Offshore Industry: Helicopters

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the helicopter fleet operating in the offshore oil and gas industry is fitted with a side-floating helicopter scheme that is compliant with the Civil Aviation Authority's relevant statutory specifications. [194833]

Mr Goodwill: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of its Offshore Helicopter Review, looked at improvements that could be made to helicopters to increase the survivability of passengers in the event of a ditching in the sea. The CAA has made recommendations to industry concerning the use of flotation devices. However, the CAA does not have statutory specifications for side-floating helicopter schemes.

The requirements for such equipment are being developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effect on passenger survivability in the North Sea of side-floating helicopter schemes that (a) comply and (b) do not comply with the relevant Civil Aviation Authority statutory specifications. [194869]

Mr Goodwill: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of its Offshore Helicopter Review, looked at improvements that could be made to helicopters to increase the survivability of passengers in the event of a ditching in the sea. The CAA has made recommendations to industry concerning the use of flotation devices. However, the CAA does not have statutory specifications for side-floating helicopter schemes.

The requirements for such equipment are being developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which commissioned a study that was conducted by Eurocopter and Aerazur. Previous research by both the CAA and the US Federal Aviation Administration has shown that the majority of fatalities following a ditching or water impact event were due to drowning following the capsize of the helicopter. Future requirements for such equipment, which are intended to mitigate the risk of capsize, will be determined by EASA.

Rescue Services: Belfast

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Belfast, was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in March 2014. [195360]

Stephen Hammond: During March 2014 Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels on eight occasions out of 62 shifts.

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Where there are specific issues at an MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Rescue Services: Liverpool

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Liverpool, was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in March 2014. [195362]

Stephen Hammond: During March 2014 Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels on eight occasions out of 62 shifts.

Where there are specific issues at an MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Rescue Services: Stornoway

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Stornaway, was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in March 2014. [195361]

Stephen Hammond: During March 2014 Stornoway Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels on six occasions out of 62 shifts.

Where there are specific issues at an MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Southeastern

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 591W, on Southeastern network, what estimate he has made of demand on routes on the Southeastern network; which routes his Department believes require increased capacity provision on peak services; and when he expects capacity to be increased on these routes. [195204]

Stephen Hammond: The Department holds information collected by Southeastern about the level of demand on each of its routes. However, these data are held by DfT on a commercially confidential basis and so cannot be released. As part of its Long Term Planning Process, Network Rail will undertake a Kent Route Study during 2015-16 to identify which routes may require increased capacity provision. On the basis of this work, Ministers will consider priorities for funding capacity enhancements during railway Control Period 6 (2019-2024).

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Prime Minister

Royal Mail

Mr Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his contribution of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 877, what the evidential basis was of his statement that the sale of the Royal Mail was in the manifesto of the last Government. [195115]

The Prime Minister: I was referring to the previous Government's policy of seeking to part-privatise the Royal Mail.

Home Department

Domestic Violence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had on provision for young women aged 16 to 18 years who have been victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement. [194617]

Norman Baker: The coalition Government recognises that young people can be victims of domestic violence and abuse both within the home and in their relationships. That is why in March 2013, we extended the definition of domestic violence and abuse to include 16 and 17 year olds, and coercive control. Our aim in extending the definition is to increase awareness that young people experience domestic violence and abuse, encouraging more of them to come forward and access the support they need. In March 2013, the Home Office also published a guide to assist local areas to consider how the extension to the definition of domestic violence and abuse may impact on their services and identify potential gaps and opportunities for working with 16-17 year olds and how to respond to cases involving young people.

The coalition Government believes it is important to invite young people to express their views and preferences about policies that are developed for them which is why we have worked with the NSPCC to establish a Young People's Panel. The Panel has met four times since its inception in 2012 and their discussions have fed into policy development around young people and domestic violence. This includes commenting on the guidance for local areas following the change in definition, and reviewing aspects of our media campaigns.

The Home Office has also launched its Teenage Relationship Abuse and Teenage Rape Prevention campaigns. The aims of the campaigns are to prevent teenagers from becoming victims and perpetrators of abusive relationships. It will encourage teenagers to re-think their views of violence, abuse or controlling behaviour in relationships and direct them to places for help and advice. The campaign is aimed at 13 to 18 year old boys in particular.

Driving Offences: Speed Limits

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many drivers who received driving convictions during the two year probationary licence period undertook (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four or more speed awareness courses in (i) 2010 to 2014 and (ii) 2005 to 2009; [194623]

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(2) how many drivers who received driving convictions undertook (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four or more speed awareness courses in (i) 2010 to 2014 and (ii) 2005 to 2009. [194625]

Karen Bradley: This information is not held centrally. A motorist is prohibited from taking more than one speed awareness course under the national scheme within a three years period from the date of the offence.

Driving: Licensing

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, column 372W, on driving: licensing, (1) how many drivers who received driving convictions undertook speed awareness courses in each year since 2010, in each force area; [194304]

(2) how many drivers within the two-year probationary period who received driving convictions undertook speed awareness courses in each year since 2010 (a) in total and (b) by police force area. [194305]

Karen Bradley: The number of drivers that opted for a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points on their driving licence in 2010 is 447,833, in 2011 is 772,180, in 2012 is 926,155 and in 2013 is 953,464. These reflect the latest updated figures.

The following table shows the figures by police force area for the number of drivers that opted for a speed awareness course.

The offer of a speed awareness course is at the discretion of the police. To be deemed eligible there must be no excessive speed or other offences committed at the same time. Information on previous motoring convictions is not taken into account.

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Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, column 372W, on driving: licensing, how many drivers who received driving convictions within their two year probation period undertook speed awareness courses in each year since 2010. [194744]

(2) what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of speed awareness courses; and what information her Department collects on speeding and driving offences committed by drivers who have undertaken such a course. [194627]

Karen Bradley: The number of drivers that opted for a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points on their driving licence in 2010 is 447,833, in 2011 is 772,180, 2012 is 926,155 and in 2013 is 953,464. These reflect the latest updated figures.

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The offer of a speed awareness course is at the discretion of the police. To be deemed eligible there must be no excessive speed or other offences committed at the same time. Information on previous motoring convictions is not taken into account.

The Department for Transport and the police are in advanced stages of commissioning a long term study to assess the effectiveness of speed awareness courses.

Hillsborough Stadium

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what deadline she has provided to chief constables by which they must hand over any evidence to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in relation to Hillsborough.[194494]

Karen Bradley: The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), wrote to all chief constables on 4 March 2014 to request that all police forces search their records to establish whether they possess any material that relates to the Hillsborough tragedy. The Minister asked if this could be completed by 4 April 2014 and asked that every police force responds, even if it is to record a nil response.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to her letter to the interim chief executive, HM Passport Office of 27 February 2014 on behalf of a constituent. [195117]

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office replied to the hon. Member on 4 April 2014.

Police Custody: Young People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will redraft the code governing detention of teenagers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to ensure that 17 year olds in custody are treated as teenagers by the police. [193901]

Karen Bradley: Following the High Court ruling in the judicial review HC v. (1) Secretary of State for the Home Department and (2) Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, the Government made changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice C & H, which govern the treatment of detained persons in police custody. The changes, which came into effect on 21 October 2013, have the effect of requiring the police to treat 17-year-olds in police custody as children by providing, as a matter of course, Appropriate Adults and to inform a person responsible for the welfare of the 17-year-old of their detention. These changes are mandatory.

I refer the hon. Member to a statement made by the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), on 21 October 2013, Official Report, columns 4-6WS, explaining these changes.

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Police: Complaints

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to allow the IPCC to consider complaints regarding police conduct from third parties. [194565]

Karen Bradley: Section 12 of the Police Reform Act 2002 sets out who can complain to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). A person can be considered as having been authorised to act on behalf of another for the purposes of making a complaint if he or she has, and is able to produce, written consent from that other person.

Energy and Climate Change

Combined Heat and Power

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of combined heat and power plans delivering more than 10% of input energy as heat output. [195207]

Gregory Barker: In 2013, the Government reviewed the minimum performance standards for renewable combined heat and power (CHP) set in our Quality Assurance programme. As set out in the Government response, approximately 70% of solid and liquid renewable fuel CHP schemes already certified to Combined Heat and Power Quality and Assurance (CHPQA) deliver more than 10% of their input energy as useful heat output.

No similar assessment has been made for fossil fuel CHPs.

Energy Companies Obligation

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of his proposed changes to energy company obligation funding on families in fuel poverty who were in flood risk areas. [195119]

Gregory Barker: The impact of the proposed changes to the Energy Company Obligation was estimated in the Assessment of Impacts published alongside the consultation document on 5 March:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-of-the-energy-company-obligation

No specific estimate was made for those fuel poor families specifically living areas of flood risk.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change intends to complete a full Impact Assessment as part of the Government's response to the consultation later in the year.

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his proposed changes to the energy company obligation will reduce funding availability for flood-risk homes which are automatically defined as hard-to-treat. [195120]

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Gregory Barker: Homes at risk of flooding are not automatically defined as having hard-to-treat cavity walls, however flood-risk homes with hard-to-treat cavity walls are eligible for funding under the energy company obligation. Proposed changes to the scheme will enable more homes to receive funding for energy efficiency measures, including those homes that are at risk of flooding.

Energy Supply

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what forecast he has made of the effect of the Supplemental Balancing Reserve on the Loss of Load Expectation for winter 2014-15. [195206]

Gregory Barker: The Government have not made any forecast of the effect of the Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR) on the Loss of Load Expectation for winter 2014-15.

SBR is one of National Grid's two new balancing services, approved by Ofgem in December 2013. SBR and the Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) will address potential capacity shortfalls in the middle of the decade.

National Grid is currently developing a methodology to determine how much capacity should be contracted via SBR. Once this is approved by Ofgem, National Grid will proceed with the procurement process.

Energy: Multiple Occupation

Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what provisions for the uprating of homes in multiple occupation to energy performance Band E he plans to include in his Department's consultation on the implementation of clause 43 of the Energy Act 2011. [195030]

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 802W.

Housing: Insulation

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many with the homes with hard-to-treat cavity walls and which require insulation measures are situated in flood risk areas. [195121]

Gregory Barker: DECC does not hold information on how many of homes that are considered to have hard to treat cavity walls are situated in flood risk areas.

Renewable Energy

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely impact on investment in renewable energy of changes to the Enterprise Investment Scheme to remove tax breaks for companies benefiting from the renewable obligations. [194365]

Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.

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Budget 2014 announced that companies benefiting from renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) and/or the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will be excluded from the venture capital schemes, including the enterprise investment scheme.

This change ensures the venture capital schemes continue to support smaller and growing businesses in a targeted and effective way. The Government consulted extensively with stakeholders when similar action was taken to exclude companies benefiting from feed-in tariffs from the venture capital schemes in 2011.

Further information on the detail of the change will be published shortly, ahead of the publication of an impact assessment and legislation.

Education

London Academy of Excellence

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, column 356W, on London Academy of Excellence, whether the enrolment data for 2013-14 for the London Academy of Excellence are now available; and if he will publish that data. [195178]

Mr Timpson: The London Academy of Excellence is the only 16-19 free school that provides data on its pupil numbers through the individualised learner record; this is the equivalent to the school's census return for further education institutions.

The enrolment numbers requested are not yet available. We are expecting to have them by the end of April.

The pupil numbers and funding covering all open academies and free schools for the academic year 2014/15 will be published in October. This will include the London Academy of Excellence.

Primary Education: Admissions

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will amend the School Admissions Code to allow primary schools' admission arrangements to give priority to pupils attending a primary school's own nursery. [R] [195071]

Mr Laws: I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 905W, to the hon. Member for Enfield North (Nick de Bois).

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which schools in Rossendale and Darwen have received funding from the pupil premium; and how many pupils in each such school have attracted such payments. [194837]

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Mr Laws: In financial year 2013-14, 52 schools in Rossendale and Darwen received a pupil premium allocation. A list of these schools and the number of eligible pupils are provided in the following table. In addition to the main deprivation pupil premium, schools receive allocations for looked after children and service children, though this information is not available at school level due to data protection issues. More information on pupil premium allocations for financial year 2013-14 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2013-to-2014-final-allocation-tables

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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Biodiversity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Report HC 1195 published on 26 March 2014, what the forecasted costs and savings are under each cost heading for planning authorities of implementing the biodiversity offsetting proposals over a five year period. [195142]

Dan Rogerson: The consultation paper “Biodiversity Offsetting in England”, published on 5 September 2013, set out a number of options for taking forward offsetting in England. The accompanying impact assessment (DEFRA 1126) set out the available financial information. However, the costs and benefits to each sector would vary according to the system of offsetting which was adopted. In keeping with the Environmental Audit Committee's recommendations, the Government will not take any policy decisions on offsetting until the assessment of the six pilots is available.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding the need for a vaccine for bovine TB; and if he will make a statement. [195154]

George Eustice: We have received representations on all aspects of tackling bovine TB, including vaccination for cattle and badgers, from a very wide range of stakeholders. The role that cattle and badger vaccination

8 Apr 2014 : Column 208W

can play in eradicating bovine TB is outlined in our comprehensive Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free status for England.

Climate Change

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report of 31 March 2014 on Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability; and if he will make a statement; [195073]

(2) what assessment he has made of the Met Office report, Too Hot, Too Cold, Too Wet, Too Dry: Drivers and impacts of seasonal weather in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [195072]

Dan Rogerson: Both of these reports make a valuable contribution to our understanding of the impacts of climate change. We are considering them with keen interest and will take full account of them when we publish the UK's next Climate Change Risk Assessment, which in turn will inform the next National Adaptation Programme report.

Common Agricultural Policy

Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Commission on its programme of cinema advertising to promote the Common Agricultural Policy. [195106]

George Eustice: No such discussions have taken place.

Dogs: Diseases

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many instances of Alabama Rot there have been in dogs in the UK. [194637]

George Eustice: Alabama Rot is the name commonly being given to the newly emerged condition in dogs, known by its clinical and pathological description as ‘Cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy’.

Whilst this new condition, which appears seasonally, seems very similar to Alabama Rot, we do not know that they have the same cause.

Investigation into this condition is being led by vets at a referral small animal veterinary practice and at the world renowned research organisation, the Animal Health Trust. These vets have expertise specifically in small animal medical cases. As such the veterinary practice, Anderson Moore, is best placed to update on the number of confirmed and suspect cases. The practice informed the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency on the 27 March that 14 cases have been confirmed between December 2013 and March 2014. This is in addition to 14 cases confirmed between December 2012 and March 2013.

Flood Control

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether parish councils and town councils are eligible to apply for flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid. [195127]

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Dan Rogerson: DEFRA flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid is only available to a risk management authority, as defined by section 6(13) of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. If a parish council or town council wish to progress a flood management scheme they should contact the lead local flood authority for the area.

Fossil Fuels

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expertise the Environment Agency has on (a) onshore oil and gas exploration, (b) fracking, (c) the disposal of waste products including fugitive emissions resulting from onshore oil and gas exploration and (d) safety management of oil and gas drilling including well casing. [194990]

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has been regulating the existing onshore oil and gas industry for many years and has extensive experience and expertise in this area.

The Environment Agency has been developing its approach to the regulation of the unconventional oil and gas sector for more than two years. It uses its extensive knowledge of regulating the existing onshore oil and gas industry, and environmental regulation more generally, to regulate this emerging industry. The Agency has undertaken a full assessment of the risks and learnt from experience in other countries.

The Environment Agency regulates the management of waste, including fugitive emissions, under the Mining Waste Directive. Operators must develop and submit a Waste Management Plan with their permit application. They must set out how they will minimise waste and dispose of it safely. Environment Agency staff have extensive experience of regulating waste management activities at other sites, including the active management of landfill gas.

The Health and Safety Executive regulates the health and safety risks to people from oil and gas drilling.

Fracking

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the Environment Agency's budget he proposes will be spent on its role as the regulator for fracking in England and Wales in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2016-17. [194989]

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency does not record separately the regulatory costs of hydraulic fracturing in England. For 2014-15 the Environment Agency has allocated £2.6 million to its work on regulating onshore oil and gas. This is 0.39% of the Environment Agency's total revenue budget.

Budgets for 2015-16 and 2016-17 have not yet been confirmed.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many inspectors the Environment Agency employs to carry out checks on fracking sites in England and Wales. [194991]

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Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has nine inspectors and two team leaders who have particular knowledge in onshore oil and gas production facilities in England. These inspectors form part of an Onshore Oil and Gas Sector Group. As and when hydraulic fracturing or other unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities become operational, the regulation of these sites will fall to this group. The membership of the group reflects the geographical distribution of the oil and gas extraction industry. If the industry expands, the size of the sector group will expand to reflect this.

Sites in Wales are regulated by Natural Resources Wales.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much notice the Environment Agency is required to give to companies ahead of inspections of fracking sites in England and Wales. [194992]

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency does not need to give companies operating hydraulic fracturing sites in England any notice of inspections and can make unannounced visits.

Sites in Wales are regulated by Natural Resources Wales.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether approval will be given for fracking sites on flood plains; and if he will make a statement; [194994]

(2) what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency has made on the potential for flood risk at UK fracking sites; and if he will make a statement. [194993]

Dan Rogerson: For surface installations required for borehole construction and hydraulic fracturing, the Environment Agency is a statutory adviser in the planning process. Where appropriate, it will require flood risk assessments. It may object to developments if flood risk is unacceptable or require conditions on how the site is constructed and operated to mitigate flood risk, through flood consents.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential risks fracking pose to livestock; and if he will make a statement. [194995]

Dan Rogerson: Our regulatory framework is robust and provides stringent environmental safeguards which will protect both humans and animals.

Gulls

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support he is providing for local authorities to address issues caused by high gull populations. [903555]

George Eustice: Local authorities in England may lethally control gulls or disrupt their nests or eggs, in accordance with licences issued by Natural England for certain purposes. Without a licence, they can also take action to manage gulls by controlling the availability of food by efficiently managing waste (including introducing byelaws to stop intentional feeding of gulls, should they wish) and preventing gulls from landing, roosting or

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nesting on buildings. DEFRA does not provide specific support for such measures but Natural England offers free advice to those experiencing problems with gulls.

Pathology: Laboratories

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Royal College of Pathologists on the effects on human and animal safety of reductions in the number of national pathology laboratories from 14 to 7; and if he will publish the impact assessment produced by his Department on such a plan. [194600]

George Eustice: Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and DEFRA have met with the Royal College of Pathologists to discuss the new Surveillance model on four separate occasions between September 2012 and the introduction of changes to the Surveillance model on 1 April 2014.

A formal impact assessment was not required for this work because it does not involve a change in regulation. Submission into the scanning surveillance system is a voluntary activity that has no regulatory aspect. However the ‘Changes to the delivery of Veterinary Scanning Surveillance in England and Wales, December 2013' document published on the AHVLA website does consider the impact of the changes, recognises that there are negative impacts (e.g. some farms will be further from an AHVLA Post Mortem facility) but concludes that these are outweighed by the benefit of having stronger national centres of excellence and a better coordinated network of support from private practices.

Slaughterhouses

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the reporting of the mis-stunning of animals before slaughter by the Food Standards Agency to ensure that the way in which the data are collected provides as accurate a picture as possible of the real situation. [194828]

George Eustice: Official veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency report centrally all cases of non-compliances with the welfare at slaughter regulations. This data provide an accurate picture of welfare breaches at slaughterhouses.

The welfare at time of killing regulations will come into force next month and we will keep the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement at slaughterhouses under review.

Waste Disposal: Fires

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fires were reported at privately-owned waste management sites in the last two years. [194778]

Dan Rogerson: Environment Agency records show that there were a total of 595 incidents of fire reported at privately operated waste management sites in 2012 and 2013. This represents an average of one fire for every 18 privately operated sites.

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Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fires were reported at local authority-owned waste management sites in the last two years. [194779]

Dan Rogerson: Environment Agency records show that there were a total of five incidents of fire reported at local authority-operated waste management sites in 2012 and 2013. This represents an average of one fire for every 110 local authority-operated waste management sites.

Water Charges

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage change there has been in the average cost of a water bill in each year since 2011. [194917]

Dan Rogerson: Water prices in England and Wales are reviewed by the independent economic regulator Ofwat every five years. Water prices for the 2010 to 2015 period were set in Ofwat's 2009 water price review.

The percentage change in the average cost (in real prices) of a combined water and sewerage bill in England and Wales during the 2010-15 period is as follows: -0.6% (2010-11), 0.2% (2011-12), -0.1% (2012-13). The forecast for 2013-14 is 0.5% and for 2014-15 around 2%. The changes year on year usually relate to the profile of water industry investment agreed in the 2009 price review. For 2014-15, water companies are taking steps to hold customer bills down and in some cases are giving up price increases that were allowed for in 2009.

Ofwat's 2014 water price review is now under way and will determine water prices for the 2015 to 2020 period. Most water companies are proposing flat or declining bills from 2015.

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the water industry to discuss the cost of water bills. [194918]

Dan Rogerson: The Secretary of State discussed the cost of water bills when he met water industry representatives in July 2013. He emphasised the need to secure the best deal possible for customers while continuing to attract essential investment in the long-term resilience of the sector. He sent a follow up letter in November 2013.

As the independent economic regulator for the water industry, Ofwat reviews water prices every five years. Securing a fair balance between the needs of water companies and their customers is central to Ofwat's approach to the price review.

Water companies have now submitted their business plans to Ofwat to inform the 2014 price review. The plans set out how they intend to meet their obligations to customers and the environment during the 2015 to 2020 period. Most water companies are proposing flat or declining bills from 2015.

Water UK has also announced that most water companies will be holding bills below the rate of inflation in 2014-15, the final year of the price and investment package agreed in 2009.

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Work and Pensions

European Social Fund

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of recent social and employment programmes financed through the European Social Fund; and if he will make a statement. [195267]

Esther McVey: The European Social Fund supports a range of activities to help unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their employment prospects and skills. These activities expand or enhance the support provided by national and local programmes. Recent activities are being evaluated by a number of research studies and a cohort survey of participants. Reports on these will be published during 2014 and 2015.

Housing Benefit

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how much each local authority returned to his Department in unused discretionary housing payment funding in 2013-14. [194703]

Steve Webb: Local authorities are required to submit their claims for funding for discretionary housing payments by 30 April following the end of the financial year.

Until the returns have been received from each authority, we are not in a position to say how much of this funding has been unused.

At the end of the 2012/13 year, of the £67,906,916 made available by central Government towards discretionary housing payments, £12,453,471 (18.34%) was unspent.

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people classed as homeless will be defined as vulnerable under the proposed mechanism within universal credit to pay housing benefit directly to landlords. [194860]

Steve Webb: We do not want to automatically label any claimant as financially incapable. Alternative payment arrangements (including payments to landlords) are assessed on their individual merits. The nature of the accommodation status of a claimant is one of a number of factors to be considered when assessing the necessity for an alternative payment arrangement, and this is set out in the operating guidance we published in February last year.

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which categories of people will be defined as vulnerable in relation to facilitating housing benefit payments direct to landlords under universal credit. [194891]

Steve Webb: We do not want to label categories of claimants as financially incapable. The guidance for alternative payment arrangements, published last year, lists a number of elements which should be considered. These factors are assessed on a case-by-case basis to inform a decision as to whether an alternative payment arrangement is needed and if so for what period.

8 Apr 2014 : Column 214W

Industrial Health and Safety

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evidence his Department has collected on public perception of health and safety regulation. [195116]

Mike Penning: Reviews of health and safety regulation carried out for the Government by Lord Young and by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, and endorsed in Health and Safety Executive recent triennial review, found a near universal agreement that the UK legal framework is fit for purpose. However, there does exist some misunderstanding about what H&S legislation actually requires.

Partly in response to this, the Health and Safety Executive's myth busters challenge panel allows the public to challenge decisions and policies ascribed to health and safety if they believe them to be incorrect.

To date the panel has considered more than 270 cases. Details can be found at

http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm

Internet

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what costs his Department has incurred in the development, promotion, monitoring and evaluation of the Sorting out Separation web app to date; and what budget his Department assigned for the future promotion, updating, monitoring and redesign of that web app. [194965]

Steve Webb: The costs of the Sorting out Separation web app are £417,500 to date. This includes initial build, maintenance and development, hosting and promotion. It also includes the costs of the development of the diagnosis tool and the videos hosted on Sorting out Separation.

The Department is in the process of considering the future direction of the Sorting out Separation web app and will shortly be taking steps to improve the profile of the app through search engine optimisation.

Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where each Jobcentre Plus office is in Scotland; when each office opened; and how many people have used each such office in each year since 2010. [195163]

Esther McVey: There are 94 jobcentres in Scotland. A full list of these jobcentres is provided at annex 1.

We do not keep a record of when each office opened, so I am unable to supply you with this information.

There are no official statistics which would provide you with the number of people who have used each office in each year since 2010. Many people, some of whom are already employed, use the jobpoints or intranet access devices in our jobcentres but may not make a claim to benefit or register as unemployed. It would therefore be impossible to provide you with the total number of people using the jobcentres.

Annex 1

List of jobcentres in Scotland

East and South East Scotland

Alloa JC

Bathgate JC

8 Apr 2014 : Column 215W

Broxburn JC

Cowdenbeath JC

Cupar JC

Dalkeith JC

Dunfermline JC

Edinburgh City

Eyemouth JC

Falkirk JC

Galashiels JC

Glenrothes JC

Grangemouth JC

Hawick JC

High Riggs JC

Kirkcaldy JC

Leith JC

Leven JC

Livingston JC

Musselburgh JC

Penicuik JC

St Andrews

Stirling JC

Westerhailes JC.

Glasgow, Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire

Airdrie JC

Anniesland JC

Bellshill JC

Bridgeton JC

Cambuslang JC

Castlemilk JC

Cumbernauld JC

Drumchapel JC

East Kilbride JC

Easterhouse JC

Govan JC

Hamilton JC

Kirkintilloch JC

Lanark JC

Langside JC

Laurieston JC

Maryhill JC

Motherwell JC

Newlands JC

Parkhead JC

Partick JC

Rutherglen JC

Shettleston JC

Springburn JC.

North of Scotland District

Aberdeen JC

Arbroath JC

Banff JC

Blairgowrie JC

Buckie JC

Dingwall JC

Dundee City JC

Elgin JC

Forfar JC

Forres JC

Fort William JC

8 Apr 2014 : Column 216W

Fraserburgh JC

Invergordon JC

Inverness JC

Kirkwall JC

Lerwick JC

Montrose JC

Perth JC

Peterhead JC

Portree JC

Stornoway JC

Wick JC.

West of Scotland District

Alexandria JC

Annan JC

Ayr JC

Barrhead JC

Campbeltown JC

Clydebank JC

Cumnock JC

Dumbarton JC

Dumfries JC

Dunoon JC

Girvan JC

Greenock JC

Helensburgh JC

Irvine JC

Johnstone JC

Kilbirnie JC

Kilmarnock JC

Oban JC

Paisley JC

Port Glasgow JC

Renfrew JC

Rothesay JC

Saltcoats JC

Stranraer JC.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance were sanctioned for failing to complete their job search evidence form for the week of 25 December 2013 to 1 January 2014. [195208]

Esther McVey: Published data on sanctions are currently available up to 30 September 2013, with the next scheduled release in May 2014.

Claimants are expected to do all that is reasonable within full-time working hours in any week to look for work and this is not restricted to specific days.

Personal Independence Payment

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to penalise companies who have failed to carry out medical assessments for personal independence payments in a timely manner; [194646]

(2) what assessment he has made of the reasons for backlogs of medical assessments for personal independence payments; [194642]

8 Apr 2014 : Column 217W

(3) what steps he is taking to address backlogs of medical assessments for personal independence payments; [194643]

(4) what time limit he has set for medical assessments for personal independence payments; [194644]

(5) what compensation is available to those suffering financial hardship as a result of failure to carry out assessments for personal independence payments in a timely manner. [194645]

Mike Penning: We are committed to ensuring personal independence payment (PIP) claimants receive high- quality, objective, fair and accurate assessments. Since the introduction of PIP new claims in April 2013, we have been closely monitoring all aspects of the process.

As personal independence payment (PIP) is a new benefit, processes are currently bedding in. Our latest analysis is telling us that the end-to-end claimant journey is taking longer than expected. We are working closely with the assessment providers to ensure that they are taking all necessary steps to improve performance, speed up the process and ensure claimants receive a satisfactory experience. We are also seeking to ensure that all the steps in the process run as smoothly as possible and that there are no barriers in our processes and systems that contribute to claims taking longer than necessary to progress.

While there are no statutory (legal) requirements to complete action on a claim to PIP within a specified time, we have set both personal independence payment assessment providers a target for the length of time to complete assessments of 30 working days.

Any delays experienced in the new claims process will not affect the date from which claimants are paid; all successful claims will be paid from the date the claim was initially made or the date the qualifying period is met, whichever is the later.

As for the administration of all benefits, a claimant is free to complain about the service they have received from the Department for Work and Pensions. Complaints about the service received from our assessment providers should be made direct to the relevant assessment provider. A complaint may result in a special payment if the claimant has experienced unfair treatment or suffered financially.

The Department has robust expectations for provider performance, and contracts include a full set of service level agreements setting out expectations for service delivery, including quality of assessments and the number of days to provide advice to the Department. Officials meet regularly with both assessment providers to discuss performance. The contracts include a range of remedies, and failure to meet contractual obligations will result in the Department applying service credits in line with the contract.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average waiting time for applicants for the personal independence payment (PIP) in each region of the UK is between submission of the DS1500 form and the date of receipt of the first payment after an assessment by each assessment provider; [195170]

(2) what the average waiting time for applicants for the personal independence payment (PIP) in each region of the UK is between submission of the PIP2

8 Apr 2014 : Column 218W

form and the date of the face-to-face PIP assessment from each assessment provider; [195168]

(3) what the average waiting time for applicants for the personal independence payment (PIP) in each region of the UK is between submission of the PIP2 form and the date of receipt of the first payment after an assessment from each assessment provider. [195169]

Mike Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg), on 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 850W.

In order to manage the gap between personal independence payment go-live and the first release of official statistics in spring 2014, we are assessing whether we can release some further information. If the quality assurance of this information shows that it is sufficiently robust and reliable then we will publish it via ad-hoc statistical releases.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2014, Official Report, column 318W on the personal independence payment, what assumptions have been made by his Department while preparing the budget for the personal independence payment scheme; and what estimate he has made of the number of people who will receive the (a) enhanced and (b) standard rate mobility component of the personal independence payment in (i) 2014-15, (ii) 2015-16 and (iii) 2016-17. [195171]

Mike Penning: The latest forecasts of benefit expenditure on personal independence payment (PIP) were published on 27 of March 2014.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014

The expenditure estimates are determined by the migration timetable for reassessment and the distribution of new awards between the different rates, including nil awards. The other key input is the monetary value of the standard and enhanced rate of each component of PIP, which are set at the equivalent DLA rates.

The following table shows estimates of the number of people aged 16 to 64 who will be eligible for the standard and enhanced rate of mobility of personal independence payment in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. These estimates are consistent with autumn statement 5 December 2013, Official Report, columns 1101-1113 forecasts. They will be updated in due course.

Social Security Benefits

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many requests for reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision have been submitted since mandatory reconsideration came into effect on 28 October 2013; [194975]

8 Apr 2014 : Column 219W

(2) what the average waiting time for a decision for a reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision has been since 28 October 2013; [194910]

(3) what the average waiting time for a decision for a reconsideration of a jobseeker's allowance decision has been since 28 October 2013; [194911]

(4) how many requests for reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision have been subject to a decision since 28 October 2013; [194972]

(5) how many requests for reconsideration of a jobseeker's allowance decision have been made since 28 October 2013; [194973]

(6) how many requests for reconsideration of a jobseeker's allowance decision have been subject to a decision made since 28 October 2013. [194974]

Mike Penning: While mandatory reconsideration data are being collected, they are not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available.

The Department is looking into what can be published. The data will need to be validated in order to ensure that they satisfy the relevant standards.

Social Security Benefits: Peterborough

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of changes in the number of nationals of other EU countries accessing benefits in the Peterborough city council area following changes to (a) the habitual residence test and (b) the minimum earnings threshold; and if he will make a statement. [194653]

Esther McVey: The Department does not currently hold this information.

While we check the immigration status of benefit claimants to ensure the benefit is paid properly and to prevent fraud, traditionally that information has not been collected as part of the payment administrative systems.

However, the Government are looking at ways to reform the current administrative system under universal credit that will record nationality and immigration status of migrants who make a claim.

Telephone Services

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department's proposed Help and Support for Separated Families co-ordinated telephone network is in place; and what processes his Department has put in place to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness in promoting collaborative parenting in the interests of children. [195021]

Steve Webb: The HSSF initiative has funded four organisations which provide telephone support for separating and separated families so that their agents can be trained in delivering appropriate messages about the benefits of collaborative parenting. These organisations are: Relate; Family Lives; the National Youth Advocacy Service; and Wikivorce.

8 Apr 2014 : Column 220W

Representatives from all participating organisations have received tailored training and they are now cascading that training to their agents. We expect full roll-out by the end of April 2014.

We are currently considering a variety of evaluation approaches, including call listening, mystery shopping exercises and a satisfaction survey.

Work Programme

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the cost of paying a second attachment fee for each person who is transferred from Newcastle College to new providers of the Work programme. [194908]

Esther McVey: The information is not available as it is too early in the procurement process.

Work Programme: North West

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of former jobseeker's allowance claimants moving into work from the Work programme in the Merseyside, Halton, Cumbria and Lancashire contract area started work on (a) a full-time, (b) a part-time, (c) a zero hours and (d) an apprenticeship contract. [195069]

Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics suggest that most job opportunities being created in the recovery are full-time and permanent. The number of people in work has risen by more than 450,000 in the last year. Within this full-time employment has risen by 430,000 and part-time employment by 29,000, while the number of people in temporary jobs has fallen, meaning the vast majority of the rise is full-time and permanent jobs.

Communities and Local Government

Affordable Housing: Cambridgeshire

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been (a) started and (b) completed in (i) Peterborough constituency and (ii) North West Cambridgeshire constituency since May 2010. [194639]

Kris Hopkins: The Homes and Communities Agency publishes information every six months about the number of affordable housing starts on site and completions for programmes it funds, broken down by local authority district. This information is not available by parliamentary constituency. The published information can be found at:

http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/housing-statistics

These statistics do not include information on any affordable housing that has not been reported to the Homes and Communities Agency, such as some affordable housing funded solely through developer contributions.

8 Apr 2014 : Column 221W

Over 170,000 new affordable homes have been delivered in England since April 2010 (to the end of September 2013). Our Affordable Homes Programme will lever in £19.5 billion of public and private investment over the current spending review period. Over 2015-18, we will be investing a further £23 billion in public and private funding for affordable housing.

Council Tax

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities who will hold a referendum as a result of raising council tax by two per cent or more for 2014-15. [194562]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 3 April 2014]: The DCLG statistical release of 26 March 2014 showing the levels of council tax set by local authorities in England for 2014-2015 is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-tax-levels-set-by-local-authorities-in-england-2014-to-2015

It shows that no local authority in England is required to hold a council tax referendum in 2014-15 (table 11).

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what average weekly sum in council tax is now due from people whose liability for this tax was previously entirely met through council tax benefit. [194687]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 7 April 2014]:We do not collect this information centrally. These are local schemes, and it is for local authorities to ensure that the effect on specific groups of council tax payers is proportionate and fair.

Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the last Government, costing taxpayers £4 billion a year-equivalent to almost £180 a year per household. Welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit left by the last Administration. Our reforms to localise council tax support now give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people into work. We are ending the last Administration's 'something for nothing' culture and making work pay.

Housing: Prices

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made in introducing a pilot scheme for compensating households affected by house price depreciation near large infrastructure developments; and if he will make a statement. [194659]

Nick Boles: At the Budget, we announced that we will launch a Government funded, staged pilot for passing a share of the benefits of development directly to individual households.

Our development benefits pilot is not a direct compensation scheme associated with housing price depreciation near large infrastructure developments. Rather than households bringing forward claims for compensation, we are testing a model where the benefits of housing development are directly shared with households in the local area. This would be in the form of financial payments according to a fixed formula.

8 Apr 2014 : Column 222W

Work is under way to develop the scheme, including further research and evaluation of the approach, and we expect to ask for expressions of interest for pilot schemes later this year.

Local Government

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of local councillors who will resign as a result of new arrangements to allow the press and public to film local authority public meetings; and if he will make a statement. [194608]

Brandon Lewis: None. Council meetings are public meetings which already can be reported by the press. We are merely reforming the access rules to allow the press and public to report such meetings through digital and social media. It will help bring greater awareness of the good work that councillors do for their local communities.

I would observe that the cause of openness in council meetings was championed by Margaret Thatcher, in her maiden speech to this House. As a Back Bencher, she successfully introduced a Private Members' Bill—the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960—to open up meetings to the press and public, spurred on by the practice of the print unions getting Labour councillors to kick out journalists from council meetings who had crossed picket lines.

While that the 1960 Act did not expressly permit filming, I note from perusing the Bill Committee Hansard that Mrs Thatcher was firmly of the view that broadcast journalists should have the same rights as other members of the press and public (Official Report, Standing Committee C, 13 April 1960). We are updating those analogue rights for a digital age.

Non-domestic Rates

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the extent to which firms in each region will be economically disadvantaged as a result of the Government's decision to delay the revaluation of business rates; and if he will publish a list of firms likely to be so disadvantaged. [195304]

Brandon Lewis: The Valuation Office Agency published its high-level estimates of the impacts of a revaluation in 2015 on 12 November 2012. Its analysis suggests that around 800,000 premises would have seen a real terms increase in their rates at a 2015 revaluation, compared with around 300,000 seeing a decrease. A copy of that analysis, including which sectors would have been hardest hit by a 2015 revaluation, is available in the Library of the House.

Private Rented Housing

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to better protect the rights of private sector tenants from irresponsible landlords. [195244]

Kris Hopkins: The Government are committed to a better private rented sector that offers security, stability and decency. We are already changing the law to require

8 Apr 2014 : Column 223W

all letting agents to join Government-approved redress schemes which will allow tenants to seek compensation where they are the victims of bad practice, such as being charged hidden fees.

To encourage greater understanding of tenants' rights, we will shortly publish a new ‘How to Rent’ guide for tenants. We are also developing a model tenancy agreement to help tenants achieve greater security of tenure when needed, and a code of practice on property management.

The Government have provided £6.7 million to a number of local authorities to help them tackle rogue landlord activity.

We are also encouraging local authorities to use their existing powers to improve standards. They already have wide powers to tackle rogue landlord activity and poor property conditions and to encourage their use.

Through the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, the current £5,000 cap on fines for certain housing and planning offences will be removed and rogue landlords will be liable to potentially unlimited fines. Where the fine is currently capped at less than £5,000, the maximum fine will be quadrupled.

Finally, we published a discussion document on 24 February, inviting views on how property conditions in the private rented sector could be improved. The closing date for comments was 28 March. We are now considering the proposals we have received. We will announce the outcome of our review in the summer.

Private Rented Housing: Rents

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of the ONS index of rental prices; and what recent assessment he has of the changes in the cost of private renting in Slough since 2010. [194133]

Kris Hopkins: The Office for National Statistics responded quickly to the need for better data by developing the quarterly index of private housing rental prices, first published in June 2013 and dating back to January 2005 for England.

Currently the Office for National Statistics is consulting users of the index to identify improvements. The index is produced with a robust methodology, which is published and is based on extensive administrative data on rental values, including both ongoing and newly agreed tenancy agreements. Once the methodology is further tested and assessed, and the publication meets user needs, the index of private housing rental prices will be assessed against the code of practice to achieve National Statistic status.

The index is available for Great Britain and its constituent countries; however it is not available at local authority district level. According to most recent figures the average cost of privately renting housing in England increased by 1.0% in the 12 months to December 2013—a fall in real terms.

Procurement

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) 20 highest and (b) 20 lowest value contracts awarded by his Department were in each financial year since 2009-10. [194215]

8 Apr 2014 : Column 224W

Brandon Lewis: Under this Government's transparency programme contracts are published on Contracts Finder, which is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Trade Unions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision. [194034]

Brandon Lewis: As I indicated in my answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, column 884W, Ministers in this Department do not believe it is appropriate for public resources to be used to support the collection and administration of membership subscriptions and believe is an outdated and unnecessary 20th-century practice.

It is also unsatisfactory that some trade unions collect the political levy via check-off, but make no attempt to inform would-be members that the political levy is optional, or even mention the right to opt out on their membership forms. It is the view of Ministers that this is a misleading and dubious marketing practice through omission.

I can confirm that we are taking further steps to review such practices.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to answer question number 193630 tabled on 25 March 2014 for answer on 31 March. [195275]

Brandon Lewis: PQ 193630 was answered on 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 776W.

Treasury

Bank Services

Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what future plans the Government have to utilise funds from the unclaimed life policies or dormant bank accounts. [194907]

Sajid Javid: On 27 March the Government published a Review of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008, which set out the Government's view on the existing schemes set up in the legislation.

The Government currently have no plans to use funds from unclaimed life insurance policies, but keep all policy under review.

Business: Government Assistance

Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had with investors in renewable energy before the changes to the enterprise investment scheme on tax breaks for companies benefiting from the renewables obligation. [194322]

8 Apr 2014 : Column 225W

Mr Gauke: Budget 2014 announced that companies benefiting from renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) and/or the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will be excluded from the venture capital schemes, including the enterprise investment scheme.

This change ensures the venture capital schemes continue to support smaller and growing businesses in a targeted and effective way. The Government consulted extensively with stakeholders when similar action was taken to exclude companies benefiting from feed-in tariffs from the venture capital schemes in 2011.

Further information on the detail of the change will be published shortly, ahead of the publication of an impact assessment and legislation.

Children: Day Care

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the digital inclusion implications of requiring online accounts for new childcare proposals announced in Budget 2014; [195263]

(2) on what systems the online account required for the new childcare proposals announced in Budget 2014 will be implemented; and who is responsible for the implementation of those proposals; [195264]

(3) what discussions he has had with the Government Digital Service on the integration of the new online childcare accounts into gov.uk. [195265]

Nicky Morgan: Tax-free childcare will be hosted on the Government Digital Service (GDS) Gov.uk website alongside other Government digital services. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has overall responsibility for the implementation of these services, in partnership with National Savings and Investments (NS and I) which will operate the accounts.

The GDS is leading the Government's work to link digital inclusion into policy programmes and digital services. HMRC has directly consulted with GDS who has been involved in the design of the process and the creation of the solution for tax-free childcare.

The Government will continue to talk with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that tax-free childcare is as simple and secure as possible for parents to access and use.

Dover Priory Station

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment HM Revenue and Customs has made of the economic benefits that new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station would provide to the local area. [194786]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs has made no assessments of the economic benefits that new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station would provide to the local area.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings HM Revenue and Customs has conducted with Network Rail on the development of new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station in the last six months. [195065]

8 Apr 2014 : Column 226W

Mr Gauke: No meetings have taken place between HM Revenue and Customs and Network Rail regarding the development of new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station in the last six months. However, Network Rail has been in contact with Mapeley as owner/managers of the site.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Mr Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of compensation cases which have been miscalculated by the Equitable Life payment scheme. [194850]

Sajid Javid: There have been no miscalculations as a result of any errors in the calculation methodology. 11 cases have, however, been recalculated as a result of new information supplied by the policyholder.

Mr Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals made to the Equitable Life payment scheme (a) have been decided and (b) are awaiting resolution. [194935]

Sajid Javid: Out of the over 800,000 payments that have been made, a total of 495 cases have been submitted to the independent review panel to date. Some 477 have been resolved and 18 are in the process of being resolved.

Mr Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average additional award paid following a successful appeal made to the Equitable Life payment scheme is. [194936]

Sajid Javid: Out of the nine successful appeals by non-annuitants following receipt of new input data, the highest, lowest and average additional payments were:

(a) £5,230.31

(b) £32.91

(c) £1,891.51

In addition two annuitants have made successful appeals. The total value of the payments made to them will depend on the duration on their annuity.

Mr Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount is in additional payments made by the Equitable Life payment scheme as a result of successful appeals to date; and what proportion that amount is of the total compensation awarded. [194938]

Sajid Javid: The value of additional payments made as a result of appeals is £17,023.61. This is 0.0019% of the total value paid by the scheme to date.

Two annuitants have made successful appeals, and the total value of the payments made to them will depend on the duration on their annuity.