Written Answers to Questions

Monday 24 March 2014

Transport

Bus Services: Disability

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of new buses in the UK outside London are fitted with audio visual announcements. [192752]

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

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

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

Driving: Licensing

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of (a) the cost of establishing the system to enable driving records to be accessed online by drivers and the insurance industry and (b) the annual cost of running that system. [192808]

Stephen Hammond: The development cost of establishing the system to enable driving records to be accessed online by drivers and the insurance industry is expected to be around £8.8 million. The estimated annual cost for support and maintenance is £2 million, excluding VAT.

East Coast Railway Line

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to reduce the number of trains per hour on the East Coast Main Line from London to Newcastle following the opening of High Speed 2. [192389]

Stephen Hammond: It is too early to set the service pattern for the GB rail network in the 2020s and beyond. However, one of the key principles that will guide future service patterns is that all towns or cities which currently have a direct service to London will retain broadly comparable or better services once HS2 is complete. The future design, calling pattern and frequency of network services once HS2 opens will be developed openly, and in partnership.

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Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effects of High Speed 2 on the frequency of trains on the East Coast Main Line from London to Newcastle. [192390]

Stephen Hammond: This assessment will be made as different service options for the post-HS2 railway are developed. A wide range of potential service options are open, ranging from relatively evolutionary change to widespread service redesign. These issues were outlined in the Network Rail report ‘Better Connections’, published in July 2013, and available on its website:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/high-speed-rail/

The Department is working with Network Rail to design the next stage of the service planning work for rail services once HS2 phase 1 opens, and looking ahead to phase 2. The Department will make further announcements shortly.

First Great Western

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the joint investment between his Department and First Great Western to fund additional standard class capacity and a refresh of first class is provided by his Department. [192533]

Stephen Hammond: At this stage, the amounts involved are commercially confidential, as private sector contractors are involved in undertaking the work on behalf of First Great Western. However, the basis on which the allocations have been made is equitable and reflects among other things the need for the public sector contribution to achieve value for money and to secure the rail investment strategy imperative of improved standard class capacity on the Great Western route. The information about the amount borne by the Department to fund the standard class reseating in this joint investment will be provided once the works are completed.

First TransPennine Express

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the new TransPennine Express franchise due to begin in 2015 maintains hourly direct services between Hull and Manchester. [192520]

Stephen Hammond: The new directly awarded franchise for TransPennine that begins in April 2015 will aim to provide train services at the same level as is currently available to passengers today until the start of the new completed franchise, expected in February 2016.

Goring and Streatley Station

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when lifts will be installed at Goring and Streatley station; and whether this will coincide with the replacement of the footbridge. [192909]

Stephen Hammond: Network Rail has submitted Goring and Streatley as a candidate station for Access for All funding. The Government plan to make an announcement on funding in April. In the meantime, Network Rail has

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advised me that the new footbridge which will be installed in the summer will be suitable for the installation of lifts.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation his Department has made of the costs and benefits of linking the proposed phase two of High Speed 2 to the west coast main line at Crewe instead of at Golborne junction. [192911]

Mr Goodwill: The strategic case for HS2 published on 29 October 2013 sets out the business case for proceeding with HS2. It shows that the Y-shaped network including the connections to the west coast main line at both Crewe and Golborne is expected to deliver around £2.30 of benefits (including wider economic impacts) for every £1 spent. The Department has not estimated the case for the Y-shaped route for High Speed 2 without these connections. However, HS2 Ltd examined the possibility of only linking High Speed 2 to the west coast main line at Crewe, and eliminating the junction at Golborne. It identified significant constraints in the west coast main line north of Crewe and additional works would be required here as the line is intensively used by fast long-distance services, slower stopping trains and freight, causing significant timetabling constraints. Taking into account the levels of growth being experienced to date, both in terms of passenger and freight traffic, the west coast main line would not be able to cope with the overall volume of services required. Therefore the section of line between Winterbottom and Bamfurlong culminating in the Golborne connection is likely to offer very high value for money when compared with the alternative connection at Crewe and associated WCML modification work.

Liverpool Street - Harlow Railway Line

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the punctuality levels of train services between Harlow Town train station and London Liverpool Street station have been over the last 10 years. [192246]

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not hold such information to the level required. We do not routinely measure punctuality (or any other performance measure) by individual line or route; it is the franchise as a whole we measure.

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 456W, on motorways: repairs and maintenance, what the reasons are for the discrepancy between the figures of eight deaths in the preceding three years and 1,747 injuries in the preceding 12 months of people repairing motorways stated by the Highways Agency in a press release dated 21 October 2013. [192569]

Mr Goodwill: The figures quoted are based upon different data selection criteria and from different time periods. The answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 456W, (motorways: repairs and maintenance) is

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the number of people repairing motorways killed or injured by vehicles in 2012 and 2013. The Highways Agency press release of 21 October 2013 referred to the number of road workers killed and injured while improving and maintaining the strategic road network in England, irrespective of the causation or duties being undertaken. The eight road workers killed occurred between 2009 and 2013 and the figure of 1,747 quoted in the same press release included a large volume of near misses, hazards and damage to plant and equipment where no injuries had been sustained.

Nurseries

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. [192452]

Stephen Hammond: Across the Department (which includes its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies) there are two workplace nurseries which are available to staff. These are operated by a third party. One of the nurseries available to staff is based in Swansea. The other workplace nursery is available to staff based in Hastings and is open to several Government Departments. Both nurseries were operating in 2010 and 2013-14. There are no plans for the nurseries to cease operating in 2014-15.

Railway Stations: Access

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding will be made available to the Access for All scheme in control period 5; and what terms and conditions will apply to such funding. [192821]

Stephen Hammond: £100 million has been allocated to extend the Access for All programme for control period 5. Stations will be selected based on their annual footfall, weighted by the incidence of disability in the area. The preferences of the train operators and the availability of third party funding or other capital contributions will also be considered.

Railways: Chester

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the report of the Commission on Devolution in Wales published on 3 March 2014, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Wales on the potential implications for (a) rail services in Chester and (b) Chester railway station of the recommendation in that report to devolve the Wales and Borders rail franchise to the National Assembly for Wales. [192435]

Stephen Hammond: No discussions have taken place with the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd West (Mr Jones) on further devolution of responsibilities for the Wales and Border franchise and its implications for the division of responsibilities between the two Governments for rail services calling at, and the management of, Chester station.

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Railways: Fares

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average change in rail fares was between Chelmsford and London in each of the last five years. [192303]

Stephen Hammond: The Office of Rail Regulation publishes information on average changes in rail fares by sector and ticket category on its website:

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

However, I am able to provide information on the change in costs of an annual season ticket from Chelmsford to London terminals over the last five years, as follows:

Railways: North West

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how many days the (a) Colne to Blackpool South and (b) Skipton to Leeds lines were closed in each of the last five years. [192427]

Stephen Hammond: This is not information held by the Department for Transport. This is a matter for Network Rail, who owns and operates Britain's rail network.

Railways: Tickets

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government have spent on the South East Flexible Ticketing scheme in each year since 2010. [192856]

Stephen Hammond: The following sums have been spent on the South East Flexible Ticketing programme to date:

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are currently any regulatory restrictions preventing train operators from operating part-time rail season tickets. [192957]

Stephen Hammond: Rail fares are set according to relevant procedures set out in the ticketing and settlement agreement (‘TSA’), an inter-operator agreement to which the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin),

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is not a party but over which he has change control in certain areas. The TSA is available at the following weblink:

http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/rail-settlement-plan/governance/

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when the pilot project for part-time rail season tickets will start; [192958]

(2) on what date the competition inviting train operators to submit a pilot project for flexible ticketing will start; and whether that competition will include services on the Waterloo to Weymouth line. [192959]

Stephen Hammond: The competition for the trial on flexible and part-time ticketing is currently scheduled to commence later in 2014. All train operators that are signatories to the South East Flexible Ticketing scheme, including South West Trains, which operates the Waterloo to Weymouth line, will be invited to take part in the competition. We expect to announce a winning bidder in sufficient time to commence the trial in January 2015. The trial is expected to last for a year.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which local authorities receive what proportion of the £140 million to fix roads damaged by flooding and adverse weather announced on 9 March 2014; [192776]

(2) pursuant to the financial statement of 19 March 2014, what the breakdown is of the £200 million funding for potholes schemes; and whether that £200 million includes the £140 million to fix roads damaged by flooding and adverse weather announced by the Secretary of State for Transport on 9 March 2014. [192920]

Mr Goodwill: The funding allocations from the £140 million announced on 9 March to help repair roads damaged by the severe wet weather were announced on 20 March 2013. This includes a further £33.5 million announced earlier this year as part of the transport element of the severe weather recovery fund. A table which provides information on the funding we will be paying to local highway authorities by end March 2014 is available at the following weblink:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/294497/extra-funding-to-repair-roads.csv/preview

The £200 million for a Pothole Fund announced in the Budget on 19 March 2014 is new money and in addition to the £140 million funding. From the £200 million, £168 million be made available to councils in England through a bidding exercise. Further details on the fund will be made available in the coming weeks.

Rolling Stock: First TransPennine Express

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure provision of adequate rolling stock to serve the Hull-Manchester train route from April 2015. [192519]

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Stephen Hammond: The Department is working with train operators and the rolling stock companies to ensure that adequate rolling stock is available to provide continued levels of service to passengers on the route.

Prime Minister

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 503W, on Iraq Committee of Inquiry, what the reasons are for the time taken to conclude the Government's response to the disclosure requests; when consideration of the final sets of papers will be concluded; and if he will make a statement. [193088]

The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 503W.

Wales

Free School Meals: Gwent

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of pupils at each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in Islwyn constituency is eligible for free school meals. [192747]

Mr David Jones: This information relates to a devolved matter and is not held by the UK Government. I have therefore written to the Minister for Education and Skills in the Welsh Government seeking the information requested.

I will write to the hon. Member when further information is received, and place a copy in the Library of the House.

Nurseries

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in his Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15. [192454]

Stephen Crabb: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer to the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson), of 3 March 2014, Official Report, column 697W.

Northern Ireland

Armed Forces: Cadets

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people from Northern Ireland have joined the (a) Army cadets, (b) RAF cadets and (c) Royal Navy cadets in each of the last five years. [191866]

Anna Soubry: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

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The information requested is shown in the following table.

These figures include number of cadets in both the community cadet forces (i.e. Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps) and in Combined Cadet Force (CCF) units in Northern Ireland schools.

Immunity from Prosecution

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether her Department is aware of any undertakings of (a) amnesty, (b) immunity and (c) implied immunity from prosecution given to any (i) former or serving members of the security forces, (ii) person who has acted as an agent of the security forces or Government intelligence services and (iii) member of a paramilitary organisation. [191098]

Mrs Villiers: I am not aware of any such undertakings. Responsibility for the prosecution of individuals rests with the police and the prosecuting authorities.

Post Office Card Account

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on increasing the use of Post Office card accounts for the payment of welfare benefits in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [192839]

Mrs Villiers: I have had no discussions on this matter nor have I been asked by any Northern Ireland Executive Ministers to raise this with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) who has responsibility for the Post Office. I am due to meet the Minister for Social Development and will take that opportunity to discuss this with him.

Treasury

Air Passenger Duty

Andrew Percy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of multi-ticketing on the revenue accruing to the Exchequer from air passenger duty in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [192302]

Nicky Morgan: Budget 2014 announced the reform of air passenger duty with the abolition of bands C and D from 1 April 2015. This will eliminate the two highest rates of APD charged on flights to countries over 4,000 miles from Britain, cutting tax for millions of passengers travelling to China, India, Brazil and many other emerging markets. This will mean that flights to South Asia and the Caribbean will pay tax at the lower band B rate.

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Air passenger duty is calculated on a passenger's final destination. The liability of a journey from the UK will be the same whether the journey is made by using a single, direct flight from the UK, or by using two or more connected flights through foreign hub airports.

A journey using separate unconnected tickets has practical and financial implications including no protection on the cost of missed connections. Data are not held on the number of UK passenger journeys to foreign hub airports that may be part of a longer journey using unconnected tickets.

Alcoholic Drinks

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings his Department has had with (a) pub companies, (b) the British Beer and Pub Association, (c) members of the British Beer and Pub Association, (d) Independent Family Brewers of Britain and (e) members of Independent Family Brewers of Britain. [192124]

Nicky Morgan: Treasury Ministers and officials routinely meet a wide range of stakeholders as part of the policy development process. Details of ministerial and Permanent Secretary meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation. [186874]

Nicky Morgan: Holdings of real estate are assessed as either being required to deliver departmental functions (forming the Core estate) or surplus to this requirement (non-Core). There is no system for classifying frequency of use. The Government’s top priority for surplus holdings is to reduce property costs by exiting leasehold agreements, selling freeholds or by sub-letting to external tenants. The Government have now created a portal—Find Me Some Government Space at:

https://www.gov.uk/find-government-property

for more efficient marketing of surplus land and buildings. This is searchable by developers, community groups and the general public.

It is considered not to be in the public interest to disclose real estate valuation reports, as this information can be commercially sensitive and any disclosure could adversely affect the Government’s future ability to negotiate efficiencies and achieve value for money to the taxpayer. However, the value of HM Treasury’s land and buildings is available in its annual report and accounts, which is accessible on:

www.gov.uk

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Children: Day Care

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of future child care costs after 2015-16. [192701]

Nicky Morgan: Information on how future child care costs have been estimated can be found in the Budget 2014 policy costings document:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293740/PU1638_policy_costings _budget_2014.pdf

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the qualifying criteria for the tax free child care scheme are. [192976]

Nicky Morgan: Information on the eligibility criteria for tax-free child care can be found in the consultation response document:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293084/PU1607_Tax_free_Childcare _response.pdf

Excise Duties: Fuels

Mr David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the economic effect of (a) a rise in fuel duty, (b) freezing fuel duty, (c) cutting fuel duty by 3 pence or more in 2014-15; [192285]

(2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the (i) economic effects and (ii) effects on the average motorist of (A) a freeze in fuel duty and (B) a reduction in fuel duty by 3 pence or more; [192286]

(3) if he will make it his policy to commit to a real terms cut in fuel duty in 2014-15; [192287]

(4) what estimate he has made of the change in employment levels of (a) a freeze in fuel duty and (b) a reduction in fuel duty by 3 pence or more in the final year of this Parliament; [192288]

(5) when he next plans to meet members of FairFuelUK to discuss (a) a freeze in fuel duty and (b) a reduction in fuel duty by 3 pence or more. [192289]

Nicky Morgan: Since 2011, the Government have taken action on fuel duty to support both households and businesses. At autumn statement 2013 the Government cancelled the increase that was planned for September 2014, freezing fuel duty for the remainder of Parliament. As a result of this Government's action, the real terms rate of fuel duty is forecast to fall by 8p per litre over the Parliament. A typical motorist will save £680 in total by 2015-16, compared with the previous Government's plans.

All fuel duty cuts and freezes since Budget 2011 have had to be fully funded through tax rises or spending cuts elsewhere. The impact of any reductions will need to be considered in the context of the wider public finances.

The actions this Government have taken on tax, spending and welfare reform have reduced the deficit, protected the economy, restored and maintained stability. The Government regularly meet a range of stakeholders on fuel duty.

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Mrs Ellman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason it is his policy to apply varying taxation rates to different road fuel gases. [192718]

Nicky Morgan: The Government have maintained the fuel duty differential between the main rate of fuel duty and alternative road fuels until 2024. The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) differential reduces by 1 penny per litre (ppl) per year, which is a continuation of the approach set out by the previous Administration. This follows their recommendation in the 2003 Alternative Fuels Framework, reflecting the greater natural environmental damage caused by LPG compared with other road fuel gases.

However, as this Government have frozen fuel duty until the end of Parliament, the LPG differential also remains frozen, and is not currently closing by 1 ppl per year. The Government will review the taxation of all road fuel gases in 2018, along with vehicle take up and the impact of the differential on the public finances.

Fixed Interest Securities: Pensioners

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current (a) one and (b) three-year yield is on a gilt; and what the (i) one and (ii) three-year yield will be on the proposed fixed rate savings bonds for pensioners [192858]

Sajid Javid: At close of business on Thursday 20 March 2014, the one-year gilt yield was 0.40%, and the three-year gilt yield was 1.05%, as reported by Bloomberg. Yields on the National Savings and Investments (NS&I) bonds will be equal to their interest rates, which will be finalised at autumn statement to take account of prevailing market conditions. However, as set out in the Budget Red Book our central assumption is that the one-year bond would pay 2.8% gross/annual equivalent rate (AER) and the three-year bond 4% gross/AER, subject to tax.

Flood Control

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the Green Book in regard to flood defence investment; and if he will make a statement. [190935]

Danny Alexander: The Treasury Green Book provides a technical guide to the appraisal of all public spending proposals. The Government do not intend to review it as a result of the recent floods because it makes no provision specific to flood defence investment. However, the Government do keep the Green Book methodology under regular review to ensure it continues to set out best practice for all project appraisal.

Income Tax

Mr Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on revenues of (a) changes in the top rate of tax and (b) a reduction in the top rate from 45p to (i) 44p, (ii) 43p, (iii) 42p, (iv) 41p and (v) 40p. [192296]

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Mr Gauke: The forecast Exchequer revenue effect of a change in the top rate of income tax from 45 pence to (a) 44 pence (b) 43 pence (c) 42 pence (d) 41 pence and (e) 40 pence is detailed as follows:

These estimates are based on the latest available SPI (Survey of Personal Incomes, 2011-12) and have been forecast in line with Budget 2014 economic assumptions.

Substantial behavioural responses are associated with changes in top marginal tax rates. The HMRC report, “The Exchequer effect of the 50% additional rate of income tax”, outlines these behavioural responses in greater detail. The report is published and available at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/excheq-income-tax-2042.pdf

Individual Savings Accounts

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the removal of the distinction between a cash ISA and a stocks and shares ISA on (a) the behaviour of investors and (b) investment in capital markets. [192950]

Mr Gauke: From 1 July 2014, the overall annual new ISA subscription limit will be increased to £15,000 and can be used for either cash or stocks and shares investments, or any combination of the two, up to this limit. However, there are no plans to remove the distinct definitions of cash ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs, though the list of qualifying investments for the latter will be amended as set out in Budget 2014.

These measures will reduce income tax on savings for people constrained by the current ISA limits, improving incentives to save and increasing real household disposable incomes. Over 5 million adults currently fully subscribe to the cash ISA limit, and so are expected to benefit from the equalisation of the cash and overall ISA subscription limits. Three-quarters of these people are basic rate taxpayers and a third are pensioners. A further 1.3 million people subscribe to the overall ISA limit, which is currently £11,520.

As HMRC’s published tax information and impact note explains, the increase to real household disposable incomes resulting from the new ISA changes might feed through to higher consumption or savings in the household sector. There may also be a shift in the savings portfolio composition towards cash deposits.

New Businesses: Government Assistance

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an assessment of the benefits and disbenefits of extending the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme to the charity and social enterprise sector. [192183]

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Mr Gauke: The Government is introducing the social investment tax relief from April 2014. It extends the venture capital tax breaks to investment in social enterprises.

The new scheme is based on the enterprise investment scheme and will apply to significantly larger organisations than qualify for the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced at Budget that the rate of income tax relief will be 30%. The relief is the first of its kind in the world.

Non-domestic Rates

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the ministerial statement of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 66WS, on business rates administration review, if he will undertake a programme of research into the merits of replacing business rates in England with a land value tax; and if he will make a statement. [192870]

Mr Gauke: The Government’s review of business rates administration after 2017 aims to identify improvements to the business rate system

“consistent with the principle that business rates are based on rental property values”.

As the Government have previously set out, they believes that the complexity and cost of administering a land value tax means that such a proposal is not tenable. The Government therefore have no intention of considering a land value tax as part of their review of business rates administration post-2017.

Nurseries

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. [192453]

Nicky Morgan: No estimate has been made by the Treasury or its Executive agencies of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in 2010, 2013-14 or 2014-15.

Personal Savings: Females

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to promote greater (a) knowledge of and (b) investment in ISAs and pensions among women. [192363]

Mr Gauke: The Money Advice Service (MAS) was set up by Government to promote understanding of the financial system and raise levels of financial capability across the UK. It offers free and impartial information and advice on money matters to all and provides advice on a range of savings products, including ISAs.

The latest available statistics show that as of 5 April 2011, of the 24,356 adults with ISAs, 11,861 (48.7%) were female.

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On pensions, 2 million to 3 million women will be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension where they will benefit from an employer contribution and tax relief.

The state pension reforms will benefit women who have historically done poorly under the current two-tier system. The Government expect that in the first 10 years after implementation, over 650,000 women will benefit from the single-tier valuation of their pension at 2016, receiving on average £8 a week more in state pension.

Provident Societies

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many industrial and provident societies have been registered with the Financial Services Authority or Financial Conduct Authority in each year since 2008. [192198]

Sajid Javid: The Government do not hold information on the numbers of industrial and provident societies registered. The data are held by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Revenue and Customs

Mike Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff had been employed on fixed-term contracts by HM Revenue and Customs for two years or more (a) in Edinburgh and (b) the rest of the UK at the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many such staff will be made redundant in each case by 31 March 2014. [192381]

Mr Gauke: There are currently 50 people (40.27 full-time equivalent) employed on fixed-term contracts in Edinburgh. All of these staff have been employed for more than two years.

There are currently 2,222 people (1,850.9 FTE) with two or more years of service employed on fixed-term contracts in the rest of the UK.

HMRC has been in meaningful consultation with departmental trade unions and is still working to minimise any potential redundancies. The Department has offered a number of staff the opportunity to extend their contract. Discussions between HMRC staff and their managers about fixed-term contracts coming to an end are continuing, so final numbers of redundancies are not yet available.

Sand: Waste Disposal

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will put a mechanism in place to waive landfill tax for the disposal of sandbags by local authorities; [192187]

(2) what assessment he has made of the financial effect on local authorities of landfill tax payable for the disposal of sandbags since the recent floods. [192188]

Nicky Morgan: The Treasury has not undertaken a specific assessment of the landfill tax liability to local authorities from the disposal of sandbags following the recent floods.

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Landfill tax is an environmental tax to discourage waste being sent to landfill and instead to encourage alternative forms of waste treatment such as reuse and recycling. Providing an exemption for the disposal of sandbags by local authorities would require new legislation which would take time to introduce, and add new administrative burdens for both local authorities and landfill site operators.

However, in response to the recent flooding, the Government have taken action to support local authorities with exceptional costs by expanding the Bellwin scheme which provides financial assistance to local authorities in England incurring expenditure above a qualifying threshold in response to an emergency or disaster to safeguard lives and properties. The Government have also established a severe weather recovery scheme to contribute to costs incurred by local authorities to support their communities and repair highways and infrastructure. This scheme can help with some of the costs associated with disposal. In addition to these schemes, the Government have provided funding for local authorities to provide council tax and business rates relief as well as hardship grants for households and businesses affected by the flooding.

Social Security Benefits

Mike Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to address financial inequalities faced by parents with shared custody of their child where state benefits are paid to only one parent. [192379]

Nicky Morgan: Child benefit and tax credits provide financial support for families bringing up children. In the instance where parents are separated claimants may also qualify for the ‘lone parent’ element of tax credits.

Payments are made to the person primarily responsible for the child. Where parents are separated child benefit and tax credit rules allow for parents to decide between themselves which of them shall be entitled to receive the payments. Where parents are unable to make a decision HMRC commissioners can make a discretionary decision.

VAT

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the possibility of reducing VAT on local procurement; and whether he has any plans to propose such a reduction. [192657]

Mr Gauke: The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to member states in this regard, is governed by EU law. The UK is only able to introduce reduced rates of VAT where there is the flexibility to do so under EU law.

VAT: Repairs and Maintenance

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce VAT on repairs for those affected by flooding. [192189]

Mr Gauke: The Government are taking action to help families and businesses affected by the flooding. On 20 February the Prime Minister announced a package

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of new funding schemes to support homeowners and businesses, including a grant of up to £5,000 to provide financial support to pay for repairs which improve a property's ability to withstand future flooding. More information is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-floods-2014-government-response

Home Department

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she is taking to introduce a ban on the sale of alcohol below the cost of duty plus VAT; [191869]

(2) what steps she is taking to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol in England and Wales; [191870]

(3) what recent discussions she has had with the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland on a minimum unit price for alcohol. [191871]

Norman Baker: Minimum unit pricing remains a policy under active consideration but is on hold while we assess the response of industry to our alcohol strategy, which we have indicated we expect to be a positive one. In the meantime we are introducing a ban on alcohol sales below the cost of duty plus VAT from April 2014. This fulfils the coalition Government's commitment and will stop the worst cases of very cheap and harmful alcohol sales.

Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and others as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Asylum: Deportation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who were previously classified as unaccompanied asylum seeking children have been forcibly returned to another country as adults in each of the last five years for which records are available. [191300]

James Brokenshire: The number of enforced removals of adults previously classified as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children for the period January 2009 to December 2013 is set out in the following table.

Daniel Morgan

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2014, Official Report, column 182W, on Daniel Morgan,

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from which

(a)

individuals and

(b)

organisations documents have been received; what protocols with relevant organisations are required; and if she will place in the Library a copy of all (i) minutes and (ii) documents from the meetings of the independent panel held to date. [192069]

Damian Green [holding answer 20 March 2014]: The panel is seeking documents from those organisations mentioned in its terms of reference and other organisations and individuals which the panel considers may have relevant information to offer.

However, the proceedings of the Daniel Morgan independent panel will remain confidential until it presents its final report to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), who will then make arrangements for the report’s publication to Parliament. The terms of reference provide that the panel will brief members of the family through the final report. This will be made available first to the family and then to the public at large. It is not envisaged that the panel will make material public until that point, but it will keep under review what policies and protocols it can make publicly available during the course of its work.

Detention Centres

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are allocated to each room in immigration detention centres. [192293]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 20 March 2014]: Rooms in immigration removal centres are generally shared by two or three occupants, although there are also single occupancy and some larger rooms, which can accommodate up to eight detainees. The largest room capacity is a 12-bed first-night unit in Dungavel, Scotland.

In order to be used as sleeping accommodation, rooms must be certified in accordance with Detention Services Order 4/2003 by the Secretary of State, that the lighting, heating and ventilation are adequate for health. This is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accommodation-lighting-heating-and-ventilation

Entry Clearances: Africa

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa centres have been contracted to be delivered by Teleperformance in Africa; how many such centres are operational; and if she will make a statement. [192415]

James Brokenshire: Teleperformance Ltd has been awarded the contract covering the Africa region. This comprises 27 outsourced visa application centres. Of these, four are currently operational, with further visa application centres to become operational over the coming weeks.

Entry Clearances: India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applied for fast-track visas to the UK in India in 2013. [189241]

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James Brokenshire: There were 81,755 applications in India in 2013 where applicants opted to use a priority service. A “same day” service was launched in India on 15 May 2013, and from that date to 31 December 2013, of the 81,755 applicants that used a priority service, 454 chose to use the “same day” service.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the change in the number of non-EU students issued visas to study at UK universities in the last five years. [191829]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 17 March 2014]:Since 2010 we have made common sense reforms to our student visa system, cutting out abuse whilst ensuring that we continue to attract talented international students to our world class universities.

Available figures of applications for visas for study using sponsor acceptances at UK universities during the last four years (2010 to 2013) show that there has been an increase in each year, rising by 7% from 156,629 in 2012 to 167,995 in 2013 and for students sponsored by the Russell Group of universities this rose by 11%. These figures are published as part of the latest quarterly Immigration Statistics October to December 2013 in table cs 09 available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283682/before-entry1-q4-2013-tabs.ods

Data published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) indicate that first year non-EU students enrolling at UK higher education institutions (HEIs) increased by 36% between 2007-08 and 2012-13. These figures are available from the HESA website at:

https://www.hesa.ac.uk/

Immigrants

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the assistance for the voluntary return and reintegration of returnees project, what the countries of origin of the 1,470 irregular migrants were; what assistance will be provided to the 30 victims of human trafficking from EU countries; how it will provide reintegration assistance to the 75 returning vulnerable migrants; and if she will make a statement. [190276]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 6 March 2014]: For many illegal migrants, the UK remains a primary destination country and some of those this programme will assist might otherwise arrive in the UK.

This project will make a positive and significant contribution to Greece’s comprehensive management of migration by facilitating the safe returns and reintegration of migrants in their countries of origin. The project will also raise awareness of the real dangers associated with illegal migration and of the advantages of returning home voluntarily, with support.

We will keep the effectiveness of this project under review.

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Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the nature and purpose is of the Government-funded assistance for the voluntary return and reintegration of returnees project being implemented by the International Organisation for Migration in co-operation with the Greek Government; how that project will assist irregular migrants to return to their countries of origin; and how the project will help identified victims of human trafficking from EU countries. [190398]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 6 March 2014]:For many illegal migrants the UK remains a primary destination country and some of those this programme will assist might otherwise arrive in the UK.

This project will make a positive and significant contribution to Greece's comprehensive management of migration by facilitating the safe returns and reintegration of migrants in their countries of origin. The project will also raise awareness of the real dangers associated with illegal migration and of the advantages of returning home voluntarily, with support.

We will keep the effectiveness of this project under review.

Immigration

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the backlog was for cases supervised by the (a) permanent migration office, Liverpool, (b) temporary migration office, Sheffield and (c) older live cases unit, Liverpool in each year since 2010. [189531]

James Brokenshire: In response to parts (a) and (b), we cannot provide an answer as our reporting system does not allow historic reporting on this basis and our archived reports are not presented in such a way.

In response to (c), the older live cases unit (OLCU) was formed in November 2012. OLCU does not have a backlog but is responsible for a defined cohort of older asylum and migration cases. The majority of these cases will have already received a negative decision against their initial application, but remain in the UK. For OLCU, the figures are:

31 December 2012—40,538 people (asylum and migration)

31 December 2013—34,841 people (asylum and migration).

Immigration Officers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules govern the conduct of former immigration officials in respect of dealings with those still employed by the Immigration Service. [192294]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 20 March 2014]: In common with all civil servants, the conduct of former immigration officials are bound by the business appointment rules for civil servants. These are in the public domain and are published at:

http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/media/25653/business%20 appointment%20rules%20for%20civil%20servants%20feb%202011. pdf

These rules apply to all serving civil servants and to former civil servants for two years after their last day of paid service.

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National Security

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to regularly review directions given under section 94 of the Telecommunications Act 1984. [192753]

James Brokenshire: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) keeps national security policies and decisions under review.

Organised Crime

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the National Crime Agency has taken to liaise with its counterparts in the Irish Republic over steps to prevent further gangland-type killings and shootings. [192504]

Karen Bradley: The Common Travel Area (CTA) between the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies and the free movement of goods within the EU mean that close liaison and co-operation between UK and Irish law enforcement partners against serious and organised crime is both vital and valued by both sides. The NCA has dedicated resources currently working with Irish law enforcement agencies to tackle the threat from organised crime that affects both our countries.

Poaching: North West

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of illegal taking of game have been recorded in (a) the North West and (b) Lancashire in each of the last three years. [192391]

Norman Baker: The Home Office does not hold this information centrally.

Police recorded crime statistics, consisting of indictable and triable-either-way offences do not include summary offences, such as taking of game.

UN Commission On the Status of Women

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress she has made in implementing the commitments in the outcome document of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2013; and if she will make a statement. [192490]

Norman Baker: Eliminating and preventing violence against women and girls was the priority theme for the Commission on the Status of Women in 2013. The coalition Government is committed to fulfilling our obligations to tackle such violence both in the UK and overseas. An update version of the cross-Government Action Plan, “A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls” was published on 8 March and incorporates key recommendations from the “Agreed Conclusions”.

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Work and Pensions

Access to Work Programme

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the advantages to deaf people of funding a team of interpreters through the Access to Work scheme rather than being assigned a single interpreter by their employer. [192543]

Mike Penning: We have not made any assessment of the advantages to deaf people of funding a team of interpreters through the Access to Work scheme. We appreciate that each situation is unique and may require a bespoke solution.

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the maximum grants for funding support workers under the Access to Work scheme were determined. [192589]

Mike Penning: There is no maximum grant level set for the funding of support workers under the Access to Work programme. Our aim is to use the programme budget to assist the maximum possible number of disabled workers across all industry sectors.

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which organisations for deaf people his Department consulted before the Access to Work guidance on support workers was amended. [192591]

Mike Penning: There have been no recent amendments to Access to Work guidance on support workers.

Children: Day Care

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the distributional effect of raising the proportion of childcare costs covered by universal credit to 85 per cent within the existing budget. [192777]

Steve Webb: Work remains the best route out of poverty, and child care costs represent a significant barrier to families trying to take the first steps into work or work up to full-time hours.

The Government and many of our stakeholders have concluded that funding an increase in child care support up to 85% provides a sufficient improvement in the financial reward and work incentive for families under universal credit. It will see around 500,000 working families get more out of the money they earn, helping more families move into employment and thus supporting our goal to end poverty in a sustainable way.

We will shortly be publishing a response to the consultation on the rate of child care paid under universal credit, which will include more detailed information on the effects of increasing the rate to 85% for all families.

The distributional effects of universal credit to be published at the next autumn statement, will include any changes to the child care element of universal credit.

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Disability Living Allowance

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of disability living allowance claims took longer than 40 days to process in each of the last three years for which data are available. [192527]

Mike Penning: The following table shows the percentage of disability living allowance (DLA) new claims, for normal rules (NR), that took longer than 40 days to process. Claims not yet processed within 40 days, include cases where we are awaiting additional information from the claimant and/or medical evidence.

Prior to 2012-13, the measure reported against was an actual average clearance time (AACT). This is the cumulative clearance days divided by the number of cleared events within the reporting period.

The following table shows information for 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Employment and Support Allowance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that the support available on Saturdays for people appealing against the refusal of employment and support allowance is equivalent to that available on other days. [190133]

Mr Vara: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

The first-tier tribunal (social security and child support), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on a range of benefits, including employment and support allowance. The tribunal is designed to hear appeals from individuals without the need for support from advocates.

The panel that hears the appeal, which will comprise experts such as judges, doctors, translators, and mental health experts, will guide the appellant through the

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appeal process. An appeal is inquisitorial rather than adversarial in nature. Appellants may engage advocates to help in preparing for or attending an appeal, but this is a matter entirely for the individual.

Appellants are asked before their case is listed if there are any days of the week, from Monday to Saturday, when they would be unable to attend a hearing. If Saturday is not convenient they can say so. Hearings which are held on a Saturday proceed exactly as they would on a weekday.

If an appellant has engaged an advocate but the advocate is not available to attend the scheduled hearing the matter will be put to a judge as to whether the hearing should be re-listed.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken from an application for reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision to a decision being made on the case was in each month since October 2013. [192738]

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average length of time taken to complete the employment and support allowance mandatory reconsideration process was in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013; [192886]

(2) what the longest time taken was for an employment and support allowance mandatory reconsideration process in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013. [192887]

Mike Penning: Mandatory reconsideration was introduced for employment and support allowance for decisions notified from 28 October 2013. The Department is collecting information to understand how it is operating from the point of its introduction, including the time taken from an application for reconsideration of an ESA decision to a decision being made on the case.

At present, these data are not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many businesses in (a) the UK and (b) Brigg and Goole constituency have taken part in wage incentive schemes since the introduction of the Youth Contract. [192278]

Esther McVey: Data on the number of employers receiving wage incentives are not available. The latest statistics on Youth Contract wage incentives, released on 25 February 2014 are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-contract-official-statistics-february-2014

Flexible Support Fund

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants working less than 16 hours per week have received help in each year from the flexible support fund to cover child care expenses, (child care subsidy), in each year since its inception; and how much the Government have spent on such support in each such year. [192918]

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Esther McVey: The information requested cannot be supplied without incurring disproportionate costs.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants have received help from the flexible support fund to cover child care expenses for up to five days in the seven days immediately before starting working in each year since the fund's inception; and how much the Government have spent on such support in each such year. [192919]

Esther McVey: The information requested cannot be supplied without incurring disproportionate costs.

Housing Benefit

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of housing benefit claimants in the UK in each of the last 30 years. [192907]

Steve Webb: The information requested for Great Britain is published and can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2013

Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development. Northern Ireland statistics can be found at:

http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm

Housing Benefit: Staffordshire

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in South Staffordshire constituency under the age of 25 years old were in receipt of housing benefit in the most recent period for which figures are available. [192267]

Steve Webb: The number of people in South Staffordshire constituency under the age of 25 in receipt of housing benefit, as at November 2013 is 258.

This information is published and can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Housing Benefit: Yorkshire And The Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on housing benefit for tenants in (a) council property, (b) housing association and registered social landlord property and (c) private sector housing in (i) Yorkshire and Humber and (ii) Brigg and Goole constituency in each year since 2009. [192397]

Steve Webb: The information is in the following tables. Housing benefit expenditure by parliamentary constituency is not available prior to 2011-12.

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A breakdown of benefit expenditure for housing benefit can be found in the housing benefit and council tax benefit expenditure by local authority tables as per the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277439/hb-ctb-la-tables-04022014.xls

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what guidance his Department issues on (a) the amount of class 1 national insurance contributions an individual must have made and (b) for how long such contributions must be paid in order to be eligible for contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance; and how his Department makes such guidance available to the public; [192696]

(2) what the criteria are for self-employed people to be eligible for contributions-based jobseeker’s allowance. [192697]

Esther McVey: Guidance is provided in the decision makers guide. Please see link to chapter 20 for the basic conditions of entitlement (20003) and chapter 21 for the contribution-based conditions (21051 onwards).

With limited exceptions, only class 1 (employed) contributions count towards jobseeker's allowance (JSA). This means that self-employed people who make class 2 (self-employed) contributions do not normally qualify for JSA. The exceptions are share fishermen, and volunteer development workers employed abroad. People in these categories pay a special class 2 national insurance contribution at a higher rate, which enables them to qualify for contribution-based jobseeker's allowance.

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Nurseries

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. [192455]

Mike Penning: There were seven workplace nurseries operated by third parties, including some provision for subsidised places, on DWP premises on 5 May 2010; all of which were still in operation on 5 February 2014.

DWP does not directly operate any workplace nurseries. The Department is reviewing the position of all on site nursery provision, and until the review is complete, it cannot confirm whether any nursery will close.

No information is held on Executive agencies and non-departmental bodies. There would be a disproportionate cost to source that information

Occupational Pensions

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to take steps to ensure that employers with employees who earn less than £10,000 per year will be legally obliged to provide those employees with an auto-enrolment pension scheme. [192722]

Steve Webb: Jobholders who earn less than the automatic enrolment earnings trigger of £10,000 and who are not eligible for automatic enrolment may opt in to pension saving. Employers are legally obliged to enrol anyone who opts into an automatic enrolment qualifying scheme and to pay the required employer contribution.

Personal Independence Payment

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the processing time target is for personal independence payment (PIP) claims; and what proportion of such claims took longer than this target time to process since the introduction of PIPs. [192751]

Mike Penning: As the hon. Member will appreciate, personal independence payment (PIP) is a new benefit and processes are currently bedding in. There are no time limits or targets on processing times to claims for PIP but we are taking the necessary action to improve the processing times.

Social Security Benefits: Brigg

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit sanctions were issued in Brigg and Goole constituency in each of the last five years. [192963]

Esther McVey: The information requested is shown in the following table.

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Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit sanctions were issued in South Staffordshire constituency in each of the last five years. [192333]

Esther McVey: The information requested is shown in the following table.

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Universal Credit

Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what consultation his Department has had with groups representing separated parents on steps to ensure universal credit makes shared parenting a financially viable option for parents who do not have family-based financial arrangements in place; [192380]

(2) how disputed child tax credits claims will be managed under the universal credit system. [192385]

Esther McVey: Currently the child element will be awarded to the parent with whom the child or qualifying young person normally lives. Where separated parents both share the care of a child or qualifying young person they are expected to jointly nominate which of them has the main responsibility.

Where parents are unable to come to an agreement themselves, a determination will be made. This will take account of where the child normally lives and who has the main day to day responsibility.

The proposed approach to universal credit was set out in a White Paper "Universal Credit: Welfare that Works" and in draft regulations upon which a wide range of organisations responded to in the consultation exercise carried out by the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are working on developing the enhanced universal credit IT system. [192757]

Esther McVey: There are approximately 50 DWP staff working on the enhanced universal credit service.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the first alternative universal credit digital service to be in use in a job centre. [192759]

Esther McVey: As part of the wider transformation of its services, the Department is developing an enhanced digital service for universal credit. As part of our commitment to testing universal credit as it develops, we expect to trial an early version of the enhanced digital service to a limited number of claimants later this year.

Vacancies: Internet

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many entries there are on the Universal Jobmatch database; and what his estimate is of the number of vacancies such entries represent; [192401]

(2) how many Universal Jobmatch employer accounts have been found to be in breach of its rules since the service started; [192404]

(3) what assessment he has made of the extent of (a) fraud, (b) duplication of job entries and (c) entries for non-existent jobs in the Universal Jobmatch website; [192405]

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(4) what his most recent assessment is of the (a) effectiveness and (b) value for money of Universal Jobmatch. [192406]

Esther McVey: Today, many jobs are only advertised on the internet. That is why we are doing everything we can to give those looking for work the skills and the opportunities to access them. Universal Jobmatch is a powerful tool for successfully connecting people to jobs, and it is delivering.

The website launches a public service into the digital age, allowing people to search for work from their home, handheld devices, local libraries, as well as the traditional jobcentre. It allows employers to match jobseekers to their vacancies and gives our customers access to a greater number of opportunities. It puts them on an equal footing with everyone else seeking a new job in the UK. With over 6 million job searches per day, the service is clearly popular, successful, and value for money.

At 18 March 2014, there were 507,474 vacancies on the service.

All internet job sites face the issue of duplicate vacancies. We take this issue very seriously, and whenever we have a doubt about the validity of a job offer we will intervene, suspend the vacancy and investigate. If an employer breaches our terms and conditions we remove their right to advertise. Our continuing removal of such employers or jobs demonstrates that our system of checks works.

Since Universal Jobmatch was launched in November 2012, we have removed 1,216 employer accounts that did not comply with our terms and conditions. That figure is equivalent to 0.2% of the total number of registered employer accounts.

Universal Jobmatch has revolutionised the way we deliver the public employment service. With over 6,000,000 job searches per day at a cost of far less than 1p each, it represents excellent value for money.

Work Capability Assessment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 638W, on the work capability assessment, if he will make it his policy to collect such information in future. [192085]

Mike Penning: To provide the requested information would incur disproportionate cost.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2014, Official Report, column 280W, on the work capability assessment, how many and what proportion of those who have undertaken a work capability test in each nation and region of the UK have been declared fit for work. [192323]

Mike Penning: Employment and support allowance (ESA) initial claims and incapacity benefit (IB) reassessment claims, by outcomes of work capability assessments by regions in Great Britain are published. The numbers and the proportion of fit-for-work decisions can be found in table 1a and table 11 at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/274091/esa_wca_140122.xls

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Notes:

1. There is a reporting lag of approximately 8-months at the issuing date of this statistical output owing to the time needed to process data and time allowed to enable each cohort's assessment phase to elapse.

2. Case load figures rounded to nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to the rounding method use. Proportions are rounded to the nearest whole number.

3. Figures include those cases where the functional assessment has not been completed.

Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development Northern Ireland. Statistics can be found at:

http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what information his Department draws in evaluating the performance of Work programme prime providers in addition to published outcome data. [192917]

Esther McVey: In addition to the published outcome data, the Department has put in place a programme of surveys and qualitative research to evaluate the performance and delivery of Work programme providers.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Air Pollution

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to publish a summary of the submissions to the consultation on the Clean Air Act 1993; and what his response is to that consultation. [192704]

Dan Rogerson: The responses to the call for Evidence conducted to inform the review of the Clean Air Act 1993 are currently being compiled and analysed. A summary of the responses and Government reply will be published shortly.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sentencing for crimes involving the abuse of animals. [169728]

Dan Rogerson: The Animal Welfare Act 2006 was reviewed in 2010 and there was no recommendation to increase the maximum penalties for animal cruelty or that sentencing by the courts needed to be reviewed separately.

Energy: Conservation

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the proportion of retail products in the UK which are compliant with EU energy efficiency standards. [188791]

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Dan Rogerson: In 2009, DEFRA appointed the National Measurement Office (NMO) to assess compliance with product-specific regulations made under the ecodesign for energy-related products directive (2009/125/EC). The NMO operates a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to compliance. Each year it checks compliance of several product types, focusing on those most likely to fail to meet requirements. Since the NMO started its work, the detected levels of compliance have increased in all areas of its work. Where the work has revealed non-compliance, the NMO has worked with manufacturers to make the necessary changes.

Environment Agency

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases being investigated for enforcement action or issued and proceeding in the courts have (a) been discontinued completely, (b) been enforced using a lower level of action and (c) ceased to be investigated in each geographic area of the Environment Agency since 26 February 2014. [191774]

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency tracks the number of cases at different stages in the enforcement process but cannot readily extract the changes to those case numbers over such a recent period.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps each area of the Environment Agency is taking to reduce its enforcement and legal caseload by 31 March 2014; and by how many and what proportion of existing cases each area plans to reduce its caseload. [191850]

Dan Rogerson: Each area of the Environment Agency is currently reviewing existing work loads against enforcement priorities and available budgets. No decisions will be made until the review is complete.

Fisheries

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to improve information available to consumers of fish on the method of fishing used. [193076]

George Eustice: New labelling requirements are due to be introduced from December 2014, which will provide consumers with information on the type of fishing gear used. In addition, EU Fish Labelling Regulations already require that the method of production of fish (farmed, caught at sea or caught in inland water) is shown for fresh, chilled, or frozen fish fillets and other fish meat and smoked, dried, salted or brined fish.

Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 552W, on forests, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness in reducing flood risk of (a) the slowing

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the flow project in North Yorkshire and the

(b)

Forestry Commission projects in the catchments of the (i) River Parrett in Somerset and (ii) River Irthing in Northumberland. [192087]

Dan Rogerson: The Forestry Commission, through its research agency, Forest Research, is continuing to monitor the effects of forests on flood flows in the cited projects.

Observations in the slowing the flow project show the forest measures to be working as expected, but the data records are too short to confirm any reduction in flood risk at Pickering.

The small scale of forest planting and short length of flow record at the study sites in the River Parrett catchment make it difficult to detect an impact on flood flows, but the data are being used to improve flood models.

The River Irthing project is a long-term study of the impact of conifer afforestation on water flows within the Coalburn headwater catchment. Monitoring began in 1967 and assessments have been made of the effects of tree planting and growth on flood flows at various intervals since. The last was in 2003. A further evaluation is underway and is due to report in the summer.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 552W, on forests, if he will make it his policy to record these projects centrally. [192088]

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA has no plans to centralise the recording of the performance of specific flood management measures, such as forestry, water storage or hard defences, which could only be meaningfully evaluated on a case- by-case basis.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the additional £140 million for flood defences over 2014-15 and 2015-16 announced in the Budget 2014 will be added to his Department's baseline for future years. [192951]

Dan Rogerson: The additional £140 million for flood defences announced in the Budget 2014 is to support the repair and maintenance of flood and coastal defences following the exceptional recent flood events of the last few months. Decisions about funding beyond 2015-16 will be made at future spending reviews.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the £140 million for flood defences over 2014-15 and 2015-16 announced in the Budget 2014 to repair and maintain flood defences is in addition to the previously announced £100 million additional flood defence funding for 2014-15. [192952]

Dan Rogerson: The £140 million announced in the Budget 2014 for flood defences over 2014-15 and 2015-16 is all additional to the £100 million previously announced in February 2014.

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Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the additional £140 million for flood defences over 2014-15 and 2015-16 announced in the Budget 2014 is (a) capital and (b) revenue funding. [192953]

Dan Rogerson: £85 million is capital and £55 million is revenue.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the additional £140 million for flood defences over 2014-15 and 2015-16 announced in the Budget 2014 is (a) partnership and (b) public funding. [192954]

Dan Rogerson: All of the £140 million additional funding for flood defences announced in the Budget 2014 is central Government funding.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the additional £140 million for flood defences over 2014-15 and 2015-16 announced in the Budget 2014 will be available to spend in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16. [192955]

Dan Rogerson: Of the £140 million announced in the Budget 2014 for flood defences, £80 million is available to spend in 2014-15 and £60 million in 2015-16.

Floods: Housing

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department holds on the number of households forced to seek alternative accommodation after their homes were flooded who were referred by their insurers to the Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau (ICAB); how many such households were found homes by ICAB; and if he will make a statement. [189246]

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA does not hold details on the number of households that have been forced to seek alternative accommodation as a result of flooding, nor those referred to the Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau. At the first meeting of the insurance industry on flooding on 18 February, Ministers were assured that there was sufficient alternative accommodation available.

Floods: Insurance

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will monitor home insurance premiums to ensure that increases relating to risks of flooding are justified; and if he will make a statement. [189245]

Dan Rogerson: The Government are addressing the issue of excessive flood premiums through the introduction of a flood reinsurance scheme, known as Flood Re. Flood Re will effectively limit the amount that most UK households should have to pay for flood insurance to ensure that people can continue to access affordable home insurance.

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At the first monthly meeting with the insurance industry on 18 February, Ministers were assured that there was no evidence of insurers raising premiums for flood risk properties in advance of Flood Re starting in 2015.

In addition, DEFRA will undertake and publish market monitoring research.

Fly Tipping

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to tackle the illegal dumping of commercial waste. [191327]

Dan Rogerson: The Government are taking the following action to tackle the illegal dumping of all types of waste, including commercial waste:

(a) Prevention: We are helping to prevent fly-tipping by making it easier for businesses to dispose of their waste legally. For instance, the Waste and Resources Action Programme has produced a best practice guide to help local authorities and waste management companies set up 'bring sites' in business parks.

(b) Cracking down on offenders: DEFRA has worked with the Sentencing Council on its new guideline for sentencing environmental offences. The guideline, published last month, should result in larger fines for serious offenders, thereby helping deter illegal dumping. The Government fully support the Environment Agency taking appropriate and timely enforcement action against illegal waste sites.

(c) Tackling fly-tipping through partnership: We are working with the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group to provide guidance to those affected by illegal dumping. The group includes representatives from the Local Government Association, the Environment Agency and land owner and management organisations. The group is working on a Fly-Tipping Partnership Framework, which gives best practice options for the prevention, reporting, investigation and clearance of fly-tipping. This is designed to be used and adapted by local partnerships to suit the particular circumstances in their areas.

Forests

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 552W, on forests, what records (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency keeps of the projects it has funded and the performance of each against its objectives. [192327]

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency maintains national level records of the flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes funded through DEFRA flood defence capital grant in aid, which show the benefits that schemes will deliver against outcome measures agreed with DEFRA.

Progress against these outcome measures is reported to DEFRA quarterly and a summary is published on the Environment Agency website. This does not include a breakdown of the performance of specific flood management measures, such as forestry, water storage or hard defences, which could only be meaningfully evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Mercury

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will bring forward proposals to incorporate the Minamata Convention on Mercury into domestic law. [192726]

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Dan Rogerson: The Minamata Convention on Mercury will be open for ratification from 10 October 2014. A proposal for EU legislation to facilitate ratification by member states is expected in early 2015. The Government are working in parallel with the EU process so as to be able to ratify the convention at the earliest opportunity.