191145]

Michael Fallon: Drax converted one unit of its power station to biomass by April 2013. It has applied for two Investment Contracts to convert two further units through Final Investment Decision Enabling for Renewables process. The affordability assessment and down-selection process for Investment Contracts will be carried out following the receipt of binding applications later this

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month. Investment Contracts are expected to be signed and laid in Parliament in spring 2014. According to Drax's website, it intends to complete the conversion of one of these two units by April 2015 and quarter four of 2015, at the earliest, for the second of the two.

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the conversion to biomass at Drax power station will continue to ensure that the station provides seven to eight per cent of the UK's electricity needs. [191146]

Michael Fallon: The Department does not publish forecasts of the expected generation of individual power plants. Such figures would be commercially confidential. We do however expect that Drax will continue to play a major role in providing electricity for the UK. Drax has published information about its intentions at:

http://drax.presscentre.com/News/Preliminary-results-for-the-year-ended-31-December-2013-b8c.aspx

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what socio-economic benefits the local community will receive from Drax power station's conversion from coal-fire to biomass. [191147]

Michael Fallon: This is a matter for Drax and the local authority. DECC does not collate such information.

Energy: Prices

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the change in energy costs for the average household of pensionable age since May 2010. [191514]

Michael Fallon: Data on household expenditure are only available on an annual basis. The following table shows average weekly household expenditure on energy in each year since 2010, where the household reference person is aged 65 or over.

These figures include expenditure on electricity, gas and other household fuels, but exclude expenditure on petrol and diesel. They are based on data from the Living Costs and Food Survey, which is run by the Office for National Statistics. Expenditure has been expressed in cash terms and the latest data available are for 2012.

Fracking

Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to develop a UK standard in mitigation measures, operating conditions and planning requirements for shale gas pads. [191483]

Michael Fallon: The UK has a strong regulatory system which provides a comprehensive and fit-for- purpose regime for exploration. The regulatory regime

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recognises that regulators must be allowed to take decisions depending on the circumstances of each particular case. The Environment Agency, for example, takes a risk-based approach to permitting that in most cases means a blanket refusal to issue a permit in certain circumstances would not be appropriate. Planning authorities also assess each application on a case-by-case basis, recognising that each application may have specific circumstances that need to be taken into account.

There are standards that all operators must adhere to. These can be found in legislation and guidance set out by Government and regulators, such as the Environment Agency. The industry's own guidelines also include best practice which operators are committed to following.

The UK's goal-based approach to regulation of shale gas extraction was commended by an authoritative review by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society, which was published in June 2012.

Fuel Poverty

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of people in each region of the UK are in fuel poverty. [191865]

Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is a devolved issue and each UK nation monitors and reports on fuel poverty independently. Furthermore, each nation has its own preferred definition of fuel poverty. In England, the Government now use the Low Income High Costs definition of fuel poverty. Figures show that in 2011 there were 2.4 million households in England in fuel poverty under this definition.

In Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland the principal indicator of fuel poverty is the “10% definition” under which a household is fuel poor if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on domestic energy. The latest available figures are as follows:

All fuel poverty statistics published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change can be accessed easily at the following website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics

Natural Resources

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department will be taking to implement the findings of the second State of Natural Capital report by the Natural Capital Committee. [191585]

Gregory Barker: The Natural Capital Committee (NCC) formally reports to the Economic Affairs Committee and the second report was directed to it. The NCC's report contains a range of recommendations which the

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Government need to consider collectively. DEFRA is co-ordinating the Government response and will reply to the NCC's report once it has fully considered it.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Cayman Islands

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of progress in implementing the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility in the Cayman Islands. [191569]

Mark Simmonds: The Cayman Islands Government remain on track to meet the sound fiscal trajectory and other commitments set out in the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility.

Commonwealth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to strengthen ties with the Commonwealth. [191470]

Mr Swire: The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka in November 2013. I also addressed the Commonwealth People's Forum and the Commonwealth Business Forum, held in parallel with CHOGM. On 24 February 2014, I hosted a meeting of high commissioners to discuss the Commonwealth. I will meet high commissioners and others later this month to consider the organisation's role and its relationship with its members.

The United Kingdom continues to make the largest financial contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and all Foreign Office Ministers meet regularly with their Commonwealth counterparts. This week, the Secretary of State has met the Indian, Pakistani, Australian and New Zealand Foreign Ministers. We will of course also use the opportunity of this summer's Commonwealth games in Glasgow to promote and reaffirm our commitment to the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Secretariat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much financial support the UK provides to the Commonwealth Secretariat each year. [191595]

Mr Swire: We remain the largest financial contributor to the Commonwealth Secretariat, providing around 30% of its total budget. In the financial year 2013-14, the British Government provided £14.8 million to the Commonwealth Secretariat. This was made up of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's assessed contribution of £5.2 million; the Department for International Development's (DF1D) contribution to the Commonwealth

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Fund for Technical Co-Operation of £8.6 million; and DFID's contribution to the Commonwealth Youth Programme of £1 million.

Conflict Pool

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where annual reports of the Inter-departmental Conflict Pool for (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 or equivalent information are published. [191669]

Mark Simmonds: The Conflict Pool is a conflict prevention resource collectively managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development (DFID).

Since the beginning of the current spending review period, and in line with commitments made in the Building Stability Overseas Strategy, published in 2011, all three Departments adopted a multi-year funding model based on three-year programmes. No annual reports have since been produced.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), annually update the House on Conflict Pool annual allocations, by written ministerial statement.

Additionally, Departments publish details on Conflict Pool spending they manage through their websites and in line with their departmental requirements. DFID reports to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) on any spending that is eligible as Official Development Assistance.

In 2012, both the National Audit Office and the Independent Commission for Aid Impact published independent reports on the Conflict Pool.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UN sanctions regime against the Democratic Republic of Congo. [191845]

Mark Simmonds: We welcome United Nations Security Council Resolution 2136 (2014) about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) adopted on 30 January 2014 that renewed the sanctions regime in force on the DRC. Sanctions can be an effective foreign policy tool in helping to influence behaviour. In the DRC, the persistence of a complex mosaic of violent conflicts has caused widespread death and displacement, and the destruction of the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of households, particularly in the eastern part of the country.

Taking steps, including imposing sanctions, to cut funding and other support to the illegal armed groups responsible for the violence is an important element of the Government's strategy aimed at bringing stability to the region.

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Falkland Islands

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2014, Official Report, column 46W, on Falkland Islands, and with reference to the answer from the Minister for Universities and Science of 27 January 2014, Official Report, column 447W, on overseas students, British overseas territories, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the correct use of the name of the Falkland Islands by Government Departments; and what cross-governmental guidance his Department has issued on this matter. [191513]

Mr Swire: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have been in contact with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to remind them of the appropriate terminology for the Falkland Islands. No specific cross-governmental guidance has been issued on this matter, but it is clear that all Government Departments and agencies should use the correct name, which is of course the Falkland Islands.

Hezbollah

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that Hezbollah is stockpiling missiles. [R] [191240]

Hugh Robertson: We remain very concerned by Hezbollah's own claims that it possesses significant military capabilities and the continued reports of the transfers of conventional weapons from Syria and Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Any weapons transfers are in violation of Security Council resolution 1701 and pose a threat to Lebanese and regional stability.

Iran

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the reported interception of Iranian arms shipments to Gaza has had on his assessment of the role of President Rouhani in promoting stability in the middle east. [191537]

Hugh Robertson: We are deeply concerned by the reports of a recent Iranian arms shipment to Gaza, which was intercepted by Israel. Arms exports by Iran are prohibited under UN Security Council resolutions and such shipments undermine peace and security in the middle east.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to reduce Iranian military and financial support for the Assad regime. [191616]

Hugh Robertson: We raise our concerns about the impact of Iran's support for the Assad regime both bilaterally with Iran and publicly; and we supported the EU decision to impose travel bans on, and asset freezes against, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps members and entities involved in Syria. We continue to press Iran to support a political resolution to the Syrian crisis, in

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line with the Geneva communiqué, and encourage our international partners to make similar points in their engagement with Iran.

Middle East

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports of rocket fire from southern Lebanon into Israel. [R] [191241]

Hugh Robertson: The situation on the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon remains relatively calm. We were concerned on 29 December 2013 by one rocket fired from Lebanon into Israel to which the Israeli Defence Force responded with artillery rounds; no injuries or material damage were caused on either side. We welcome the positive role that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon plays in maintaining the ceasefire on the Israeli-Lebanon border and urge both Israel and Lebanon to take advantage of the ceasefire to conduct negotiations towards a permanent peace, including settling all outstanding border disputes.

Occupied Territories

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on levels of settlement construction. [191562]

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), most recently raised the issue of settlements with the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman, on 7 January 2014, during his recent visit to the UK.

Palestinians

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities about their handling of visa requests from Palestinian medical students for travel to the UK in connection with the work of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association; and if he will make a statement. [191541]

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had no discussions to date with the Israeli authorities on this issue.

Russia

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the imposition of sanctions which directly affect President Putin. [191319]

Mr Lidington: As the Prime Minister said to the House on 10 March 2014, Official Report, column 25, the European Council agreed to begin work on sanctions measures which could be taken in the absence of meaningful engagement from Russia with Ukraine. Sanctions are imposed at the EU level and so any sanctions measures in relation to the crisis in Ukraine, including asset freezes and travel bans, will be taken with our EU partners.

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Spain

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the practice of Spain’s Guardia Civil firing rubber bullets into the sea and using similar tactics used to repel immigrants. [189729]

Mr Lidington: The British Government have not received any reports of such practices, beyond what has been reported in the media. The Spanish delegation provided a report to the Frontex Management Board, at their meeting in Warsaw on 19 February, about recent attempts by immigrants to enter Ceuta and Melilla. The UK is not a member of the Management Board but attends the meetings by invitation.

Operational decisions on policing of borders are a member state competence. On 26 February, the Spanish Interior Minister announced that the Guardia Civil would no longer use rubber bullets in Ceuta and Melilla. A judicial investigation is currently under way in Spain. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further.

Ensuring the security of the EU’s external borders is an issue of concern to all member states, which we continue to discuss in EU fora and with other relevant countries.

Syria

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what more his Department can do to protect Christians in Syria from Al-Qaeda splinter groups who demand payments in gold and curb any displays of faith by threatening death by sword. [191320]

Hugh Robertson: We condemn the reported attempts by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to extort money from Christian inhabitants of Raqqah governorate in Syria. This reinforces the need for us to support the moderate opposition, who are fighting these extremist groups and who, as the UN Commission of Inquiry has acknowledged, are pressing for a pluralist and democratic vision of Syria.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to protect children in Syria from sexual abuse. [191322]

Hugh Robertson: The prevention of sexual violence is a personal priority of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), who has led international efforts on this issue. In January the UN Secretary General reported on the horrific sexual abuse of children, particularly in regime detention facilities. The UK is fully committed to ensuring that all those responsible for such crimes are held accountable and we have called for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court. Attempts to deal with this issue are severely hampered by the sensitivities surrounding sexual violence, which mean people are often reluctant to discuss abuse, particularly when committed against children.

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As part of our broader humanitarian contribution of £600 million, the UK has put in place £30 million of funding to provide protection, trauma care, education and counselling for children affected by the crisis. We also support efforts to train investigators to collect evidence of sexual violence and other crimes to ensure that survivors can seek justice. As part of this we have sent members of the Secretary of State’s team of experts to the Syrian borders to help train health professionals and human rights defenders to document crimes of sexual violence to a criminal law standard. Ultimately though, the only way to thoroughly protect Syria's children is to find a political solution to the crisis. This is why we are at the forefront of international efforts to support the political process.

Ukraine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to improve relations between the Governments of Russia and Ukraine. [191399]

Mr Lidington: There has been intense work to persuade Russia to come to the negotiating table with the Government of Ukraine and to discuss their stated concerns face to face.

As the Prime Minister said to the House on 10 March 2014, Official Report, column 25, the idea of a contact group, including other countries and organisations, was one that the Prime Minister first proposed to the Polish Prime Minister back in January. The European Council on 6 March agreed it was essential for such talks to start within the next few days and for them to deliver progress quickly. The UK also agreed that if Russia did not co-operate there would need to be further measures which would need to start rapidly.

There has been a range of recent extensive multilateral and bilateral diplomatic activity that has taken place in pursuit of improving relations between the Governments of Russia and Ukraine. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), called for de-escalation in Crimea and respect for sovereignty and independence of Ukraine during his telephone call with Foreign Minister Lavrov on 1 March. He also urged Russia to talk directly to the Ukrainian Government through ministerial and military channels. The UN Security Council held an urgent meeting on 2 March at the UK‘s request. Members of the Council called for international monitors to be sent to Ukraine to observe the situation and stressed the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity and the need to de-escalate tensions. I also met the Russian ambassador on 4 and 11 March and underlined the messages in the Secretary of State's statement to the House on 4 March 2014, Official Report, column 755, and the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 10 March 2014, Official Report, column 25.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Russian Foreign Ministers on Russian troops leaving the Crimea region of Ukraine. [191401]

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Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), pressed for clarification of the Russian position relating to the Crimea during his telephone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on 1 March 2014. The Foreign Secretary called for de-escalation in Crimea and respect for sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. He also urged Russia to talk directly to the Ukrainian Government, through ministerial and military channels.

The Foreign Secretary, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs Andriy Deshchytsia met in Paris on 5March 2014 to discuss the Budapest Memorandum; the Russian Foreign Minister was invited but did not attend. The Foreign Secretary and allies met the Russian Foreign Minister separately where they discussed the formation of a contact group which would, among other things, address the issue of Russian troops in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take in response to the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism in his report dated 28 February 2014 on the use of armed drones in extraterritorial lethal counter-terrorism operations. [191665]

Hugh Robertson: This report identified a number of interesting and challenging legal questions. The UK believes that existing international law sufficiently covers the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). We regard them as subject to the same legal considerations as other weapons systems.

UK forces operating RPA in Afghanistan do so in accordance with international humanitarian law, following the principles of distinction, humanity, proportionality and military necessity. The incident referred to in Now Zad, Helmand was subject to an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) investigation, and therefore any final decision on the report’s disclosure sits within the ISAF chain of command.

Women and Equalities

Business: Females

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she is taking to increase the number of women in senior positions in business. [900835]

Mrs Grant: Under this Government, more women are in work than ever before. And we are determined to do more.

My right hon. Friend has already mentioned the excellent work to increase the number of women on boards and we have also set up Think, Act, Report—a voluntary initiative promoting gender equality in the workplace. 131 companies have signed up so far, covering almost 2 million employees.

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Deputy Prime Minister

Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether he plans to meet charities and other interested parties to discuss the issuing of guidance on the implementation of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014; [191232]

(2) whether he plans to publish guidance to inform charities and other affected organisations about the implementation of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non- party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014. [191233]

Greg Clark: Guidance is being produced by the Electoral Commission regarding the operation of the rules for non-party campaigners. The commission is working with the UK's three charity regulators and other organisations to ensure that the guidance is clear and helpful.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Apprentices: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber employed an apprentice in each of the last five years. [191636]

Matthew Hancock: Information is not available on the number of businesses employing apprentices.

Table 1 shows the number of workplaces (site level) in Brigg and Goole constituency and Yorkshire and the Humber that employed apprentices from 2010/11 to 2012/13. Information for earlier years is not readily available.

Diabetes: Research

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what amount the Government have spent on research on type 1 diabetes in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [191682]

Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government

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support medical and clinical research. Expenditure by the MRC on research into type 1 diabetes is shown in the following table.

Department of Health spend on research on type 1 diabetes through research programmes, research centres and units and research training awards is shown in the following table.

Energy: Industry

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on when the compensation scheme for the carbon floor price will be approved. [191142]

Michael Fallon: Ministers have regular discussions with the Commission on the issue of state aid approval for the carbon price floor compensation scheme for energy intensive industries. I am optimistic that a decision will be received this month.

Merlin Helicopters: India

Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library copies of the memoranda of understanding underpinning the 2010 sale of 12 VIP AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters to the Indian Government. [191543]

Michael Fallon: There is no memorandum of understanding underpinning the 2010 sale of 12 VIP AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters to the Indian Government.

Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether Jackie Callcutt was involved in the negotiations for the AgustaWestland deal with India which collapsed earlier this year. [191544]

Michael Fallon: Mrs Jackie Callcutt was not involved in the negotiations for the AgustaWestland deal with India that collapsed earlier this year. The deal is a

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commercial contract negotiated directly by the company. At the time the contract was being negotiated, Mrs Callcut was the first secretary defence and security in the British high commission in New Delhi. As part of her role, she underlined UK Government support to the Indian authorities in reaching a decision to contract with AgustaWestland. As with any embassy overseas, supporting UK companies in this way is a key role of the first secretary defence and security or its equivalent.

Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the name was of each official in his Department who took part in negotiations prior to the 2010 sale of 12 VIP AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters to the Indian Government. [191545]

Michael Fallon: No Government officials took part in the commercial negotiations running up to the 2010 sale of 12 VIP AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters to the Indian Government. UK Government support for the sale was emphasised to Indian Government officials in the course of routine meetings as part of the normal lobbying undertaken in support of UK companies seeking to secure valuable export orders.

Mining

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on developing a global standard of financial transparency in the extractive industry. [191496]

Jenny Willott: The Government are committed to increasing transparency in the extractives sector and this was a key theme during our G8 presidency.

Implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the UK is progressing quickly. The Multi-Stakeholder Group has met three times and I attended the last meeting. I was impressed by the commitment of the members, who are working effectively and consensually to implement EITI.

In addition, we are committed to implementing chapter 10 of the accounting directive which introduces mandatory reporting. A consultation is due shortly.

Music: Higher Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many undergraduate students are studying music in the UK in the current academic year; [191402]

(2) how many undergraduate students are studying music at a conservatoire in the UK in the current academic year. [191403]

Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on student enrolments at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). In the academic year 2012/13 there were 21,110 full-person equivalent undergraduate enrolments in music subjects in UK HEIs, of these 2,655 were at conservatoires in the UK.

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The conservatoires included are the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of South Wales (The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama merged with the University of Glamorgan in the academic year 2007/08 and this subsequently merged with the University of Wales, Newport in April 2013 to form the University of South Wales).

Information on enrolments at UK HEIs in the academic year 2013/14 will become available from HESA in January 2015.

Post Office Card Account

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Post Office Ltd, (b) the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, (c) the Department for Work and Pensions and (d) the Treasury on the future of the Post Office card account. [191517]

Jenny Willott: 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. The National Federation of Sub Postmasters is aware that these discussions are under way.

Post Office Card Account: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the change was in the number of Post Office card accounts in Northern Ireland between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2013. [191769]

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.

Trade Union Officials

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department provided for staff to carry out trade union activities in each of the last three years; and how many days staff spent on those activities in each of those years. [190234]

Jenny Willott: The principal funding consists of salary costs.

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Since November 2012, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has been formally collecting information on trade union facility time usage for publication by the Cabinet Office in line with their new framework. Prior to this, facility time use was monitored locally after the yearly allocations had been agreed centrally with HR and the BIS trade unions.

The variations in time and cost can be accounted for by the different time used by union representatives across grades.

Trade: Developing Countries

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the Government's objectives are in the work of the Doha Development Agenda. [191482]

Michael Fallon: Our immediate objective is to implement those elements of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) that were agreed at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali in December last year. Trade facilitation, worth in itself almost half of the value of DDA, represents the bulk of the deal. This was accompanied by agreements in agriculture and development issues. The remaining elements of the DDA are agriculture, non-agricultural market access and trade in services, and we would like to move forward on all of these, although we cannot be sure of quick progress on all elements.

UK Trade & Investment

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much UK Trade & Investment has spent in the (a) production and (b) postage of promotional materials to hon. Members in each year since 2010. [191749]

Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) does not normally provide promotional material to hon. Members and does not hold a complete record since 2010 of instances where promotional items may have been provided. However UKTI recognises that hon. Members have significant access to companies in their constituencies to communicate the support that UKTI can provide to companies willing to consider exporting. To this end, campaign material including a GREAT Britain poster has been supplied to each hon. Member to display in their constituency offices at a cost of £17,800.

Transport

Bus Services

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to help young people in apprenticeship schemes with the cost of travel to work by bus. [191296]

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Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is working with the bus industry and others to see how travel discounts offered to young people, including those who are in an apprenticeship scheme, can be improved. In September 2013 I met Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, who advocated development of a discounted bus travel scheme for apprentices. The Department is currently commissioning some technical economic research into the young people's bus travel market.

The legislation which regulates the bus industry does not require bus operators to offer reduced fares to them. Many local authorities provide discretionary travel concession schemes to young people although they are not aimed specifically at apprentices. Bus operators in most areas offer discounted travel tickets to various groups of young people on a commercial basis but the age at which these are available varies a great deal from one operator to another.

The Department carries out annual surveys of travel concession schemes. Statistics showing the provision of discounted travel for young people are published in Table BUS0842 at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport/series/bus-statistics

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the economic costs and potential benefits of a salary sacrifice scheme for bus commuters. [191297]

Stephen Hammond: The Department has not made any estimates of the economic costs of a salary sacrifice scheme for bus commuters. I am aware that Greener Journeys, a body that campaigns on behalf of the bus sector, has developed a scheme of this kind as part of its recent Bus 2020 document. It has shared its emerging work with the Department.

Commissioners of Irish Lights

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the savings that will be made in (a) financial year 2015-16 and (b) succeeding years as a result of the work of the Commissioners of Irish Lights in the Republic of Ireland being met fully from Irish sources. [191837]

Stephen Hammond: In 2012-13, £8.5 million of the Commissioners of Irish Lights' costs in the Republic of Ireland was funded from light dues paid by ships calling at UK ports. This payment will cease from 2015-16.

East Anglia Railway Line

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Abellio on potential improvements to rolling stock on the Great Eastern Main Line. [191766]

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State has not personally had any meetings with Abellio Greater Anglia on potential improvements to rolling stock on the Great Eastern Main Line. However, the Department for Transport is in regular discussion with Abellio Greater Anglia about the interim franchise which is expected to operate from July this year and is seeking modest improvements

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to rolling stock where it provides value for money and is affordable. In the longer term, the Norwich in Ninety Task Force will inform the specification for the competed franchise which is due to start in October 2016.

First Capital Connect

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2014, Official Report, column 387W, on First Capital Connect, what the (a) net franchise payment and (b) revenue support are for the extension of the Essex Thameside franchise from May 2013 to September 2014. [191754]

Stephen Hammond: Contracted subsidy for the interim franchise agreement is c.£1.7 million. A profit share mechanism is in place, which will capture any out performance in revenue, thereby lowering subsidy requirement. Subsidy and premium payments are published regularly on the Office of Rail Regulation website.

General Lighthouse Authorities: Pensions

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the (a) principal value, (b) annual interest rate and (c) estimated total cost of the loan provided by his Department to facilitate the transfer of the General Lighthouse Authorities' pension schemes to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. [191755]

Stephen Hammond: The estimated value of the General Lighthouse Authorities' pension liability is £360 million. In paying for this liability to be transferred to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, it is anticipated that roundly £160 million will come from the General Lighthouse Fund and £200 million from the Department for Transport. The latter sum will be repaid over 10 years, attracting an annual interest rate of around 2%, to be set on the day of the transfer. It is estimated that £221 million will be repaid from the General Lighthouse Fund.

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on the size of pension received by employees of the General Lighthouse Authority of the transfer of pensions from that authority's scheme to the Principal Civil Service pension scheme. [191835]

Stephen Hammond: The General Lighthouse Authorities' pension schemes work by analogy to the Principal Civil Service pension scheme; in effect they apply the same rules.

General Lighthouse Fund

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Written Statement of 6 March 2014, Official Report, columns 64-5WS, what estimate he has made of (a) the cost to the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF) and (b) effect on the GLF's reserves of reducing light dues by one penny in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16. [191836]

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Stephen Hammond: The reduction in the light dues rate of one penny in 2014-15 is estimated to reduce annual income to the General Lighthouse Fund by £2 million. No decision has been made on a further reduction in 2015-16; this will be dependent on the final valuation of the General Lighthouse Authorities' pension liability and a decision on the appropriate minimum level of the General Lighthouse Fund necessary to maintain operational cashflow.

The Government's intention is to set light dues at a rate which holds income and expenditure in balance, maintaining a steady General Lighthouse Fund reserve around that minimum level.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many representations were received in response to the Environmental Statement on (a) the High Speed 2 project and (b) the High Speed 2/High Speed 1 link project; [191365]

(2) how many representations from Londoners were received in response to the Environmental Statement on (a) the High Speed 2 project and (b) the High Speed 2/High Speed 1 link project; [191366]

(3) how many representations were received in response to the Environmental Statement on (a) the High Speed 2 project and (b) the High Speed 2/High Speed 1 link project in each week of the consultation. [191367]

Mr Goodwill: Following the deposit of the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill on 25 November 2013, as required by Standing Orders, a consultation on the Environmental Statement was held. In response to this consultation 21,833 responses were received.

The responses are not being analysed by the Department for Transport but have been passed to an independent assessor, appointed by parliamentary authorities, who will summarise the issues raised in them and provide a report directly to Parliament by 7 April.

As a result the Department for Transport does not hold accurate information on how many responses were received from Londoners, or in relation to the HS1 link, including figures for how many responses were received each week of the consultation.

Light Dues

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written statement of 6 March 2014, Official Report, columns 64-65WS, on light dues 2014-15, what estimate he has made of the total revenue foregone by the Exchequer by reducing the light dues rate by one penny to 40p per net registered tonne in 2014-15; and what estimate he has made of the total revenue so foregone through a further reduction in 2015-16. [191782]

Stephen Hammond: Income from light dues is paid into the General Lighthouse Fund, not to the Exchequer. Therefore no revenue is foregone by the Exchequer.

No decision has been made on a further reduction in 2015-16.

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Northern Rail

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all trains operated by the Northern Rail franchise will be compliant with the Equality Act 2010 by 1 January 2020. [191843]

Stephen Hammond: The Department has set out the level of accessibility that it requires trains to have if they are to remain in service after 2019. It is for the rolling stock leasing companies to decide whether to invest in life-extension works, having gauged the future demand for those vehicles.

The necessary work on train fleets currently operated by Northern has already been proposed as part of the current operator's bid for an extension to its current franchise until February 2016. After February 2016 the next franchisee will propose which types of vehicle it wants to operate, and ensure that these meet the requirements for disabled passengers by the legal deadline of 2020.

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age of rolling stock used by the Northern Rail franchise has been in each of the last 10 years. [191853]

Stephen Hammond: Information on the average age of rolling stock is available from the Office of Rail Regulation's website, by following this link:

http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/53dcc4e1-3223-48f9-9e9c-10d51359cdd7

The age of rolling stock is a crude measure of quality—as a properly planned refurbishment of an older train can result in a very pleasant travelling environment and a “new train feel”—but at a fraction of the cost of a new unit.

Railway Stations: Copeland

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the station usage figures were for each railway station in Copeland in each of the last 10 years. [191844]

Stephen Hammond: Estimates of the number of passengers using each station on the rail network are published on the Office of Rail Regulation's website at the following link:

http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates

The methodology for this data set has changed over time as improvements have been made, so the estimates from different years may not have been produced on a consistent basis. Details of the methodology changes made each year can be found in the accompanying reports.

Railway Stations: West Yorkshire

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to introduce car parking charges at rail stations in West Yorkshire as part of the Northern franchise. [191687]

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Stephen Hammond: Negotiations for the Northern direct award, due to run from April 2014 until February 2016, are still ongoing; an announcement will be made in due course. Having considered the matter, the direct award will not include proposals to introduce car parking charges at additional rail stations.

Railways

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government have spent on rail services per head of population in each region of England in each of the last 10 years. [191841]

Stephen Hammond: The following table shows estimated Government expenditure on railways per head of population in each region of England between 2007-08 and 2012-13. Estimates for earlier years are not available.

These estimates are based on the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) published by the Treasury. Expenditure is usually allocated between regions on the basis of where it occurs rather than on the basis of who benefits, as a robust methodology is not always available to allocate expenditure in this way. Therefore expenditure in one region may benefit people that live in another.

The methods used to allocate expenditure between countries and regions may be subject to changes over time, so changes from year to year may reflect differences in methodology rather than real changes.

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rail spending per head will be in each region of England in each year of Control Period 5. [191878]

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

Railways: Fares

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average change in rail fares was in each of the last five years. [191557]

Stephen Hammond: Data displaying the average change in rail fares from 2004 to 2013 can be found on the ORR website at:

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/7cff3127-a5cc-4173-ac78-016db2339811

17 Mar 2014 : Column 428W

Railways: Pensioners

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of people of pensionable age using rail services. [191515]

Stephen Hammond: The following table shows an estimate of the number of people of pensionable age using surface rail for given self-reported frequencies in 2012.