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Written Answers to Questions

Monday 31 March 2014

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Anaerobic Digestion

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of energy generation was produced through anaerobic digestion in each of the last three years; and what steps his Department is taking to increase the levels of energy production through that source. [193780]

Dan Rogerson: The following table details UK energy generation from anaerobic digestion over the period requested:

The Government are committed to increasing energy from waste through anaerobic digestion. We continue to provide financial support for its growth through low carbon incentives, the Green Investment Bank and a Driving Innovation Fund to reduce costs and improve efficiency. We have also provided support through a loan fund.

Most of the actions in our 2011 Anaerobic Digestion Strategy have been delivered to help overcome barriers to deployment and facilitate an increase in energy from this source. Other actions are ongoing.

Coastal Erosion

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will seek to involve all the regions and constituent parts of the UK in developing a UK-wide strategy to tackle coastal erosion. [193538]

Dan Rogerson: Flood and coastal erosion risk management is a devolved matter for each Administration. DEFRA provides strategic overview for the management of coastal erosion in England.

Environment Agency

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current staffing complement is in the Environment Agency's legal services and operations departments; and how many staff have applied to leave under such staff reduction plans. [191772]

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Dan Rogerson: As of 28 February this year, the Environment Agency directly employs 8,532 full-time employees within Operations and Legal Services. These figures exclude employment agency staff and contractors and are rounded to whole full-time equivalent numbers.

The Environment Agency has received 1,003 requests to leave the organisation under its voluntary early release scheme.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many legal and enforcement cases there were in each geographic area of the Environment Agency on 26 February 2014; and how many such cases were (a) under investigation, (b) being considered for enforcement action, (c) being considered for legal action by the legal services department and (d) issued and proceeding through the courts; [191773]

(2) how many enforcement cases run by the Environment Agency were (a) under investigation, (b) proceeding, having been issued in the courts and (c) completed on 26 February 2014. [191771]

Dan Rogerson: For points (a) to (d) following, the data were gathered for the purpose of answering these sections on 14 March this year and relate to that date, not 26 February.

(a) The number of current investigations in the Environment Agency regions at 14 March is:

(b) All of the above investigations will be considered for enforcement action in due course.

(c) The number of cases being considered for legal action by the Environment Agency's legal services department is:

(d) The number of cases issued and proceeding through the courts is:

The Environment Agency does not believe that there were any cases resolved on 26 February this year. However, it can routinely take three to four weeks for the Environment Agency's records to be finalised.

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Environment Protection: British Overseas Territories

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken as part of the initiative to address threats to marine ecosystems in the Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. [193172]

George Eustice: DEFRA ran a research competition in 2011 on understanding and addressing threats to marine ecosystems in the Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. The competition was won by the university of Newcastle and has been running for three years in Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands, with the full support of the relevant Overseas Territories’ Governments. The project combines natural and social science and will identify major threats to coral reef health in the Caribbean and potential solutions for their sustainable management. The final report will be published later this year.

Fishing Vessels

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Richmond Park, of 3 February 2011, Official Report, column 907W, on fishing vessels, what progress has been made on the creation of a global record of fishing vessels by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and what work is being undertaken by his Department on the mandatory use of International Maritime Organisation numbers for fishing vessels for the purposes of improving transparency in the global fishing industry. [193468]

George Eustice: Significant progress has been made with the establishment of the global record of fishing vessels. In December 2013, at its 28th session, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted Resolution A.1078(28). This makes fishing vessels of 100 gross tonnage or above subject to the IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme. This number will become the unique vessel identifier to be used in the global record.

Discussions are ongoing at EU level as to the process to be adopted to acquire IMO numbers for those vessels that do not currently have them.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the use of flag brokers and flags of convenience by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing vessels; and what representations he has made to his EU counterparts on this matter. [193471]

George Eustice: DEFRA, together with the Marine Management Organisation, regularly monitors the movements of fishing vessels on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) lists and discusses the implications with the Commission and other member states. Under the EU IUU Regulation, any flag state that wishes to validate catch certificates for the export of fisheries products to the EU must first notify the Commission that it is able to ensure its fishing fleet is compliant with all appropriate rules and laws.

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Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on flood defences per head of population in (a) England and (b) each region of England in each year since 2009. [193403]

Dan Rogerson: The information requested is as follows:

The figures for each year are the total DEFRA spend on flood and coastal erosion risk management divided by the most recent ONS population estimate for mid-2012.

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, if he will make it the Environment Agency's policy to record this information in future. [193372]

Dan Rogerson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 32W.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 694W, on forests, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development over the lessons to be learnt from her Department's contour afforestation schemes in developing countries. [193377]

Dan Rogerson: There have been no discussions with the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) on research her Department has conducted in developing countries into contour afforestation schemes.

Hunting Act 2004

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the contribution by the Prime Minister of 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 886, whether he has received

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and examined any proposals to amend the Hunting Act 2004; and if he will take steps to ensure that any such proposal will be subject to

(a)

a full consultation by his Department,

(b)

a full impact assessment with supporting data and modelling made available to Parliament and

(c)

a free vote in the House. [192855]

George Eustice: DEFRA received representations about an amendment to the Hunting Act that would help, in particular, upland farmers deal with the problem of fox predation of their lambs. We recognise the difficulties some hill farmers face but there are no plans to introduce an amendment to the Hunting Act.

The commitment in the coalition agreement is to bring forward a motion on a free vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act. This commitment still stands and a vote will come forward at an appropriate time.

Pest Control

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects his Department's consultation on pest control to be concluded; and what the outcome has been of his Department's discussions on this matter with representatives of shooting organisations. [193539]

George Eustice: Natural England's consultation on the general and class licences it issues under wildlife legislation closes on 19 May 2014. All those who use these licences or have an interest, including shooting organisations, are encouraged to provide their views to Natural England by the closing date.

A summary of responses received will be published after the consultation has ended.

The consultation and associated documents can be viewed on Natural England's website at:

www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/licences/wildlifelicensingconsultation.aspx

Pet Foods: China

Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made in persuading China to recognise UK export health certificates for pet foods. [193338]

George Eustice [holding answer 27 March 2014]: Officials continue to work closely with the pet food industry to complete the questionnaires required by the Chinese authorities as the first stage in negotiations towards agreeing an export health certificate for pet food exports.

Sheep: Theft

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on sheep rustling. [193319]

George Eustice: DEFRA has not received any such representations recently.

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Water Charges

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the letter of 19 March 2014 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Water, Forestry, Rural Affairs and Resource Management to the hon. Member for Torbay, what the evidential basis is for his statement that offering a water company funding for domestic users who happen to occupy business premises would risk such a payment being classified as state aid under European legislation. [193604]

Dan Rogerson: This rebate is for household customers of South West Water only. It would be inappropriate to subsidise the water bills of large businesses from limited public funds. We could not distinguish between small and large businesses without spending public money on a bureaucratic application process which would further reduce the funding available to support household customers. Furthermore, any payment of public funds to a business of any size is open to challenge under the European State Aid rules. If such a payment was determined as unlawful, those businesses would be legally liable. This risk would be disproportionate to the benefit conferred by the annual £50 reduction. Therefore, in the case of ‘mixed use' premises, the bill reduction can only apply where the person liable to pay the council tax is not also liable to pay business rates for those premises.

Energy and Climate Change

Electricity Generation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many spare (a) generator step-up transformers and (b) transmission transformers are held in the UK. [193422]

Michael Fallon: Electricity generation in the U.K. is privatised and the decisions on spare step-up transformers are for the individual generator businesses. Electricity transmission operations in the UK are private, regulated businesses. Decisions on spare transmission connected transformers are matters for the transmission businesses, to meet the licence conditions under which they operate; they form an important component in the provision of reliability of supply. The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not hold data on generator step-up transformer or transmission connected transformer quantities held as spares by industry.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which companies manufacture (a) generator step-up transformers and (b) transmission transformers in the UK. [193423]

Michael Fallon: The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not hold comprehensive data on generator step-up and transmission connected transformer manufacturers in the U.K. The transformers used in the privatised electricity industry are sourced from manufacturers such as Alstom Grid based in Staffordshire, among others in the UK and globally.

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Energy

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of people who have switched energy suppliers in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency, (b) Yorkshire and Humber and (c) England in each of the last 60 months. [193622]

Gregory Barker: DECC does not hold any sub-national data on switching energy suppliers; data are only available for Great Britain. These data are published in table 2.7.1 of the DECC publication Quarterly Energy Prices, which is made available online at the link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-switching-statistics

Energy: Housing

Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average time it takes for householders who have installed energy efficient products in their property to recover their costs; and if he will make a statement. [193739]

Gregory Barker: The Department’s latest estimates for households installing energy efficient products in their property do not assume a single payback period. The time required to recover installation costs will depend on a large number of factors, specific to the household. Some of the main influencing factors are: the property’s type and size; the measures installed and their cost; the household’s pattern of energy use before the installation; the energy efficiency of the property before the installation; and whether or not there was a subsidy to contribute to the measure’s cost.

All the Department’s take-up projections for energy efficiency measures assume that the households installing measures will recover all the installation costs, with payback ranging from 0 to 25 years.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) of 3 March 2014, Official Report, column 721, on Government levies on energy bills, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of a freeze of the carbon floor price on the number and capacity of projects that will be brought forward under the levy control framework. [193690]

Michael Fallon: The levy control framework has been designed with the flexibility to be able to respond to policy changes. The Government expect to meet their renewable energy ambition as set out in the Electricity Market Reform Delivery plan within the Levy Control Framework.

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks of 3 March 2014, Official Report, column 725, on Government levies on energy bills, when he plans to present to the House the first annual report on consumer-funded policies, covering actual expenditure and forecast expenditure. [193691]

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Michael Fallon: The first annual report on consumer-funded levies will be published to a timetable consistent with Ofgem’s reporting on the renewables obligation for 2013-14, scheduled for March 2015. Officials are currently considering how that date could be brought forward.

Fossil Fuels: Russia

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the value of UK imports of (a) coal, (b) gas and (c) oil from Russia was in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [193420]

Michael Fallon: The value of UK imports of coal, primary oil and petroleum products from Russia between 2008 and 2012 are shown in the following table:

There was no gas imported directly from Russia by the UK.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the UK's (a) coal, (b) gas and (c) oil requirements were met by imports from Russia in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [193421]

Michael Fallon: The amounts of coal and oil imported from Russia by the UK for each year between 2008 and 2012 compared to total UK demand for those fuels are shown in the following table:

There was no gas imported directly from Russia by the UK.

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Fuel Oil: North West

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of properties in (a) Rossendale and Darwen constituency and (b) the North West which do not have mains gas access and which use domestic heating oil. [193301]

Michael Fallon: Estimates for the number of households which do not have mains gas and which use domestic heating oil are not available. However, the number of households that did not have access to a mains gas supply in the Rossendale and Darwen constituency can be estimated by combining figures for the lower layer super output areas that most closely match this area.

In 2012, there were approximately 1,100 households (3%) which had no access to mains gas. The number of households that did not have access to mains gas in the north-west is estimated to be 156,000 (5% of households within the north-west).

These data are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lsoa-estimates-of-households-not-connected-to-the-gas-network

Fuel Oil: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of properties in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber which do not have mains gas access and which use domestic heating oil. [193904]

Gregory Barker: Estimates for the number of households which do not have mains gas and which use domestic heating oil are not available. However, the number of households that did not have access to a mains gas supply in the Brigg and Goole constituency can be estimated by combining figures for the lower layer super output areas that most closely match this area.

In 2012, there were approximately 4,400 households (12%) which had no access to mains gas. The number of households that did not have access to mains gas in Yorkshire and the Humber is estimated to be 127,000 (6% of households within Yorkshire and the Humber).

These data are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lsoa-estimates-of-households-not-connected-to-the-gas-network

Public Appointments

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who has been appointed as a non-executive director of his Department since the publication of information on non-executive directors in his Department's annual report and accounts 2012-13; what the date of each such appointment was; what annual fee is payable to each such person; what expenses and allowances each such person has claimed to date; and what other interests or employment each such person has. [193606]

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Gregory Barker: Since the last annual report Martin Stewart has joined the Department as lead non-executive director on 3 June 2013; and Tom Kelly joined on 3 February 2014.

Martin Stewart is CEO of Eurotaxglass Ltd, he is also a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee on London 2017 Ltd, and non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of SIS Ltd.

Tom Kelly is currently the corporate communications director at Network Rail. He moves to become strategic communications adviser for HS2 on 1 April 2014.

Their fees are £20,000 PA and £15,000 PA respectively. Neither has claimed expenses from the Department since taking up their role.

Solar Power

Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of houses in the UK that have solar panels. [193737]

Gregory Barker: The latest published statistics show that as at the end of December 2013, there were 427,897 solar panel installations on domestic properties, representing 97% of the total number of solar panels installed in GB (442,102).

Statistics to the end of March 2014 will be published at 9:30 am on Wednesday 23 April 2014 on the DECC Statistics webpage:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/sub-regional-feed-in-tariffs-confirmed-on-the-cfr-statistics

Working Hours

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of employees in his Department of each (a) civil service pay grade and (b) gender work (i) reduced hours, (ii) flexi-time, (iii) from home, (iv) a compressed working week, (v) job share, (vi) term-time only and (vii) part-time. [193962]

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has a flexible working policy which allows its staff to apply to work through a range of flexible working options. These include part-time working, job sharing, compressed hours, as well as working from home on an occasional or more regular basis or as part of a formal arrangement where staff are officially based at home. DECC does not hold central records of those staff who have made a statutory application for flexible working.

Information relating to staff who work part-time is recorded centrally and the proportion of those by (a) civil service pay grade and (b) gender is set out in the following tables:

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Transport

All Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193565]

Stephen Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 300W.

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Driving: Young People

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce the findings of the Green Paper on improving the safety and reducing risks to young drivers. [193736]

Mr Goodwill: The safety of young people on our roads is very important to us. Too many young people die, too often; we are wrestling with how to make things safer, while not unduly restricting the freedom of our young people. We want young people to be able to get to work and training, to education and to leisure activities, and we want them to do so safely. We are finding this a difficult balance, with passionate voices on both sides.

On 27 January 2014, we held a meeting with the insurance industry and agreed the Department would commission new research into how telematics can change the behaviour and attitudes of learner drivers. We look forward to insurance companies sharing their data so that we can undertake this research.

We are also in the process of undertaking some focus groups with parents, young people and employers to get a better understanding of the issues from their perspective.

Fines

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) date, (b) amount and (c) reasons were for any fines or penalties his Department has paid to HM Treasury since May 2010. [193583]

Stephen Hammond: The following table shows fines and penalties collected and passed on to HM Treasury by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency:

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (which now includes the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) also collects fines and penalties on behalf of HM Treasury, figures are shown as follows and are not yet available for 2013-14. Fixed penalties are recouped from drivers and operators of PCV/LGVs for a number of different possible infractions. The Traffic Commissioners may impose financial penalties against bus operators as part of their regulatory role.

Fisheries

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to ratify the International Labour Organisation amendment C188 on the Work in Fishing Convention, in respect of a minimum age for work on a fishing vessel, minimum medical standards, basic work agreements, occupational health and safety, and social security. [193467]

Stephen Hammond: The Government support the principles behind the International Labour Organisation Convention on Work in Fishing (No. 188), and are

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working with the fishing industry to develop proposals for implementation of the Convention, including those aspects listed above.

The UK will make a final decision on the appropriateness and timing of ratification once the impacts on the industry have been identified and assessed.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) with reference to HS2 Plus published on 17 March 2014, on what basis he has decided that the North's integrated station should be Crewe; and what alternative locations were considered; [193260]

(2) if he will consider rerouting High Speed 2 phase 2 through Stoke-on-Trent rather than Crewe as part of his consideration of the public responses to his Department's consultation. [193262]

Mr Goodwill: We have received over 10,000 responses to the Phase Two consultation. These are still being analysed and considered, and no decisions on the Phase Two route have been taken. We are considering the recommendation on Crewe as part of our response to the Phase Two consultation which will include analysis and consideration of the proposals to reroute the line through Stoke-on-Trent, as well as all other responses to the consultation. I will respond to the consultation on Phase Two later this year.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there will be a review of the cost-benefit analysis of High Speed 2 following the decision to revise the High Speed 2 and High Speed 1 link. [193263]

Mr Goodwill: We will continue to revise and update the economic case for HS2 as new project milestones are reached, such as decisions on the preferred route for Phase 2, to ensure it is based on the best available evidence and latest understanding of the project, including taking account of the decision to remove the existing proposals for the HS1-HS2 link from the scheme.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of how much more tickets for journeys on High Speed 2 will cost than for journeys on conventional trains; and how the cost of tickets for journeys on High Speed 2 will be calculated. [193264]

Mr Goodwill: The strategic case for HS2 assumes that fares are similarly priced between services that operate on and off the HS2 infrastructure. However, the key decisions on fares and services on HS2 once services open in 2026 will be taken by future Governments, as part of determining wider rail policy for the GB rail network as a whole.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2014, Official Report, columns 511-2W, on High Speed 2 railway line, at what URL the March 2012 reports of HS2 Ltd are published; and on what pages of those reports the evidence that led to the decision to route via Crewe rather than Stoke-on-Trent is set out. [193269]

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Mr Goodwill: The March 2012 report setting out the options that HS2 Ltd considered for Phase Two, and describing the process of analysing and refining them, can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/options-for-phase-two-of-the-high-speed-rail-network

The information relating to Stoke-on-Trent is in section 4.3 (pages 34 to 69).

Further information can also be found in the ‘HS2 Phase Two Engineering Options Report West Midlands to Manchester (parts 1 and 2)' at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-two-engineering-options-report-west-midlands-to-manchester

Section 7 in part 2 of the report sets out the history of line of route options studied (pages 279 to 283).

Responses to the Phase Two consultation are being considered currently and no decisions have yet been taken on the route. We will make an announcement in the autumn.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2014, Official Report, columns 511-2W, on High Speed 2 railway line, what calculations were done to demonstrate that alternative schemes would fail to deliver sufficient additional capacity; and what the passenger load factor of High Speed 2 will be as against the passenger load factor of longer trains. [193270]

Mr Goodwill: Since 2009 we have considered a wide range of alternative options to a high speed railway including the use of alternative modes, a conventional speed line and upgrades to the existing rail network. The alternatives do not release capacity for commuter and freight services, fail to offer a robust solution to the problem of poor service performance and would significantly disrupt services as upgrade work is carried out.

All of the calculations to demonstrate that alternative schemes would fail to deliver as much capacity as HS2 to address future levels of over-crowding have been published. These are summarised in the Strategic Case for HS2 released in October 2013

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-strategic-case

From the October 2013 economic case, and for the standard case run, the average all-day load factor for HS2 services in 2036 for the full network is 41%, and accordingly higher during peak periods. Equivalent data for the alternatives have been published in the HS2 Strategic Alternatives Final Report (Atkins, 2013)

http://assets.hs2.org.uk/sites/default/files/inserts/S%26A%201_Economic%20case_0.pdf

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 455W, on High Speed 2 railway line, on what basis it has been calculated that the (a) expense of and (b) disruption caused by adopting double-decker carriages on the West Coast Main Line would be greater than that of the construction of High Speed 2. [193271]

Mr Goodwill: Since 2009 we have considered a wide range of alternative options to a high speed railway including the use of alternative modes, a conventional

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speed line and upgrades to the existing rail network. The alternatives do not release capacity for commuter and freight services, fail to offer a robust solution to the problem of poor performance and would significantly disrupt services as upgrade work is carried out.

The March 2010 High Speed 2 Strategic Alternatives Study considered the potential for using double deck trains on WCML as one means of enhancing capacity on conventional rail routes between London and the West Midlands/North West. It found that while double decking, and the less expensive alternative of train lengthening, would increase the number of passengers per train there is a practical limit to the expansion of capacity on WCML and only limited opportunity to reduce journey times.

All of the calculations to demonstrate that alternative schemes would fail to deliver as much capacity as HS2 to address future levels of over-crowding have been published. These are summarised in the Strategic Case for HS2 released in October 2013 which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-strategic-case

Before such trains could be used on the West Coast Mainline, the route (including diversionary routes) would need to be gauge cleared to allow sufficient space for the trains to operate. This would involve raising all overhead wires, raising bridges, modifying platforms on the route, modifying station canopies, moving or raising all signal gantries and other signage on the route, and lowering track in the tunnels. Work would need to be carried out to modify existing depots or to provide new ones. Additional works would also be required to enable line speeds to be maintained on the route.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of a regional transport hub at Crewe on the proposal by Warrington Borough Council for an alternative route for the High Speed 2 line north of Crewe; and if he will make a statement. [193627]

Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd will undertake work to consider proposals for a hub station at Crewe as part of the consideration of the responses to the Phase Two consultation. This closed on 31 January and all responses, including that from Warrington Borough Council, are currently being considered. No decisions have yet been taken on the route but we will make an announcement on this in the autumn.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefits to (a) the North-West and (b) Warrington of further upgrading the West-East line as proposed in the HS2 Plus Report. [193697]

Mr Goodwill: No specific assessment has yet been made. In response to the HS2 Plus report, we have commissioned HS2 Ltd and Network Rail to undertake work to allow proposals to accelerate construction of the Crewe section of HS2 Phase Two and to build a new integrated hub station at Crewe to be looked at in detail as part of the consideration of the public consultation responses to Phase Two. We have also commissioned HS2 Ltd and Network Rail to make recommendations on enhancing connectivity in the midlands and the north before our response to the Phase Two consultation.

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Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the proposed service pattern is for classic-compatible High Speed 2 trains serving Carlisle when (a) High Speed 2 phase 1 and (b) High Speed 2 phase 2 opens; [193890]

(2) what plans he has for Penrith North Lakes, Oxenholme Lake District and Lancaster to be served by classic-compatible High Speed 2 trains. [193891]

Mr Goodwill: HS2 will provide a very significant expansion of the rail network's ability to carry passengers and freight, resulting in improvements to rail services throughout the country. It is too soon to set a final train timetable at this stage, but HS2 Ltd and Network Rail have begun a process which will allow us to identify the best possible use of the post-HS2 rail network.

One set of assumptions, amongst many, has been developed for business case modelling purposes. These assumptions are clearly set out in “The Economic Case for HS2: Assumptions Report” published in October 2013

http://assets.hs2.org.uk/sites/default/files/inserts/SA%2020_PFM%20assumptions%20report_V3_0.pdf

Railways

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the National Rail Conditions of Carriage. [193586]

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State has an approval role under the Ticketing & Settlement Agreement for changes to the National Rail Conditions of Carriage. The Association of Train Operating Companies is responsible for the management of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage and it is for them to propose changes to the Secretary of State for approval.

Railways: Chester

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 4W, on railways: Chester, if he will hold discussions 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 the report on the Commission on Devolution in Wales that the Wales and Borders rail franchise should be devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. [193684]

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State would be happy to discuss these matters with the Secretary of State for Wales when they next meet.

Railways: South West

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation will be available to train operating companies as a result of the rail line closures in the South West of England in early 2014. [193600]

Stephen Hammond: Any compensation for the train operators in respect of the rail line closures in the south west of England in early 2014 would be paid by Network Rail in accordance with the track access agreement between Network Rail and the individual train operating companies, as regulated by the Office of Rail Regulation.

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Transport: Schools

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of schools that undertake cycling training; whether his Department provides information to schools on the wearing of cycle helmets by children; and if he will take steps to ensure that a Travel to School Policy becomes compulsory for all local education authorities in relation to schoolchildren and safety. [193554]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport provides funding for the delivery of Bikeability cycle training in England. Currently approximately 8,177 schools take part in training delivered by either their Local Highway Authority or School Games Organiser Host School.

Bikeability courses include discussions on helmets during the equipment check. Those wearing helmets are taught how to fit and adjust them correctly and there are also wider discussions on safety equipment and what to wear.

The Department for Education expects local authorities to meet its Home to School Transport Duties which include ensuring safe walking routes and sustainable local travel. There are no plans to change the legislation or the policies that underpin this.

Home Department

All Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193560]

Karen Bradley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 292W.

Asylum

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants receiving support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 have been receiving support for more than (a) two years, (b) four years and (c) six years; and if she will make a statement. [193593]

James Brokenshire: Data specific to your request can be found in the following table.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will announce the asylum support rates for 2014-15. [193594]

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James Brokenshire: There are no immediate plans to change the support rates provided to destitute asylum seekers.

Asylum: Pregnant Women

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the report by the Refugee Council, When Maternity Doesn't Matter, what steps her Department has taken to reform the dispersal policy of the former UK Border Agency. [193461]

James Brokenshire: The report covers procedures for accommodating pregnant asylum seekers who are destitute. The Home Office has been consulting about changes to these procedures and is considering some detailed suggestions by the Refugee Council and Maternity Action. Once that is completed we will move towards finalising and publishing revised guidance on the procedures.

Borders: Personal Records

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current status is of the Border Systems Programme (BSP); what the timescale is for tendering and choosing suppliers; and when the BSP is expected to be developed and rolled out. [192403]

James Brokenshire: The e-Borders programme has been incorporated within the Border Systems' scope of work. Border Systems now assumes responsibility for the Warnings Index and the wider Border Force portfolio of technology projects. Border Systems will build on the foundations of the e-Borders programme, strengthening even further our border security.

The procurement approach to replacing the primary border security elements of the Border Systems Programme will reflect broader Government ICT and Commercial strategy, and there will be no single, large supplier. The Home Office will lead development, with services procured from a range of providers, potentially including small and medium enterprises.

By March 2015 the Border Systems Programme aims to:

complete resilience of all current business critical systems;

develop replacement primary border security systems;

provide additional capability to support commitments on exit checks;

establish a programme for the next generation of Radiological and Nuclear detection (Cyclamen);

continue the implementation of second generation e-Gates across the estate;

develop and implement new freight targeting capability for sea containers;

establish contracts to purchase new detection equipment;

continue to assure live operations of existing systems.

Deportation

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serious misconduct complaints related to the use of control and restraint during enforced removal were referred to the Professional Standards Unit in each year since 2010. [193473]

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James Brokenshire: Complaints made by, or on behalf of, detainees are managed in accordance with Detention Services Order 3/2011. All allegations of serious misconduct are referred to the Home Office Professional Standards Unit (PSU) for investigation. These include allegations made against staff who work in the detention estate or who are engaged in escorting work.

Data on the number of complaints referred to the PSU are not recorded. Only data of those complaints where PSU have agreed to investigate are recorded. The number investigated relating to the use of control and restraint during enforced removal is detailed as follows:

2010: 42

2011: 30

2012: 39

2013: 19.

These figures are based on management information, which is subject to change, and does not form part of our publicised statistics.

Entry Clearances

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons there are differential rates for visas for dependants of British citizens coming from non-EU countries and visas for dependants of EU non-British citizens domiciled in Britain; [193115]

(2) if she will abolish the differential rates for visas paid by British and EU non-British citizens living in the UK for dependants outside the EU and make the cost of all such visas the same as the EU rate. [193116]

James Brokenshire: Dependants of British citizens from non-EU countries who wish to enter the UK are required to apply for entry under the immigration rules. In line with its legislative powers, the Home Office sets immigration and nationality fees to reflect the administrative cost of processing an application as well as benefits and entitlements that may accrue if an applicant is successful. These fees apply to foreign national family members of British citizens applying for entry under the immigration rules. The Home Office believes that it is right that those who use and benefit most from the immigration system contribute to its running costs.

The rights of EU nationals to live and work in other European Union member states, and to be accompanied by their non-EU family members, are set out in European Union law, in directive 2004/38/EC (“the free movement directive”), by which all EU member states are bound. The free movement directive does not cover the rights of EU citizens living in their country of nationality, so it does not apply to British nationals living in the UK. The free movement directive requires member states to issue entry clearance visas to non-EU family members of EU nationals free of charge.

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress she has made regarding the 2014 opt-out pursuant to Article 10(4) of Protocol 36 of the Lisbon Treaty; and what timetable she has set for the UK opting back in to the measures to which that decision relates. [192623]

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Karen Bradley: On 24 July 2013 the Prime Minister wrote to the President of the Council of Ministers exercising the UK's opt-out from all police and criminal justice measures agreed before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

The Government have also announced 35 measures that they will seek to rejoin in the national interest. These are contained in Command Paper 8671:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/235912/8671.pdf

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures her Department has introduced in the last year to reduce the number of businesses employing illegal immigrants. [193823]

James Brokenshire: Employers have a duty to ensure that their employees have the right to work in the UK, and this duty has been underpinned by a civil penalty scheme since 2008. The Government are taking measures to ensure a tougher response to employers who use illegal labour, while simplifying arrangements for legitimate businesses to conduct right to work checks.

To deter employers from using illegal workers, the Home Office is doubling the maximum penalty to £20,000. The Government are also using the current Immigration Bill to make it easier to enforce unpaid civil penalties in the civil courts. In addition, with the creation of the new Immigration Enforcement Directorate last year, there has been a 47% increase in illegal working enforcement operations and a corresponding increase in civil penalties imposed, with 1,862 penalties served in 2013-14 (to the end of February) compared to 1,270 in 2012-13. We are also ensuring greater collaboration across Government to increase our “enforcement reach” and the range of sanctions that can be brought to bear against rogue employers who exploit illegal workers.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people held in immigration removal centres and who refused food or fluids have been transferred to prisons since May 2013. [193784]

James Brokenshire: No persons held in immigration removal centres have been transferred to prisons since May 2013 due to refusal of food or fluids.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the purpose and scope of the current trials of the Aeryon Skyranger unmanned system based in Gatwick are; if she will publish policy on the storage and use of data obtained in the course of such trials; and if she will make a statement. [R] [193036]

Damian Green: Sussex constabulary is undertaking a trial of the Aeryon Skyranger to assess the contribution it might make to the policing of Gatwick airport. This trial is an operational matter for the chief constable.

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In determining the storage and use of data obtained through this trial, the force will be subject to a duty to have regard to the surveillance camera code of practice issued as guidance under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

Deputy Prime Minister

All Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Office's policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193385]

The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 300W.

Northern Ireland

Terrorism

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had with victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland since the announcement of the administrative scheme to issue letters to on-the-run terrorist suspects. [190863]

Mrs Villiers: Since 25 February, I have had one meeting directly with the victims of terrorism but matters relating to victims have been raised at a number of other meetings.

Attorney-General

All Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Attorney-General what the Law Officers' Departments' policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193381]

The Attorney-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 300W.

House of Commons Commission

Portcullis House

Mr Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, how many fire alarms have sounded in Portcullis House in the last 12 months; on how many of these occasions the London Fire Brigade arrived to attend a fire; and on how many of these occasions the London Fire Brigade discovered a fire. [193305]

John Thurso: There have been three fire alarms resulting in evacuations from Portcullis House in the last 12 months. One of these alarms, on 24 March 2014, led to the attendance of the London Fire Brigade. On this occasion the alarm was triggered by a heat detector following the

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overheating of a grill in the Lower Ground Kitchens as well as the triggering of a manual call point. No fire was discovered.

Wales

All Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his Department's policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193567]

Stephen Crabb: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 300W.

Business

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the growth prospects of small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales. [193670]

Mr David Jones: 190,000 small and medium-sized businesses in Wales will be helped by a significant package of support measures announced at Budget 2014, including doubling the Annual Investment Allowance to £500,000 from April 2014 until 31 December 2015, and measures to improve the availability of finance.

Education

Academies

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education who owns the freehold of schools which have converted to academies; and what restrictions there are on the use of such freeholds. [193219]

Mr Timpson: When community schools convert to academies, the freehold is retained by the local authority and a lease is granted to the academy trust.

There are strict rules protecting publicly funded land used by academies, regardless of who holds the freehold. These are set out in published guidance, which is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice

A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House Library.

All Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his Department's policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193386]

Elizabeth Truss: I refer the hon. Member to the response of 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 300W, provided by the Cabinet Office.

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Children in Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2014, Official Report, columns 556-7W, on children in care, if he will place in the Library (a) the results of the virtual school head pilots conducted between September 2007 and August 2009 and (b) all training materials produced by his Department. [193843]

Mr Timpson: The evaluation report of the virtual school head (VSH) pilots was published in August 2009 and can be viewed from the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222044/DCSF-RR144.pdf

In March 2010 the Department published a VSH toolkit based on the experiences of the pilots and other local authorities that had developed services using the virtual school model. The toolkit can be viewed from the following link:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20131027134109/http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/v/virtual%20school%20head%20toolkit.pdf

A group of virtual school heads are currently revising the toolkit.

A copy of the evaluation report and the original toolkit will be placed in the Library of the House when it is complete.

The enhanced materials for school leaders and governors about the impact of being looked after on children's educational attainment that have been developed through the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) are currently available only through license to training providers.

NCTL has supported Bath Spa University and Bath and North East Somerset local authority to develop training materials on attachment. This new training resource, ‘An Introduction to Attachment and the Implications for Learning', which includes video footage, is available on the NCTL website members' site:

http://www.nationalcollege.org.uk/index/docinfo?id=651084&filename=an-introduction-to-attachment-and-the-implications-for-learning-and-behaviour.pdf

Foster Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department issues guidance to local authorities on how best to make use of unutilized foster carers. [193526]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education has not issued guidance to local authorities on how best to make use of unutilised foster carers. Local authorities are required, under section 22G of the Children Act 1989, to take steps that secure, so far as reasonably practicable, sufficient accommodation within the authority's area that meets the needs of children that the local authority is looking after, and whose circumstances are such that it would be consistent with their welfare for them to be provided with accommodation that is in the local authority's area (‘the sufficiency duty').

Since April 2013 the Department has been working with consortia of local authorities and sector partners to:

1. develop and test innovative solutions for the recruitment and retention of foster carers

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2. identify gaps in the capacity of the foster carer workforce

3. develop effective strategies for recruiting and retaining foster carers.

We will be sharing the lessons learned and disseminating any tools that have been developed during the project more widely following testing.

Free School Meals

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending entitlement to free school meals to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out. [193248]

Mr Laws: Our broad estimate of extending entitlement to free school meals to all families in receipt of universal credit is that it would cost up to an extra £750 million per year. This is lower than previous estimates because of the implementation of the universal infant free school meals policy from September 2014.

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make an estimate of the capital costs incurred by schools as a result of the implementation of universal infant free school meals; and whether the capital funding provided by his Department to schools to date covers such costs. [193576]

Mr Laws: The Department for Education consulted with a number of local authorities and schools in the autumn, in order to assess the potential capital needs to meet the new universal infant free school meal (UIFSM) entitlement. Circumstances differ between schools, and between authorities, but those discussions gave us an assessment of the range of likely costs.

Based on those discussions, we believe the £150 million of capital funding announced last December is an appropriate figure to support schools and authorities in meeting the new UIFSM entitlement. We know that many schools and authorities are still in the process of considering the best way of delivering this. That is why we are supplementing this capital support with the package of implementation support measures announced on 6 March, in order to offer advice and guidance to schools and local authorities that need assistance in implementing the policy.

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he held with schools and local authorities for the purposes of drafting departmental advice on universal infant free school meals. [193601]

Mr Laws: Since the announcement of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), departmental officials have engaged in a number of discussions with primary school head teachers and their representatives, local authorities and other interested parties, to explore how this policy can be implemented so that the benefits of universal free school meal provision for children and families are maximised.

The content of the departmental advice document on universal infant free school meals, which was published on 6 March, was based on feedback gathered through these discussions. Before it was published, the document was commented on by the Department’s UIFSM external reference group, which includes representatives from schools and local authorities.

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Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will announce (a) additional funding for and (b) a help and advice service to schools on universal free school meals. [193900]

Mr Laws: The Chancellor announced in his autumn statement on 5 December that we would be providing over £1 billion of additional revenue funding over the next two financial years, and £150 million of capital funding in 2014-15, to support the introduction of universal infant free school meals.

On 6 March we published a departmental advice document which sets out further information about the funding available and about the support available to schools. This document is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-infant-free-school-meals

On 6 March we also launched a support service, which consists of a telephone and online advice service for schools, local authorities and caterers and a direct-support service for schools facing significant challenges. The service is being provided by school food experts, the Children's Food Trust and the Lead Association for Catering in Education, in conjunction with a number of delivery partners. More information is available at:

http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/Root/schools/schoolfoodplan

Free Schools: Lancashire

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what applications he received from groups in Lancashire to establish a new free school in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date. [193300]

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Mr Timpson: The Department for Education publishes a list of every application received in all the completed application rounds on the gov.uk website.

Applications received in wave 4 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-wave-4-application-information

Applications received in wave 5 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-wave-5-application-information

Applications received in 2013 to establish free schools were part of waves 4 and 5. As the published list states, two applications were received from groups in Lancashire in wave 4: Burnley High School and Steiner Academy Lancaster. No applications from groups in Lancashire were received in wave 5.

Applications received so far in 2014 are part of wave 6. The Department for Education will publish a list of all applications received shortly after the assessment process is complete, in the same way it has for previous rounds.

GCSE: Brigg

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children received A* to C grades in GCSE (a) mathematics, (b) English, (c) geography and (d) sciences in Brigg and Goole constituency in each year since May 2010. [193906]

Mr Laws: The table gives the number and proportion of pupils who received A*-C grades in GCSE (a) mathematics (b) English (c) geography and (d) sciences in Brigg and Goole constituency in each year since May 2010. Regional and national figures have been included as appropriate comparators.

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Home Education: Lancashire

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children are home-schooled in (a) Lancashire and (b) Rossendale and Darwen constituency. [193308]

Elizabeth Truss: The information requested is not held by the Department.

Home Education: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children who are home-schooled in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) Brigg and Goole constituency. [193905]

Mr Laws: The information requested is not held by the Department.

Mathematics: Teachers

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how the 60 mathematics teachers brought to the UK from Shanghai for an exchange organised by his Department were chosen. [193216]

Elizabeth Truss: We launched the maths teacher exchange between England and China in March 2014. The exchange will start in the next academic year. We are in the process of confirming arrangements, including which teachers from Shanghai will participate.

Nurseries

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [192442]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies do not provide workplace nurseries for staff.

The Department's approach to child care support focuses on providing flexibility for staff in arranging child care provision. As part of the overall benefits package, the Department provides a child care voucher scheme to help cover the cost of nursery and pre-school for children under school age and forms of out of school care for school age children. This enables staff with child care responsibilities to be more flexible as to when and where they access child care support.

Ofsted

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education who is responsible for monitoring and approving the use of Government-funded credit cards by employees of Ofsted. [193569]

Mr Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Library.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what records his Department keeps of use of Government-funded credit cards by employees of Ofsted. [193571]

Mr Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his response has been placed in the House Library.

Primary Education: Computers

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the current level of teachers’ teaching ability whilst using tablet computers in primary schools. [193624]

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Elizabeth Truss: The available evidence suggests that teachers adapt quickly to using tablets as a tool for learning.

Primary Education: Surrey

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of education standards in primary schools in Surrey. [R] [193815]

Mr Laws: In Surrey local authority, 89%, 85% and 86% of primary pupils achieved level 4 or above in the reading test, writing teacher assessment and mathematics test respectively. The performance of Surrey is higher than all schools nationally where 86%, 83% and 85% achieved level 4 or above in reading, writing and mathematics respectively.

This information is published in tables 11 to 16 of the “National curriculum assessments at key stage 2: 2012 to 2013”¹ statistical first release. This is available in the “Local authority and regional tables: SFR51/2013” document. This document also contains information on pupil progress.

¹ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum -assessments-at-key-stage-2-2012-to-2013

Pupils: Bullying

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people with learning disabilities reported being bullied at school in each year for which figures are available. [193311]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education does not collect information on the number of people with learning difficulties reported being bullied at school.

The Government are clear that bullying, for whatever reason, is totally unacceptable. All schools are required, by law, to have a behaviour policy with measures to address all forms of bullying including that which occurs online. Schools have the freedom to shape these measures in the context of their particular local circumstances and pupils’ needs. Schools are held closely to account by Ofsted for how well they deal with pupil behaviour and safety, which includes bullying.

We are also providing £4 million of funding over two years from spring 2013 to four organisations—Beatbullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the Anti-bullying Alliance (ABA) with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB)—to develop effective initiatives that prevent and tackle all forms of bullying.

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As part of their funding, the ABA has recently published a guide to cyber-bullying for SEND young people, which contains advice for schools on developing effective anti-bullying practice and we link to this report in our departmental advice on bullying.

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to reduce absences from school due to bullying. [193533]

Elizabeth Truss: The Government have made tackling all forms of bullying a top priority. It is never acceptable for a child to be bullied, victimised or harmed in any way and the Government do not want any young person to be absent from school due to the effects of bullying.

All schools are required, by law, to have a behaviour policy with measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils. Ofsted now holds schools clearly to account for their effectiveness. Under the current Ofsted framework, school inspectors consider pupil behaviour and safety, which includes how well schools prevent bullying, harassment and discrimination.

In the Education Act 2011, we strengthened teachers' powers to discipline pupils for poor behaviour, including bullying. They can now issue same day detentions, confiscate banned items and search for, and if necessary delete, inappropriate images on mobile phones which might be linked to cyber-bullying.

We are also providing £4 million of funding over two years from spring 2013 to four organisations:

Beatbullying;

the DianaAward;

Kidscape; and

the National Children's Bureau

to develop effective measures in school to prevent and tackle bullying.

Good schools create a positive ethos with clear expectations about pupil behaviour that prevent bullying from happening in the first place and deal with it quickly if it does occur.

We recognise the effect that bullying can have, that is why on 17 March 2014 we published a factsheet to help schools identify and support pupils which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying

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Schools: Asbestos

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will issue to schools specific guidance on removing asbestos from premises. [193714]

Mr Laws: The guidance from the Health and Safety Executive is that, if asbestos is undamaged and unlikely to be disturbed, then it is usually safer to leave it in place and to manage it as required by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. If asbestos is found to be in an unsealed, damaged or poor condition, then it should be repaired, sealed, enclosed or removed using trained personnel. The Department for Education has no plans to issue school-specific guidance.

Schools: Finance

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the Statement of 13 March 2014 by the Minister for Schools, Official Report, columns 927-29, how much of the £350 million announced for the fair funding proposals will be allocated from the Exchequer in addition to that already indicated in his Department's budget. [193407]

Mr Laws: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff West (Kevin Brennan) on 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 84W.

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the statement of 13 March 2014, Official Report, columns 427-29, on school funding, what the (a) total and (b) per-pupil funding for each local authority area will be for 2015-16. [193989]

Mr Laws: I announced on 13 March that in 2015-16, in addition to funding all local authorities at the same cash level per pupil as in 2014-15, we will provide a £350 million boost to the least fairly funded local authorities in the country. We have published a consultation document online, indicating the possible effects of this funding boost on some local authorities:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fairer-schools-funding-2015-to-2016

We will be able to announce final decisions on per pupil funding for each local authority in 2015-16 after we have considered responses to this consultation, which closes on 30 April. We will be then able to announce the total funding for each local authority in 2015-16 once final pupil numbers are confirmed.