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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Empty Property

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [191808]

Dan Rogerson: Property business rates for the current financial year on vacant properties, as per e-PIMS records, are:

(a) Core DEFRA—£73,358

(b) Executive Agencies and NDPBs—None

Floods: Agriculture

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the impact of agricultural policies in the UK on the level of flooding in recent years. [191711]

Dan Rogerson: The outcomes and impacts of agricultural policies are often complex and overlapping. They can vary from year to year depending on external factors, such as the weather patterns encountered in recent years. The impacts of land management, including agriculture, on flood risk will vary from catchment to catchment.

The Government seek to maximise opportunities to deliver biodiversity, water quality, environmental and flooding benefits together, for instance in designing cross compliance and new environmental land management scheme requirements for CAP 2015. We are currently seeking views on the rules that farmers need to follow, including soil management and erosion prevention, in return for the CAP funding that they receive. We also work with industry to ensure environmental and business resilience.

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration he has given to conducting a national soil survey to assess the effects of recent flood damage on the future productivity of farmland. [191717]

Dan Rogerson: Since September 2010 we have commissioned £1.9 million in research addressing soil degradation, much of which involves soil erosion by water. A current research project due for completion next month is examining the long-term effects of waterlogging on soil productivity and exploring opportunities for national soil erosion monitoring.

We are currently in discussions with the Research Councils on options to assess the impacts of the recent flooding on soil quality.

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Internal Drainage Boards: West Sussex

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will undertake a review of the proposal by the Environment Agency to disband the three West Sussex internal drainage boards; and if he will make a statement. [191747]

Dan Rogerson: We have not received a formal proposal from the Environment Agency to disband the three internal drainage boards that are currently operated by the Environment Agency in West Sussex. The Environment Agency has been reviewing options for the future management of these areas in discussion with local authorities and all other interested local stakeholders, including through a steering group chaired by the Arun and Rother Rivers Trust. These local discussions are continuing.

National Rivers Authority

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to re-introduce the National Rivers Authority staffed with civil and flood engineers. [191925]

Dan Rogerson: The Triennial Review of the Environment Agency concluded in June 2013 that the organisation should be retained with its current purpose and statutory role. There are no immediate plans to review this.

The published report can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/triennial-review-of-the-environment-agency-ea-and-natural-england-ne

Nature Conservation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants his Department has made to UK conservation charities in each year since 2010. [191653]

Dan Rogerson: The financial systems within core DEFRA do not identify conservation charities specifically. The following table is therefore based on officials' determination of which charities out of those that have received payment from core DEFRA could be considered to be conservation charities.

The following table shows payments to these charities relating to each of the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. Information relating to 2013-14 will be available in July 2014, after the Department's accounts for 2013-14 have been audited and published.

To determine which funding was specifically a grant rather than a payment would incur disproportionate cost.

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Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which CITES Annex A and B listed species have been (a) imported into and (b) exported from the UK in each of the last five years; and what the reasons for each such import and export were. [191655]

George Eustice: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost because of the amount of staff time it would require for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency to extract this information from its licensing database. For example, in 2013 there were a total of 22,143 applications to import, export or re-export CITES Annex A species covering 1,217 different species.

The CITES Secretariat publishes a trade database that currently holds 7 million records of trade in wildlife and 50,000 scientific names of taxa listed by CITES. The database can be accessed at:

www.cites.org/eng/resources/trade.shtml

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of CITES-listed animals imported into the UK in each month of the last five years. [191656]

George Eustice: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost because of the amount of staff time it would require for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency to extract this information from its licensing database.

The CITES Secretariat publishes a trade database that currently holds 7 million records of trade in wildlife and 50,000 scientific names of taxa listed by CITES. The database can be accessed at:

www.cites.org/eng/resources/trade.shtml

Trade Union Officials

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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 those years. [190484]

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Dan Rogerson: Trade union activities relate specifically to the running and administration of the trade union.

Prior to January 2013 core DEFRA did not distinguish between trade union activities and other trade union functions when gathering information relating to trade union costs. Therefore, for the years 2011 and 2012 no information can be provided.

In 2012-13, DEFRA (and other Government Departments) carried out a review of trade union facility time, which is the time trade union representatives can spend carrying out trade union functions. This enabled us to distinguish trade union activities from other functions.

For the period 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2013, the salary cost to core DEFRA for trade union activities was £11,667 which equated to approximately 85 days. These costs do not include travel and subsistence as these data are not recorded separately from costs associated with other trade union functions.

Since 1 July 2013, following a review of trade union facility time, core DEFRA has not provided any funding for trade union activities.

Tree Planting

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage local communities to plant trees. [191712]

Dan Rogerson: Through the Big Tree Plant funding scheme, we are encouraging local community groups to plant trees in neighbourhoods where people live and work. These trees are often planted in our most deprived urban neighbourhoods. So far, the scheme has supported the planting of over half a million trees in England and is on target to achieve its aim of supporting the planting of 1 million new trees by March 2015.

The English Woodland Grant Scheme supports woodland creation through the provision of grants to individuals and organisations. The scheme is currently not accepting new applications. However, we intend as part of the new Rural Development Programme to offer woodland creation grants in 2015.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Afghanistan

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women human rights defenders staff in the UK embassy in Kabul has met in the last six months; and what direct intervention the UK has recently made on their behalf in relation to their security needs. [191941]

Hugh Robertson: We do not maintain a central record, but staff throughout the embassy, and visiting Ministers, meet a range of different human rights defenders, including high-profile women activists and campaigners. Over the past six months many dozens of such meetings have taken place. Human rights defenders play an important role in shaping the UK Government's political and development work in Afghanistan. In line with EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, both FCO and DFID embassy staff maintain regular contact with civil society organisations and human rights activists, including those working on behalf of women's rights, to discuss concerns and share information.

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Bahrain

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of human rights violations in Bahrain; if he will designate Bahrain as a country of concern; and if he will make a statement. [191570]

Hugh Robertson: We continue to monitor the human rights situation in Bahrain and issue a biannual assessment as a country case study in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's human rights report. Country case studies were introduced in 2012 as a way to report on countries which do not meet the overall threshold for a country of concern, but which we judge to be facing human rights challenges, or to be on a trajectory of change with regard to their human rights performance. Bahrain's designation as a country case study strikes an appropriate balance between the undoubted progress made in some areas and our continuing concerns in others.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of progress in implementing the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [191571]

Hugh Robertson: We assess that the Bahraini Government remain committed to implementing the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. We continue to encourage the Bahraini Government to build on the positive steps taken and ensure that the remaining recommendations are implemented soon.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss the current situation on torture in Bahrain with the UN Special Rapporteur; and if he will make a statement. [191572]

Hugh Robertson: We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to set a date for the visit to Bahrain of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. We welcome the current visit to Bahrain of a technical team from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and we await the findings of this visit.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received about the shooting of Fadel Abbas by security forces in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement. [191574]

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the death of Fadel Abbas on 25 January. We encourage the Government of Bahrain to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident.

Free Movement of People

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent Swiss referendum result on the free movement of people in the EU on the long-term validity of that policy. [191759]

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Mr Lidington: The Government will consider carefully any Swiss proposal to implement the result of the referendum but Switzerland has not yet set out how it intends to do this. It is too early to comment on what any proposal may look like.

We support the principle of free movement but this referendum reflects the growing concern around Europe about its impact. This is why we are working together with our European partners to tackle the issue of abuse of free movement.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that there be a UK referendum on the principle of free movement of people within the EU. [191760]

Mr Lidington: Freedom of movement is an important principle of the EU but is not and cannot be a completely unqualified one. We are focusing on cutting out the abuse of free movement between EU member states and are seeking to address factors that drive European immigration to Britain.

Through the European Union Act 2011, the Government have legislated to ensure that any further transfers of power from the UK to the EU would require the people's consent in a referendum. The question of referenda on EU membership will be addressed by political parties in their manifestos.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to prevent drug smuggling into Gibraltar. [191469]

Mr Lidington: Action to prevent drug smuggling into Gibraltar is the constitutional competence of HM Government of Gibraltar. However, through its International Liaison Officer (ILO) Network the National Crime Agency (NCA) provides bi-lateral assistance to Law Enforcement agencies in Gibraltar, where required, to combat serious and organised crime, including drug trafficking. The NCA will also work with Gibraltar through international law enforcement bodies, such as Interpol, to combat serious and organised crime.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what correspondence his Department has received from the group For a Humanitarian Frontier. [191506]

Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no letters from the group For a Humanitarian Frontier in the last year.

Gibraltar: Spain

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to demonstrate to the Spanish Government that the UK does not intend to negotiate on the matter of Gibraltar. [191472]

Mr Lidington: The Government's policy is that the UK will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. Both Ministers and officials make this position clear to the Spanish Government

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on all appropriate occasions. While the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has reiterated to the Spanish Government his proposal of April 2012 to hold ad hoc talks involving all relevant parties, we have consistently made clear that these would not include negotiations on Gibraltar's sovereignty.

Morocco

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports he has received from the UK ambassador in Rabat on the arrest of the journalists Lafkir Laghdaf and Khaled Rouhi; [192176]

(2) if his Department will raise with the Moroccan ambassador to the UK the arrests of the journalists Lafkir Laghdaf and Khaled Rouhi. [192177]

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of reports of the arrest of these two people, but understand that they have both now been released. We regularly emphasise to Morocco the importance of full respect for human rights in Western Sahara. I discussed this issue during my trip to Rabat last week.

Trade Union Officials

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 those years. [190485]

Hugh Robertson: The FCO did not record or cost centrally time spent on activities by trade union members, in financial years, until 2012. Following Government reform to trade union facility time in 2012, all trade union representatives now spend a maximum of 50% of their time on trade union work with effect from 26 November 2013. In addition, since March 2013 facility time spent on both duties and activities is recorded and provided to the Cabinet Office in line with the quarterly reporting requirements.

Uganda

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK will (a) review and (b) suspend security assistance to the Government of Uganda following the passage of the recent anti-homosexuality law in that country. [191847]

Mark Simmonds: Our civilian security assistance to the Government of Uganda involves support on aviation and cyber security. We have no plans to review or suspend our assistance, which is in the UK's security interests. Respect for human rights underpins all UK training and support for overseas security programmes.

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department plans to take to support human rights in Uganda in response to the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act and the Anti-Pornography Act. [191898]

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Mark Simmonds: We will continue to make clear our deep concern and disappointment at recent developments. We urge the Government of Uganda to protect all its citizens without discrimination on any grounds, and call on the Ugandan authorities to investigate any such attacks fully. We are separately considering how we can best support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and those working to champion their rights. Our high commission in Kampala is supporting a Kaleidoscope Trust project working with the LGBT community.

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has any planned diplomatic engagements with the Government of Uganda. [191899]

Mark Simmonds: Our high commissioner to Uganda met with the Ugandan President on 11 March. In recent weeks, she has also met the Ugandan Minister of Justice, Inspector General of Police, the Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. I will be meeting the Ugandan high commissioner to the UK in March. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), expects to meet with the Ugandan President at the EU-Africa summit in Brussels, due to take place on 2 to 3 April.

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has identified any threat to British LGBTI citizens travelling to Uganda. [191900]

Mark Simmonds: We have updated our travel advice for Uganda with regards to the environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travellers. Our travel advice is reviewed regularly.

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Uganda's high commissioner in London. [191912]

Mark Simmonds: The Ugandan high commissioner arrived in July 2013. I met the high commissioner during the visit to the UK of the Ugandan Energy Minister on 18 November. I will be meeting with the high commissioner in March to discuss, among other things, the Anti-Homosexuality Act.

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Commonwealth Governments on Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act and Anti-Pornography Act. [191913]

Mr Swire: The Anti-Homosexuality Act runs counter to the Commonwealth's commitment to equality and respect without discrimination on any grounds, which Uganda agreed under the Commonwealth Charter. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made clear in his public statement of 24 February our deep concern and disappointment at Uganda's recent legislation. The Foreign Secretary also wrote to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth on 1 March to ask him to work with us to review the

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worrying trend on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. I will discuss this issue with the Commonwealth Secretary-General in a meeting later this week.

We continue to raise our concerns about the legislation with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels and our high commission in Kampala continues to discuss the issue with Commonwealth high commissions on the ground. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds), raised our concerns with the Ugandan Foreign Minister on 28 December 2013 and again on 28 January, the Deputy Foreign Minister on 13 February 2014, and with the Ugandan high commissioner on 18 March. Our high commissioner to Uganda also raised our concerns with the Ugandan President on 11 March.

Ukraine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking in order to prevent further Russian aggression towards Ukraine; and what steps he plans to take following any further such aggression. [191457]

Mr Lidington: The Government remain in constant contact with the Ukrainian Government, US Government, Russian Government, our partners in the EU and our allies in NATO and the G7.

Our main objective is to avoid any further military escalation of the conflict, and instead to see Russia return its forces to their bases and respect Ukrainian sovereignty. We strongly believe the situation should be dealt with through diplomacy and mediation in the relevant international organisations—such as the UN and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The UK is committed to supporting such steps.

We have made firm representations to Russia, urging them to meet their international commitments. The UK has been clear that there will be costs and consequences for its actions. We have suspended preparations for the G8 meeting and have withdrawn royal and ministerial visits to the Sochi Paralympic games.

At EU level, we have suspended visa liberalisation talks and have suspended discussion on a new EU-Russia cooperation agreement. We are considering what further measures we might take to increase diplomatic pressure on Russia if it does not de-escalate the current unacceptable situation.

We will take decisions on any further diplomatic, political and economic measures in close collaboration with EU and G7 partners.

West Africa

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support an African-led solution to problems of maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. [191846]

Hugh Robertson: We are working with the regional economic organisations—the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community

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of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC)—regional states, international organisations and partners to build regional capacity to counter maritime criminality.

Through our presidency of the G8 last year we drove the expansion of the G8++ Friends of Gulf of Guinea experts group, which co-ordinates international partners' capacity building support to the region.

HMS Portland is currently conducting a comprehensive deployment in the region, participating in a multilateral counter-narcotics exercise and training with local naval groupings. The UK is also providing training, expertise, equipment and maintenance in a number of states.

The UK is supporting an industry-led initiative to establish a Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre for the Gulf of Guinea which will provide support and advice to the shipping industry as well as collate data and evidence to contribute to prosecutions.

Western Sahara

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa discussed Western Sahara with (a) Abdelilah Benkirane, Head of Government and (b) Salaheddine Mezouar, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, during his recent visit to Rabat. [191942]

Hugh Robertson: I met Prime Minister Benkirane and Foreign Minister Mezouar during my recent visit to Rabat. We discussed a wide range of foreign policy and bilateral issues, including Western Sahara.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Polisario Front on security in the parts of Western Sahara under its control. [192178]

Hugh Robertson: British Ministers have no current plans to meet the Polisario Front. However, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials meet them regularly and discuss a wide range of political, economic and security issues.

The British Government strongly support UN-led efforts to encourage Morocco and the Polisario Front to agree a long-lasting and mutually-acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

As part of that process, Ambassador Christopher Ross, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, visited the region in February 2014 and met a wide range of interlocutors including the Governments of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario leadership.

Treasury

Children: Day Care

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of savings accruing to the public purse if the new tax-free childcare scheme was restricted to parents earning less than (a) £100,000, (b) £90,000, (c) £80,000, (d) £75,000, (e) £70,000, (f) £65,000 and (g) £60,000 per annum. [179219]

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Nicky Morgan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Norwich South (Simon Wright) on 3 December 2013, Official Report, column 607W.

Gift Aid

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the amount which will be raised for charities through the Gift Aid Small Charitable Donations Scheme, by 31 March 2014; [192060]

(2) what recent consideration he has given to enabling the Gift Aid Small Charitable Donations scheme to benefit from contactless and cashless payments; [192061]

(3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of guidance in relation to the Gift Aid Small Charitable Donations Scheme; and whether he plans to amend that guidance; [192062]

(4) what recent discussions he has had with charities regarding the Gift Aid Small Charitable Donations Scheme; [192063]

(5) what recent estimate he has made of the amount which will be raised for charities via the Gift Aid Small Charitable Donations Scheme, compared to the estimate provided when the Bill was passed; [192064]

(6) how much funding has been raised for charities through the Gift Aid Small Charitable Donations Scheme in each month since it commenced in April 2013. [192065]

Nicky Morgan: The Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) began on 6 April 2013, enabling charities to claim a top-up payment on small cash donations received from that date onwards. The scheme was established for small cash donations only as this was identified as the area where it was often especially difficult to collect Gift Aid declarations.

The Government have committed to a review of the GASDS after three years of its operation, in 2016, and will consider whether any fundamental changes to the scheme are needed, such as the inclusion of different payment types, at that stage.

Statistics on charity tax reliefs are available at the following link:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/charity/table10-2.pdf

Most charities will make their GASDS claim alongside their Gift Aid claims, and the majority of charities only make one Gift Aid claim a year, after the end of their financial year. Therefore we do not expect to see a clear picture of how much charities have claimed under the GASDS in its first year for some months yet. Similarly, the estimates of take-up of the GASDS will not be reviewed until there is a clearer evidence base on which to conduct a review.

As part of my ministerial responsibilities I meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including with charities. As was the case with the previous Administration, it is not the Government's practise to disclose the details of these meetings.

HMRC provides entry-level guidance to help the vast majority of charities use the GASDS, along with detailed guidance for those charities with more complex situations.

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HMRC have also issued a helpsheet to introduce charities to the scheme and help as many to use it as possible. All guidance remains under review.

Members: Correspondence

Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2013, Official Report, column 519W, on Members: correspondence, when he plans to respond to the correspondence dated 26 February 2013 forwarded to HM Revenue and Customs from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the regulation of tobacco companies. [165002]

Sajid Javid: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Minimum Wage: Yorkshire and Humberside

Andrew Percy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fines have been issued to employers in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber for non-payment of the national minimum wage in each year since 2010; and what the total value of such fines was in each such area. [191917]

Mr Gauke: The Government take the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforce the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

HMRC does not capture complaints or the outcomes of its investigations by reference to Government regions, constituencies or county. Its management information relates to the work of teams who are multi-located. Additionally, because it resources to risk, work relating to a specific geographical area is not always done by the NMW team based in that area.

Prior to 6 April 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued penalty notices to those employers who failed to comply, within 28 days, with an enforcement notice. A new enforcement regime, introduced in April 2009, saw the introduction of automatic penalties for employers who are found to have underpaid their workers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Corby (Andy Sawford), on 24 Feb 2014, Official Report, column 30W, which gives the number of companies that have received financial penalties from HM Revenue and Customs for non-payment of the minimum wage across the UK in the financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13. Between 1 April 2013 and 28 February this year, HMRC has issued 561 penalties across the UK for non-payment of national minimum wage, with a combined value of £671,524.

Revenue and Customs

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs has a faster and more effective appeals process. [160241]

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Mr Gauke: HMRC’s internal appeals process offers customers the option of a statutory review of any appealable matter. The statutory review system gives HMRC's customers a quick and easy way to ask HMRC to look again at their decisions. HMRC has 45 days to complete a review: any extensions of time must be agreed with customers. HMRC’s published records¹ show that the vast majority of reviews are completed within 45 days.

Most cases end with review. If the question relates to cases which proceed to tribunal or court, such institutions are independent from HMRC. As a party to appeals, HMRC aims to advance its side of cases as efficiently as possible, but questions on tribunal or court matters should be addressed to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling).

¹http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/complaints-appeals/reviews-appeals-2011-12.pdf

Trade Union Officials

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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 those years. [190486]

Nicky Morgan: Information has been collected centrally since January 2013 and since then no funding has been provided to staff to carry out trade union activities. Prior to January 2013 information was not collected and is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mr Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many debts arising from overpayment of tax credits were transferred to debt collection agencies in each month in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England in each of the last five years; [175331]

(2) what steps HM Revenue and Customs takes to contact claimants about overpayments of tax credits; and how many attempts to contact such claimants are made before a debt is transferred to a debt collection agency. [175332]

Nicky Morgan: This information is not available centrally, and could be researched only at disproportionate cost.

Where a household continues to receive tax credits, overpayments are recovered from their ongoing award.

Where a tax credit award ends, and an outstanding overpayment is identified, HMRC issues a letter to the customer explaining how the overpayment arose, and advising them what they need to do if they disagree with the calculation. If a customer fails to exercise their right of appeal against the decision to end their award, HMRC will then issue a notice to pay. The notice to pay gives the customer an opportunity to pay the overpayment in full, or discuss options for repaying their debt by instalments. If the customer fails to respond to a notice to pay, HMRC will proceed to debt recovery action.

The number of contacts a customer may have with HMRC before a referral is made to a third party recovery agency will depend on how the customer chooses to respond to initial correspondence from HMRC. In any

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case, before a debt is referred to an external agency, HMRC will always issue a final opportunity letter. This again asks the customer to contact HMRC either to make payment or discuss an arrangement to pay by instalments, and explains that failure to do so may result in their debt being referred to a debt collection agency for pursuit.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer the question of 8 January 2014 from the hon. Member for Heywood and Middleton, on fraudulent websites. [187608]

Mr Gauke: I replied to the right hon. Member on 25 February 2014, Official Report, column 285-86W.

Church Commissioners

Bishop of Bath and Wells

Tessa Munt: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what consideration the Church Commissioners gave to the historical or other interest of the residence at the Bishop's Palace at Wells before planning alternative accommodation for the Bishop in accordance with section 4 of the Episcopal Endowments and Stipends Measure 1943. [191893]

Sir Tony Baldry: Section 4 of the Episcopal Endowments and Stipends Measure 1943 applies only where the Commissioners propose to exercise a power conferred by that Measure—that is to say, to transfer a house to the diocesan authority, convert it for use for other purposes, sell, let or otherwise dispose of it, or demolish it or part of it. The Commissioners have not exercised any of those powers in relation to the Palace, as the intention is that the Bishop will continue to work and worship there.

Tessa Munt: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will publish a complete list of the grounds considered valid for the purposes of an objection to the exchange of the house of residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells by the Bishop's Council and Standing Committee. [191894]

Sir Tony Baldry: It is for the Archbishops’ Council, or any committee appointed by it to consider the objection, to decide whether the objection should be upheld or not. That decision will depend on the specific facts of the particular case. The Archbishops’ Council is required by virtue of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009 to consider “all relevant circumstances”, which includes but is not limited to the grounds of the objection. There is therefore no such list in existence.

Church of England

Pamela Nash: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of recent trends in the proportion of Church of England congregations that are (a) from black and Asian minority ethnic groups, (b) women, (c) disabled people and (d) from low-income groups. [191902]

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Sir Tony Baldry: The most recent assessment of the proportion of Church of England congregations that are women and from Black and Asian minority ethnic groups was in the 2007 Congregational Diversity Audit. This was the first time such a survey had been conducted, and therefore no trends are yet available. It did not record information on people with disabilities and those from low-income groups.

The 2007 Diversity Audit showed that Black and Black British adults were more likely to belong to Church of England local congregations than their White counterparts. This results in a stronger picture of congregational strength in those dioceses where the presence of Black and Black British adults is high, for example, urban areas.

The survey showed the vitality of a younger profile that people from minority ethnic backgrounds bring to local church congregations. Among younger adult congregation members aged under 35 years, the ethnic minority proportion matched the proportion in the whole population, at around 15%.

The largest proportion of minority ethnic Anglicans (two-thirds) were clustered in the main three dioceses around the London conurbation and, consequently, contribute to a younger profile of churches in the London area.

Nationally, urban Church of England parishes recorded an average of 9% minority ethnic Anglicans in their core adult congregations, while suburban and rural parishes recorded 4%.

In general, a greater proportion of White core congregation members belong to church councils and are local church office holders than their minority ethnic counterparts.

A further Congregational Diversity Audit is being planned for the autumn of this year. It will collect information on gender, age and ethnicity and, for the first time, disability.

Pamela Nash: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy of the Church of England were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in each year since 2000. [191908]

Sir Tony Baldry: Data on the ethnicity of clergy were collected for the first time in the 2005 Diversity Audit of Clergy which established a baseline. This can be viewed online at:

http://www.churchofengland.org/media/36348/diversityreportsummary.pdf

Compared with 2005, the first year for which statistics were published, in 2012 there was slightly higher proportion of clergy from minority ethnic backgrounds, rising from just over 2% in 2005 to 3% in 2012. In the same period there was a slight fall in clergy describing themselves as White British, from 95% in 2005 to 93% in 2012. Only for assistant curates and non-parochial diocesan clergy did any ethnic background other than White British or any other White background, represent more than 1% of clergy (1% of assistant curates describing themselves as African and 2% of non-parochial diocesan clergy describing themselves as White and Black African).

However it is difficult to draw firm conclusions, as the 2012 statistics on stipendiary clergy by ethnicity also showed that a high proportion of clergy had either omitted or chosen not to disclose their ethnic background.

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From 2014 a declaration of ethnicity (including a ‘prefer not to state’ option) will be a requirement for all those applying for selection for ordination training.

Pamela Nash: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will publish a list of all (a) UK and (b) overseas equities held by the Commissioners' investment fund in each year since May 2010. [191909]

Sir Tony Baldry: Information about the largest material holdings of the Church Commissioners is available in the annual report, which can be found on the website of the Church Commissioners. More detailed information is commercially sensitive and the Church Commissioners are unable to release it.

Churches

Pamela Nash: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, (1) if he will publish a breakdown of funds that the Church Commissioners have made available for dioceses based in Nigeria in each year since 2010; [191903]

(2) what funds in each category of expenditure the Church Commissioners have made available for dioceses based in Uganda in each year since 2010. [191904]

Sir Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners have no power to make funds available to other provinces of the Anglican Communion.

LGBT People

Pamela Nash: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, (1) what recent discussions the leaders of the Anglican church have had with the Archbishop of Uganda regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights; [191905]

(2) what recent discussions the leaders of the Anglican church have had with the Archbishop of Nigeria regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. [191906]

Sir Tony Baldry: On 29 January 2014, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote to all Primates of the Anglican Communion, Moderators of the United Churches, and the Presidents of Nigeria and Uganda, recalling the words of the communiqué issued in 2005 after a meeting of Anglican Communion Primates in Dromantine, which said:

“..we wish to make it quite clear that in our discussion and assessment of moral appropriateness of specific human behaviours, we continue unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people.

The victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be order towards people of the same sex is anathema to us. We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by him and deserving the best we can give - pastoral care and friendship.”

The Archbishops noted that demonstrating the love and affirmation of which the communiqué speaks requires action as well as acceptance of its principles, including by leaders in those places where relevant legislation has recently taken effect. The Church of England fully respects the jurisdiction and autonomy of other churches

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within the Anglican Communion and conversations continue, both among the Primates and through the many friendships that exist through Diocesan links.

Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if her Department will authorise the release as a spreadsheet of the postcode data used for the Cumbria county council broadband coverage map. [191438]

Mr Vaizey: The data are the responsibility of Cumbria County Council, as part of its contract for superfast broadband roll-out with BT. DCMS has issued guidance to local authorities encouraging them to publish maps with information on roll-out plans to seven digit postcode level.

Football

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions she has met representatives of the (a) Premier League and (b) Football Association to discuss access to grassroots football. [191549]

Mrs Grant: I have regular meetings with the English football authorities to discuss a range of issues, including their support for grassroots football.

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to increase and support participation in grassroots football. [191582]

Mrs Grant: Sport England will invest £30 million from 2013-17 to get more people playing grassroots football as part of their Whole Sport Plans. Over £100 million over the next three years will be invested by my Department, the Premier League and the Football Association in the PL-FA Facilities Fund, to improve grassroots facilities. The Football Association invests approximately £40 million a year supporting their National Game programme, and the Premier League is similarly investing £56 million a season between 2013 and 2016 on grassroots and community-focused projects.

Gambling: Advertising

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to limit the level of gambling advertisements on television. [191318]

Mrs Grant: The Government are currently reviewing the regulatory controls on gambling advertising to ensure they are adequate. The Gambling Commission, the Advertising Standards Authority, the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice are each contributing to this review. In addition, the Government have asked the Remote Gambling Association to co-ordinate an industry-led review of the voluntary Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Gambling with a view to providing recommendations by summer 2014.

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Gambling: Licensing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether companies already licensed by the Gambling Commission will be required to demonstrate the same business practices as those newly-applying under the forthcoming licensing regime. [R] [191242]

Mrs Grant: The new licensing regime will bring consistency of standards to the entire British-facing remote gambling market, and is expected to apply to both existing and new licensed remote operators.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the new licensing regime issued by the Gambling Commission on the international business operations of prospective licensees; and what representations she has received relating to this matter from prospective licensees. [R] [191244]

Mrs Grant: We do not expect the new licensing regime to have a detrimental effect on the business operations of prospective licensees based overseas. The Department has had ongoing and constructive dialogue with the remote gambling industry about the impact of the new regime, since it was first proposed in 2011.

Music: Overseas Students

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to encourage citizens of the Commonwealth who are studying at UK conservatoires to pursue careers in the UK. [191476]

Mr Vaizey: This Government recognise the important contribution that talented international graduates can make to the UK economy. International students can stay in the UK after study, providing they get a graduate level job paying £20,300 a year or more, or as a Graduate Entrepreneur, under the first scheme of its kind in the world.

International students (outside the European economic area and Switzerland) can apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa if they have been endorsed as an internationally recognised leader in the arts, or as an emerging leader. Their application for endorsement is considered by Arts Council England.

Parliament Square: Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on which occasions the flags of the Commonwealth are flown on Parliament Square. [191478]

Mr Vaizey: The flags of the Commonwealth nations are usually flown in Parliament Square on Commonwealth day. However, due to paving repair works taking place on the square it was not possible to fly the Commonwealth flags in the square on Commonwealth day this year. As an alternative, the flags were flown on Horseguards road.

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Sports: Finance

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Sport England funding has been allocated to local authorities (a) in and (b) not in the core city group in the last three years. [192010]

Mrs Grant: The information requested is as follows:

Justice

Legal Aid

20. Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his future plans for legal aid are. [903113]

Mr Vara: We are implementing the reforms to litigation procurement and Crown court advocacy fees that we announced last month. While making fee reductions is unavoidable, we have listened to the professions wherever we can, taking concrete steps to ease the impact of the changes we are making. In addition the Justice Secretary has given a personal commitment that this Government will not seek further savings from criminal legal aid.

The Ministry of Justice and the Legal Aid Agency keep the operation of both the criminal and civil legal aid schemes under continual review. The Government plan to undertake a post-implementation review of the legal aid provisions within the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 within three to five years of implementation. This review will include an assessment of the impact of the reforms implemented during that period.

Rehabilitation

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made on his reforms to rehabilitation aimed at reducing reoffending. [903108]

Jeremy Wright: On 13 March 2014, the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 received Royal Assent. This Act addresses the gap that sees 50,000 short sentenced prisoners—those most likely to reoffend—released on to the streets each year with no support, by providing these offenders with supervision in the community for the first time in recent history.

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee

Members’ Staff

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what criteria the IPSA Contingency Panel used to grant uplifts to hon. Members' staffing expenditure budgets in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [190930]

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Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about IPSA's Contingency Panel.

The rules concerning the Contingency Panel are set out at Paragraph 10.12 of the MPs' Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses.

They set out that in relation to each application the Contingency Panel will consider:

a. whether there are exceptional circumstances warranting additional support;

b. whether the MP could reasonably have been expected to take any action to avoid the circumstances which gave rise to the expenditure or liability; and

c. whether the MP's performance of parliamentary functions will be significantly impaired by a refusal of the claim.

Given the significant increase in staffing budgets made in 2012/13, we have not provided contingency funding for MPs' staffing expenditure budgets on the basis of increased casework in 2013/14.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the (a) highest and (b) lowest uplift allocated to hon. Members' staff expenditure budgets was in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14 to date. [190931]

Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.

Letter from Andrew McDonald:

As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about IPSA's Contingency Panel.

In 2012/13 the highest uplift approved by the Contingency Panel was £13,909 and the lowest was £600.

In 2013/14 to date, the highest has been £17,900 and the lowest £600.

These figures do not include other uplifts to provide cover for staff on maternity, paternity, adoption and long term sick leave.

Transport

Liverpool Port

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the European Commission on the state aid judgement on the Merseyside cruise terminal; and if he will make a statement. [191979]

Stephen Hammond: None. I note the Commission's decision, which effectively gives state aid clearance to the original award of grant to Liverpool city council, and to the removal of the prohibition of turnaround visits at the city of Liverpool cruise terminal.

Railways: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the electrification of the Windermere to Oxenholme railway line. [191981]

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Stephen Hammond: Good progress has been made on the development of the full business case for electrification. I hope to be able to make an announcement later this year.

Communities and Local Government

Bellwin Scheme

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have been affected by the recent flooding and have applied to his Department for funding under the Bellwin scheme. [191972]

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

As at 17 March, 106 local authorities have registered for funding under the Bellwin scheme in respect of the recent flooding. Other authorities who have also been affected by the floods may yet register for the scheme. The authorities who have so far registered are:

1. Arun District Council

2. Ashford Borough Council

3. Aylesbury Vale District Council

4. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

5. Boston Borough Council

6. Blackpool Borough Council

7. Bournemouth Borough Council

8. Buckinghamshire County Council

9. Canterbury City Council

10. Cheshire East Council

11. Chiltern District Council

12. Copeland Borough Council

13. Cornwall Council

14. Cotswold District Council

15. Croydon London Borough

16. Dartford Borough Council

17. Devon County Council

18. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

19. Dorset Fire and Rescue Service

20. Dorset County Council

21. Dover District Council

22. East Devon District Council

23. East Hampshire District Council

24. East Lindsey District Council

25. East Riding of Yorkshire Council

26. East Sussex County Council

27. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

28. Elmbridge Borough Council

29. Exeter City Council

30. Fareham Borough Council

31. Gloucestershire County Council

32. Great Yarmouth Borough Council

33. Guildford Borough Council

34. Hampshire County Council

35. Hampshire Fire and Rescue service

36. Havant Borough Council

37. Herefordshire Council

38. Hull City Council

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39. Isle of Wight Council

40. Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

41. Kent County Council

42. King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council

43. Lewes District Council

44. Maidstone Borough Council

45. Malvern Hills District Council

46. Newcastle City Council

47. New Forest District Council

48. Norfolk County Council

49. North Devon Council

50. North Lincolnshire Council

51. North Norfolk District Council

52. Northamptonshire County Council

53. Northumberland County Council

54. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset

55. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex

56. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire

57. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk

58. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley

59. Oxford City Council

60. Oxfordshire County Council

61. Poole Borough Council

62. Plymouth City Council

63. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

64. Reading Borough Council

65. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

66. Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

67. Runnymede Borough Council

68. Scarborough Borough Council

69. Sedgemoor District Council

70. Sevenoaks District Council

71. Shropshire County Council

72. Slough Borough Council

73. Somerset County Council

74. South Hams District Council

75. South Somerset District Council

76. Southampton City Council

77. Spelthorne Borough Council

78. Suffolk Coastal District Council

79. Suffolk County Council

80. Surrey County Council

81. Swale Borough Council

82. Tandridge District Council

83. Taunton Deane Borough Council

84. Teignbridge District Council

85. Tendring District Council

86. Test Valley Borough Council

87. Thanet District Council

88. Tonbridge and Mailing Borough Council

89. Torridge District Council

90. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

91. Tewkesbury Borough Council

92. Torbay Borough Council

93. Waveney District Council

94. Waverley Borough Council

95. West Berkshire District Council

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96. West Oxfordshire District Council

97. West Somerset District Council

98. West Sussex County Council

99. Wiltshire Council

100. Winchester City Council

101. Woking Borough Council

102. Worcester City Council

103. Worcestershire County Council

104. Wycombe District Council

105. Wyre Council

106. Wyre Forest District Council

Energy

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many local authorities have included in their development plans requirements for (a) higher energy efficiency standards than those required by Building Regulations and (b) onsite generation of energy; [191849]

(2) what reductions in carbon dioxide emissions have resulted in the last five years from local authorities putting requirements in their development plans for (a) higher energy efficiency standards than those required by Building Regulations and (b) onsite generation of energy in new developments. [191848]

Stephen Williams: Central Government do not collect information on individual policies in development plans. However, information from surveys was used to provide estimates of the impacts of such policies, and the range of scenarios leading to this impact (such as the numbers of code homes constructed), and this was included in the consultation stage impact assessment published alongside the Housing Standards Review. The impact assessment is available at this link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/230252/3_-_Housing_Standards_Review_-_IA_with_Annex.pdf

Information is available on carbon emissions by local authority areas but is not disaggregated in a way for it to be possible to ascribe any changes in emissions in local authority areas to specific policy requirements in development plans. Some local authorities may monitor the impact of their development plans and these can be obtained from individual authorities. The Department is undertaking further work to update the Housing Standards Review impact assessment on this and other issues.

Green Belt: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to protect (a) green belt and (b) open green spaces in (i) the county of Greater Manchester, (ii) Tameside metropolitan borough and (iii) Stockport metropolitan borough. [192152]

Nick Boles: We have maintained strong protections for all green belt. This Government continue to attach great importance to green belt as a way to prevent sprawl and encroachment on open countryside, and as a vital ‘green lung' for many communities. Our abolition of top-down regional strategies removed the threat to green belt round many towns and cities. The National

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Planning Policy Framework makes clear that openness and permanence are essential characteristics of green belt. Inappropriate development should not be approved there, except in very special circumstances.

To give communities more power to protect other green areas of particular importance locally, we introduced the Local Green Space designation in the Framework. This enables the local authority to rule out new development there, other than in very special circumstances. Detailed guidance was issued on 6 March 2014.

Homelessness

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many local authorities had taken part in the Gold Standard homelessness initiative as of 31 December 2013; [191520]

(2) how much of the Gold Standard homelessness initiative funding had been spent on staffing by 31 December 2013; [191519]

(3) how many people have been employed to work on the Gold Standard homelessness initiative; and where they are based; [191518]

(4) how much the National Housing Advice Service has spent on training to deliver the Homelessness Gold Standard; and how many councils had trained staff as of 31 December 2013. [191521]

Kris Hopkins: We have invested £1.7 million into the Homelessness Gold Standard to help local authorities to deliver effective and cost-efficient homelessness prevention services. The scheme is delivered by the National Practitioner Support Service, a team of local authority practitioners based in Winchester city council, with technical support and training provided by the National Homelessness Advice Service (Shelter).

Information provided by the National Practitioner Support Service and held by the Department indicates that 314 local authorities had engaged with the Gold Standard process by the end of December 2013.

The National Practitioner Support service is a local authority-led service hosted by Winchester city council and not directly managed by the Department. Funding to support the service was provided to Winchester city council through an unring-fenced grant under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003. The Department remains in close contact with the National Practitioner Support Service and receives regular progress updates, but responsibility for staff numbers and spend remains with Winchester city council.

The National Homelessness Advice Service (Shelter) is a voluntary sector organisation funded through section 180 of the Housing Act 1996. We monitor this funding under conditions included in their grant agreement.

The National Homelessness Advice Service employs 1.04 full-time equivalent staff members based in the east midlands and London, to deliver its elements of the Gold Standard Programme. It had spent £59,653 on staff by the end of December 2013.

By the end of December 2013, 273 local authorities had participated in Gold Standard training delivered by the National Homelessness Advice Service at a cost of £180,620.

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Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) change and (b) percentage change in homelessness (i) applications and (ii) admissions was in each (A) London local authority area and (B) English region between March 2010 and December 2013. [191522]

Kris Hopkins: A direct comparison cannot be made between different quarters due to seasonal affects. However, financial year statistics for decisions taken on homelessness applications and acceptances, by county and local authority area, are published in live table 784, which is available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

The most recent quarter's data (October to December 2013) on homelessness applications and acceptances, by county and local authority area, are published in live table 784a and are available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

Data are collected only at local authority district level and are not available by parliamentary constituency. As outlined in the written ministerial statement of 18 September 2012, Official Report, columns 31-33WS, my Department no longer publishes statistics by government office region. Local authority figures from which regional estimates can be calculated can be found at the above link.

This Government have invested £470 million to prevent and tackle all forms of homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. The homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and vulnerable people who become homeless through no fault of their own. Homelessness acceptances have decreased 5% nationally compared with the same quarter last year (13,890 this quarter down from 13,570 in quarter 4 in 2012).

Homelessness acceptances remain lower than in 27 of the last 30 years, and homelessness is around half the average level it was under the previous Administration.

Local Government: Public Appointments

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements he has made for the representation of minority political parties on the leadership boards of combined authorities. [190629]

Brandon Lewis: The Government's policy on establishing combined authorities is one of localism, and a combined authority's membership and governance arrangements to be provided for in the Order establishing the authority are those which the constituent councils have agreed. The Combined Authority Orders recently laid before Parliament make provision for the councils concerned to decide whom of their members are to be members of the combined authority, and that combined authority is required to appoint one or more overview and scrutiny committees with members appointed from the councils concerned—providing, where this is wanted locally, for minority political parties to be involved in holding the combined authority to account.

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Mobile Homes

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to bring forward regulations under the Mobile Homes Act 2013 regarding fees payable to a local authority. [183004]

Kris Hopkins [holding answer 16 January 2014]: The Mobile Homes Act 2013 provides councils with new powers to protect park home residents from rogue site owners in their areas. From 1 April councils in England will be able to require owners to carry out works where owners are in breach of site licensing conditions. This will ensure sites are properly maintained and the health and safety of residents better protected. Those owners who comply with their licensing obligations, providing a high quality service to the residents, will be able to carry on their business unaffected by these new enforcement powers. But where unscrupulous site owners refuse to clean up their act, they will face court action and substantial fines for their poor performance.

Councils will be able to charge an annual fee to site owners for the important work of monitoring licence compliance and investigating complaints. There are no plans to bring forward regulations concerning fees payable to local authorities, but those which propose to charge fees must do so in accordance with their published fee policy. The Department has published Guidance for local authorities in setting reasonable and transparent fees. This is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-homes-act-2013-a-guide-for-local-authorities-on-setting-licence-fees

Planning Permission: Gloucestershire

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to revoke planning permission granted on appeal, reference 07/00027/DECISI at Longford, Gloucestershire on the grounds of flood risk. [190682]

Nick Boles [holding answer 10 March 2014]: If my hon. Friend wishes to make a formal representation, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), will consider it with due process.

Notwithstanding, as reflected in my answer to him of 4 March 2014, Official Report, column 742W, the policy in the exercise of the power to revoke an existing planning permission has been that such intervention can only be justified in exceptional circumstances.

Road Signs and Markings

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received on permitting motorists to stop for up to 15 minutes on double yellow lines; and if he will make a statement. [191958]

Brandon Lewis: Ministers receive a wide range of representations on their policy portfolios. In the case of parking, the Government recently issued a consultation that raised the issue of grace periods. The consultation closed on 14 February 2014. We received over 800

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responses to the consultation which we are in the process of considering and will publish a summary of responses in due course.

Sleeping Rough: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many rough sleepers there were in each London borough in each of the last five years. [184625]

Kris Hopkins: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 20 January 2014, Official Report, columns 62-63W.

Rough sleeping figures by London borough can be found in the accompanying tables to the annual Rough Sleeping publications which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics#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.uk/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 what assessment he has made of the number of single adults who have applied for social housing in (a) England and (b) the London borough of Havering since May 2010. [191473]

Kris Hopkins: This information is not collected centrally.

Telephone Services

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities in England and Wales use higher-rate telephone numbers for public inquiries. [191953]

Brandon Lewis: This information is not centrally held.

However we would expect local authorities to follow the spirit of the recent HM Government guidance on customer services lines.

At the very least, there should be no reason why local authorities cannot simply list a local telephone number as one of the options to call, or else a low-cost national number such as an 030 number.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to discourage the setting up of illegal Traveller caravan sites and associated anti-social behaviour. [191888]

Brandon Lewis: The Government are concerned about the cost and disruption that can be caused by unauthorised traveller encampments. That is why on 9 August 2013 we sent all council leaders in England updated guidance, setting out the strong powers councils and landowners have to remove illegal and unauthorised sites on both public and private land and reminding them to act swiftly.

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In addition, in the Localism Act 2011 we introduced provisions in England to allow for an appeal against enforcement or a retrospective planning application, not both. And in 2013, we removed a previous restriction on the use of Temporary Stop Notices that prevented local authorities in England taking enforcement action against a caravan used as a main residence.

Wind Power

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many onshore wind farm applications and how much onshore wind capacity have been recovered by the Secretary of State in each month in 2013; and how many such applications and capacity had previously received consent from the Planning Inspectorate. [191952]

Kris Hopkins: A total of 29 onshore wind farm appeals were recovered in 2013 (one in March, 10 in June, 17 in October and one in December). My Department does not centrally hold information on the energy capacity of schemes; 21 appeals involved three or more wind turbines; eight involved a single turbine.

A recovered appeal is determined by Ministers, so none of these individual appeals had previously received planning consent from the Planning Inspectorate.

Home Department

Counter-terrorism

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions she has used powers under the Royal Prerogative to prevent people suspected of terrorism from travelling abroad in the last five years. [185520]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 3 February 2014]: In April last year the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), in a written statement to the House, revised the public interest criteria under which the Royal Prerogative would be used to remove passports from British nationals. This has significantly enhanced our ability to disrupt those who want to travel abroad to take part in terrorism related activity. The power has been used on 14 occasions since April 2013.

Empty Property

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by (a) her Department and (b) any executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies of her Department in the current financial year. [191811]

Karen Bradley: No empty property business rates are levied for freehold vacant properties owned by the Department, its executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies.

Hilda Murrell

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will open an inquiry into the death of Hilda Murrell in 1984; [191558]

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(2) what (a) Cabinet papers and (b) papers of her Department relating to the Hilda Murrell case will be released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on the 30th anniversary of Hilda Murrell's abduction and murder; [191568]

(3) if she will publish her Department's briefing for the then Minister of State, Giles Shaw, for the adjournment debate on 19 December 1984. [191573]

Damian Green: The Government have no plans to open an inquiry into the death of Hilda Murrell.

Any files held by the Government on the case will be considered for release within the requirements and timescales set out in the Public Records Act.