Justice

Cancer

Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions have taken place under the Cancer Act 1939 in each of the last 30 years. [198623]

Jeremy Wright: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Cancer Act 1939, in England and Wales, from 1984 to 2013, can be viewed in the table.

Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under section 4 of the Cancer Act 1939, England and Wales, 1984 to 20131, 2
 Number

1984

-

1985

1

1986

-

1987

-

1988

-

1989

-

1990

-

1991

-

1992

-

1993

-

1994

-

1995

2

1996

-

12 Jun 2014 : Column 310W

1997

-

1998

2

1999

1

2000

-

2001

-

2002

-

2003

1

2004

1

2005

-

2006

6

2007

4

2008

-

2009

2

2010

1

2011

-

2012

-

2013

-

1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Note: Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Driving Under Influence

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many fines have been (a) paid, (b) collected and (c) reduced for alcohol-related motoring offences in each of the last four years; [199838]

(2) how many fines have been (a) paid, (b) collected and (c) reduced for motoring speeding offences in each of the last four years. [199839]

Mr Vara: It is not possible to identify from Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals systems how many fines have been (a) paid, (b) collected and (c) reduced for specific offences. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost as identifying this would require a manual search of all fine accounts.

Fly Tipping

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people were convicted of fly-tipping in South Staffordshire in each year since 2009-10; and how many such people received the maximum allowable sentence; [199178]

(2) how many of those convicted of fly-tipping were handed the maximum possible sentence in each year since 2009-10; [199179]

(3) how many people were convicted of fly-tipping in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14. [199238]

Jeremy Wright: The number of offenders found guilty at all courts of “fly tipping” related offences, in England and Wales, from 2009-10 to 2012-13, and also specifically

12 Jun 2014 : Column 311W

for South and Central Staffordshire, alongside the number of offenders given the maximum allowable sentence, can be viewed in the table.

12 Jun 2014 : Column 312W

Offenders found guilty at all courts for “fly tipping” related offences, South and Central Staffordshire and England and Wales, 2009-10 to 2012-131,2
Offence description 2009-102010-112011-122012-13

South and Central Staffordshire

     

Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting the deposition treating, keeping or disposing of controlled (but not special) waste in or on land without a licence3

Convictions

7

8

10

8

 

Maximum sentence10

0

0

0

0

      

Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting the deposition of controlled special waste in or on land without a licence4

Convictions

4

0

2

0

 

Maximum sentence11

0

0

0

0

      

Handling, controlling or transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures; failure to comply with the requirements of the Secretary of State; failure to take such measures as available to secure transfer of household waste to authorised person or persons authorised for transport purposes5

Convictions

8

3

2

2

 

Maximum sentence12

0

0

0

0

      

Contravening conditions of a waste management licence6

Convictions

0

0

0

0

 

Maximum sentence3

0

0

0

0

      

Occupier failing to remove waste or eliminate or reduce the consequences of waste deposited in contravention of S.33(1) EP Act 19907

Convictions

0

0

0

0

 

Maximum sentence14

0

0

0

0

      

Transporting controlled waste in the course of a business or otherwise with a view to profit without registering as a carrier8

Convictions

2

5

4

0

 

Maximum sentence15

0

0

0

0

      

Dumping9

Convictions

1

1

0

0

 

Maximum sentence16

0

0

0

0

      

Total

Convictions

22

17

18

10

 

Maximum sentence

0

0

0

0

      

England and Wales

     

Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting the deposition treating, keeping or disposing of controlled (but not special) waste in or on land without a licence3

Convictions

627

688

627

519

 

Maximum sentence10

1

0

1

0

      

Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting the deposition of controlled special waste in or on land without a licence4

Convictions

144

82

61

39

 

Maximum sentence11

0

0

0

0

      

Handling, controlling or transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures; failure to comply with the requirements of the Secretary of State; failure to take such measures as available to secure transfer of household waste to authorised person or persons authorised for transport purposes5

Convictions

297

433

432

391

 

Maximum sentence13

2

0

2

1

      

12 Jun 2014 : Column 313W

12 Jun 2014 : Column 314W

Contravening conditions of a waste management licence6

Convictions

47

14

13

14

 

Maximum sentence13

0

0

0

0

      

Occupier failing to remove waste or eliminate or reduce the consequences of waste deposited in contravention of S.33(1) EP Act 19907

Convictions

17

9

7

2

 

Maximum sentence14

0

0

0

0

      

Transporting controlled waste in the course of a business or otherwise with a view to profit without registering as a carrier8

Convictions

80

163

163

115

 

Maximum sentence15

0

0

0

0

      

Dumping9

Convictions

76

55

45

38

 

Maximum sentence16

0

0

0

0

      

Total

Convictions

1,288

1,444

1,348

1,118

 

Maximum sentence

3

0

3

1

1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 An offence under Section 33(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 4 An offence under Section 33(9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 5 An offence under Section 34 (2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 6 An offence under Section 33(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 7 An offence under Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 8 An offence under Section 1 of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989. 9 Offences under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978. 10 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is two years in custody. 11 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence five years in custody. 12 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £5,000 fine. 13 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is 5 years in custody. 14 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £5,000 fine, plus £500 per day. 15 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £5,000 fine. 16 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is three months in custody or a £3,000 fine. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Judicial Review

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new judicial review regulations on people who are fighting eviction or the repossession of a house. [199208]

Mr Vara: Judicial review is an important way of challenging decisions by public authorities and will remain so. The recently amended regulations do not prevent people receiving legal aid in judicial review cases.

The Government's policy is that limited legal aid resources should be targeted at those judicial review cases where they are needed most, if the legal aid system is to command public confidence and credibility. We amended the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 to implement the proposal that legal aid providers should only be paid for work carried out on an application for permission if permission is given by the court, subject to a discretion to pay providers for work carried out on an application for permission in cases that conclude prior to a permission decision. The discretion is held by the Lord Chancellor but will be exercised by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) on behalf of the Lord Chancellor. The amendments took effect on 22 April 2014.

An assessment of the impacts of this policy was published alongside the consultation response paper “Judicial Review: Proposals for Further Reform: the Government Response” and is available at

https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/judicial-review

It is important to reiterate that no change has been made to the availability of civil legal aid to individuals or to eligibility for legal aid for judicial review proceedings. Where a client is in receipt of legal aid, he or she will remain so for the life of the case (unless it is withdrawn for other reasons). We consider that there will remain sufficient providers who undertake judicial review work, taking on cases which they consider to be of merit.

The Government plan to undertake a post-implementation review of the legal aid provisions within the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 within 3-5 years of implementation. The review will include an assessment of the impact of this change.

Legal Aid Scheme

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to release statistics on the number of refusals by the Legal Aid Agency to pay legal aid in cases settled before the permission stage. [199207]

12 Jun 2014 : Column 315W

Mr Vara: The Legal Aid Agency records information on the outcome of each application for a discretionary payment in respect of remuneration for work on applications for permission for judicial review, where a case concludes before a decision on permission is taken by the court. The Government are considering the best way of publishing this information.

Magistrates' Courts: Prestatyn

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the redevelopment of Prestatyn Magistrates' Court. [199564]

Mr Vara: HM Courts and Tribunals Service continues to keep the use of its estate under review to ensure it meets operational requirements.

Prison Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) on what occasions prisons have used detached duty staff from other establishments since 1 September 2013; [199480]

(2) how many staff of each grade were used as part of the detached duty arrangements in each month since December 2013; [199481]

(3) how many staff of each grade were available for detached duty arrangements in each month since December 2013; [199482]

(4) which prisons received how many detached duty staff of each grade in each month since December 2013; [199483]

(5) how much was spent on accommodation and subsistence for prison officers providing detached duty in prisons in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March and (d) April 2014. [199502]

12 Jun 2014 : Column 316W

Jeremy Wright: The deployment of staff between prisons on detached duty is a regular and normal part of prison resourcing. It allows staff to be allocated from prisons with the capacity to provide them, to those where additional staffing is required. On average over the three month period (January to March 2013), less than 1% of staff were provided on detached duty. A large proportion of the capacity is typically available from prisons that are in the process of closure or going through a re-role. This process temporarily releases a number of officers who are not supplied for specific occasions but are sent and received on a shift pattern throughout the week.

The number of staff available for detached duty at any one time is a matter for operational judgment and takes account of overall staff numbers, levels of sickness, prisoner numbers and the regime and security requirements.

The average weekly provision of staff, broken down by grade, that were received as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme , are shown in the tables below for January to March 2014.

Table: Average weekly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England and Wales, broken down by grade, January-March 2014
GradeJanuary 2014February 2014March 2014

Band 3

200

150

130

Band 4

10

10

-

Total

210

160

130

We have maintained our policy of rounding figures to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. The data are only accurate to this level because late updating of data within HR systems means that the unrounded figures recorded for a specific date have a margin of error around them. Totals are formed from unrounded parts prior to rounding. For this reason, rounded totals may not equal the sum of their rounded parts. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted as ‘-’.

Table: List of prisons receiving staff on detached duty by average weekly full-time equivalent provision and grade, January - March 2014
 January 2014February 2014March 2014
Staffing provisionBand 3Band 4Band 3Band 4Band 3

5 or fewer

Aylesbury

Brixton

Aylesbury

Brixton

Aylesbury

 

Bedford

Coldingley

Bedford

Coldingley

Brinsford

 

Belmarsh

Guys Marsh

Brinsford

Guys Marsh

Bullingdon

 

Brinsford

Wormwood Scrubs

Brixton

Wormwood Scrubs

Cookham Wood

 

Bristol

 

Bullingdon

 

Gartree

 

Brixton

 

Cookham Wood

 

Glen Parva

 

Bullingdon

 

Durham

 

Guys Marsh

 

Coldingley

 

Gartree

 

Haverigg

 

Cookham Wood

 

Guys Marsh

 

High Down

 

Durham

 

Haverigg

 

Hindley

 

Erlestoke

 

High Down

 

Isis

 

Gartree

 

Hindley

 

Isle of Wight

 

Haverigg

 

Holloway

 

Leicester

 

Hindley

 

Humber

 

Lindholme and Moorland

 

Holloway

 

Isis

 

Onley

 

Humber

 

Leicester

 

Pentonville

 

Isle of Wight

 

Onley

 

Sheppey Cluster

 

Leicester

 

Send

 

Stocken

 

Manchester

 

Stocken

 

The Mount

12 Jun 2014 : Column 317W

12 Jun 2014 : Column 318W

 

Nottingham

 

The Mount

 

Wayland

 

Onley

 

Wayland

 

Werrington

 

Send

 

Werrington

 

Winchester

 

Sheppey Cluster

 

Winchester

  
 

Stocken

 

Wormwood Scrubs

  
 

Wandsworth

    
 

Werrington

    
 

Winchester

    
 

Woodhill

    
      

10

Glen Parva

High Down

Belmarsh

High Down

Belmarsh

 

Guys Marsh

 

Glen Parva

 

Feltham

 

High Down

 

Isle of Wight

 

Littlehey

 

Isis

 

Lindholme and Moorland

 

Manchester

 

Lindholme and Moorland

 

Littlehey

 

Nottingham

 

Littlehey

 

Manchester

 

Portland

 

Norwich

 

Pentonville

 

Rochester

 

Pentonville

 

Portland

 

Woodhill

 

Rochester

 

Rochester

  
 

The Mount

 

Sheppey Cluster

  
 

Wayland

 

Woodhill

  
 

Wormwood Scrubs

    
      

20

Feltham

 

Feltham

 

Various London Prisons

 

Portland

    

Using centrally held financial records it is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to disaggregate the costs of accommodation and subsistence claimed for detached duty from other expenses claimed by staff.

Prisoners: Sanitary Protection

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what types and brands of sanitary products female prisoners are able to purchase from the National Product List; and what the cost of each such product is. [199603]

Simon Hughes: Female prisoners can purchase the following sanitary products from the National Product List:

Sanitary pads—Always Ultra Normal 32s—price £2.69

Sanitary towels—Tena Lady Normal 12s—price £2.69

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what types and brands of sanitary products are provided to female prisoners free of charge. [199604]

Simon Hughes: All prisons across the female custodial estate provide Interlude tampons and sanitary towels to women free of charge.

Public Defender Service

Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the future of the Public Defender Service. [199628]

Mr Vara: The Public Defender Service (PDS) will continue to deliver a range of quality services within the criminal defence market from advice and representation at the police station and magistrates courts through to advocacy in the higher courts.

Secure Colleges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average annual cost is of a place in a new Secure College. [199691]

Jeremy Wright: The Government's vision for Secure Colleges was set out on 17 January 2014 in its response to the consultation paper “Transforming Youth Custody”. Secure Colleges will place education at the heart of custody, and equip young people with the skills they need to turn their lives around.

The current average cost of a place in youth custody is around £100,000 per annum, with some places costing in excess of £200,000. Secure colleges will achieve ongoing savings by operating at a significantly lower cost per place than the current average, while allowing withdrawal from more expensive and inefficient provision.

The MOJ will not publish estimates of the annual cost per place until the operator competition for the Secure College has been completed, to avoid prejudicing the effectiveness of the competition.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the construction contract for a Secure College awarded to Wates was put out to tender. [199694]

12 Jun 2014 : Column 319W

Jeremy Wright: Invitations to tender for the design and build of the Secure College pathfinder were issued under the Ministry of Justice's Strategic Alliance Framework Agreement on 31 January 2014, shortly after we published the Government response to the Transforming Youth Custody consultation on 17 January and announced plans for the Secure College pathfinder in the east midlands.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what fee Wates will receive for the construction contract for a Secure College; and what proportion of the overall budget for a Secure College this fee will represent. [199695]

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice will work with Wates to develop a design for the Secure College pathfinder over the coming months, and will agree a maximum price for the construction once the detailed project proposals have been agreed.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the construction contract for a Secure College was formally awarded to Wates. [199696]

Jeremy Wright: The construction contract for the Secure College pathfinder has not been awarded. The Ministry of Justice has selected Wates as the preferred bidder to design and build the pathfinder. The Project Partnering Agreement, which commits the Ministry of Justice to working with Wates to develop the design for the Secure College pathfinder, will be signed later this month. A further contract, a Commencement Agreement, is required for construction.

Victim Support Schemes

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect on funding available for victims' services of devolution to police and crime commissioners. [199326]

Damian Green: From 1 October 2014 the majority of support services for victims of crime will be commissioned at the local level by democratically elected and publicly accountable police and crime commissioners and this Government are making more money than ever before available to ensure that victims receive the vital support they require.

PCCs with their knowledge of local victims’ needs are uniquely placed to ensure that available funding is targeted where most required to help victims of crime to both cope with and, where possible, recover from the impacts of crime.

PCCs are also ideally placed to co-commission with other local commissioners such as health or local authorities, thereby reducing duplication and achieving better value for money.

Victim Support Schemes: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of crime and witnesses were supported by the Witness Service at (a) York Crown court and (b) York magistrates court in each year since 2004-05. [198529]

12 Jun 2014 : Column 320W

Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice does not routinely collect these data. Victim Support has provided the data based on available information.

As part of its grant in aid to Victim Support, the Ministry of Justice requires the provision of a court- based witness service.

Victim Support has provided the following figures for 2009-10 to 2013-14 showing the number of people supported:

 York Crown courtYork magistrates court

2009-10

717

606

2010-11

701

405

2011-12

612

368

2012-13

557

333

2013-14

547

870

Whilst crime rates continue to fall, Victim Support continues to support all witnesses who wish to receive support when attending court.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Adult Education

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to educate adults in literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. [199220]

Matthew Hancock: Skills policy is devolved so this answer refers to policy in England only.

One of the Government's priorities is to ensure that all adults have the level of English, maths and digital skills to help them find and sustain employment, as well as achieving other positive outcomes such as improved health and well-being.

We are implementing a major programme of reform to raise the quality and standards of these vital subjects in adult education which will improve the quality of the teaching workforce, reward the best providers and ensure learners are stretched to achieve the best they can.

We are investing £30 million this year and next to attract the best graduates to teach in further education (FE) and to provide opportunities for existing teachers to improve their skills. As part of a £15 million bursary scheme between 2013-15 we are offering up to £20,000 to the best and brightest graduates to teach in FE. In January 2014 we announced further measures to improve the workforce including; a golden-hello scheme offering a bonus of £7,500 to maths graduates in their second year of teaching; a recruitment incentive scheme offering £20,000 to providers for taking on a specialist maths graduate teacher; and a subject knowledge enhancement scheme to enable highly qualified graduates who have the skills and aptitude to teach but need to develop some specific maths skills before they start teacher training.

We have put English and maths at the heart of all our major programmes. From 2014/15 all intermediate apprentices will be required to work towards achieving a level 2 in English and maths and young people undertaking a traineeship will be required to study English and maths unless they already have a level 2 qualification in English and maths.

12 Jun 2014 : Column 321W

We fully fund all adults to achieve their first English and maths GCSE as well as other qualifications which help them get to that level. Our reforms to English and maths GCSEs will make them more rigorous and help ensure that young people and adults develop the skills most relevant to employers. The reformed GCSEs will be available for first teaching from September 2015 and our ambition is for them to become the gold-standard measuring achievement at level 2 for all ages and ability levels.

We encourage and support a wide range of different and flexible types of provision so that adults can learn in a way that suits them, for example, learning in the workplace, Community Learning including Family English, Maths and Language (FEML) provision, through traditional college courses and using technology and online learning.

We are making sure jobseekers on benefits have the best chance of finding employment by helping them improve their literacy and numeracy skills. From April 2014, those with poor spoken English which is preventing them from finding work have been expected to train in English, with the possibility of losing their benefit if they choose not to participate. In December 2014, we will launch the 18-21 Work Skills pilot which will test different approaches to teaching and learning and the outcomes of mandating new 18 to 21-year-old jobseeker’s allowance claimants with English and maths below Level 2 to English and maths training for up to 16 hours per week, alongside their jobsearch.

We have a substantial programme of research to identify the most effective approaches to teaching and learning. In April, I announced the launch of a new research centre with the Behavioural Rights Insight Team to bring the latest findings from behavioural science to bear on the challenges of improving adult literacy and numeracy.

Basic digital skills are now seen to be as vital as literacy and numeracy, not just for employment but for all aspects of life. The Government's recent Digital Inclusion Strategy set what actions we will take to ensure everyone has these skills. The strategy can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-digital-inclusion-strategy/government-digital-inclusion-strategy

For its part, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has committed over £30 million over the last 5 years to UK online centres to help more people develop the basic digital skills needed to use a computer, and to get online safely and securely. This has so far helped over 1.25 million people, most of whom were adults, get online. A £1 million extension to the current programme will help another 43,000 people to get online. This is aimed at hard to reach groups, many who are socially excluded. We are currently in the process of tendering a new programme with the aim to get another 1 million people online in the next 3-5 years.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding was available through the Skills Funding Agency for (a) adult learning courses to support return-to-work programmes and (b) English as a Second Language courses in each of the last three years. [199410]

12 Jun 2014 : Column 322W

Matthew Hancock: The funding available for Adult Skills is outlined in the Skills Funding Statement. The statement sets out the Government's priorities for the budget and it is for providers to decide how they use their adult skills funding to reflect those priorities and meet the needs of learners and employers in their local area. The Skills Funding Statements 2012-15 and 2013-16 also show in the Data Annex what learning the available funding has supported over the last three years:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding-statement-2013-to-2016

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding-statement-2012-2015

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many animals have experienced severe suffering in scientific research funded by the Government since 2010; and if he will provide funding aimed at developing scientific advances allowing the reduction or avoidance of severe suffering of animals used in procedures. [198601]

Mr Willetts: The Government do not hold the information you have requested. The Home Office has published advisory notes on recording and reporting actual severity. From data collected, the Home Office will provide clarity on the burden of harm and, over time, should give an indication of the effectiveness of refinement methods, particularly for the most severe procedures.

It is important to note that procedures classified as severe represent only a small percentage of the total.

The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) was established by the Government in May 2004 to advance and promote the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals used in research and testing (the 3Rs). The NC3Rs primarily receives Government funding through BIS from the science and research ring-fenced budget via the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The projected budget for the NC3Rs is £7.88 million in 2014-15 and £7.84 million in 2015-16.

BBSRC also provides further funding for the 3Rs under its responsive mode schemes, and the MRC and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council support research projects which contribute to the development of new knowledge and new methods that help replace or refine animal use. However, figures on future spend are not available.

For a detailed breakdown of past funding I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas), on 11 March 2014, Official Report, column 167W.

China

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese Government on the export of British cheeses to China. [198745]

Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for

12 Jun 2014 : Column 323W

Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not had any recent discussions with the Chinese Government regarding the export of British cheese to China. However, officials at the British embassy in Beijing have been in contact with the relevant authorities regarding the recent temporary suspension of imports of British cheese into China. The suspension has now ended.

Credit Rating

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on a minimum monetary threshold for a late payment which affects an individual's credit rating. [199030]

Matthew Hancock: Credit ratings will take into account a number of different variables, including late payment, but it is a commercial judgment taken by credit reference agencies.

Digital Technology: Skilled Workers

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what plans he has to address the shortage of skilled workers in the digital and technology sector; [198735]

(2) what progress his Department has made on the Information Economy Strategy published in June 2013. [198736]

Mr Willetts: The Industrial Strategy One Year On Progress Report:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/306854/bis-14-707-industrial-strategy-progress-report.pdf

published on 23 April, provides an update on progress on the Information Economy Strategy. The Information Economy Council is driving forward action in several areas including addressing skills issues, barriers to growth, and the analysis and use of data sets.

As a part of our work on skills we have created higher apprenticeships as an alternative to traditional graduate recruitment. In IT higher apprenticeships there have been 420 starts in 2012/13 compared with 60 starts in 2010/11. We have also created cyber security schools programmes, apprenticeships, internships, Centres for Doctoral Training and will shortly be launching a Cyber Security Massive Open Online Course.

Disabled Students' Allowances

Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will carry out a public consultation on proposed changes to disabled students' allowances; [198941]

(2) with reference to his written statement of 7 April 2014, Official Report, columns 1-2WS, on Higher Education: student support, what impact assessment his Department has made of the proposed changes to disabled students' allowances. [199002]

Mr Willetts: We are currently consulting with a wide range of stakeholders to help inform both the Equality Analysis and Disabled Students' Allowances Guidance for 2015/16.

12 Jun 2014 : Column 324W

I will have due regard to an updated Equality Analysis before a final decision is made and regulations are laid before the House.

Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students of each type of main disability are in receipt of disabled students' allowances. [198942]

Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and paid disabled students' allowance is published annually by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release “Student Support for Higher Education England”. The latest statistics are available at the following link:

http://www.slc.co.uk/media/694170/slcsfr052013.pdf

Information on the disability type for students in receipt of disabled students' allowance is available only at the point of application and so are not included in our routine statistical outputs. The figures provided in the following table reflect the number of applications and do not necessarily correspond to the number of students who were actually awarded and paid.

DSA application data by disability type, Academic year 2012-13, Effective date 10 July 2013
Disability typeNumber of new DSA applicants assessed as eligible for DSA

Autistic disorder

880

Blind/partial sight

410

Deaf/partial hearing

530

Learning difficulty

21,720

Long-standing illness

2,840

Mental health

3,390

Multiple disabilities

3,560

Disability type not captured

1,080

Wheelchair/mobility

540

Other disability not categorised elsewhere

460

Total

35,390

Notes: 1. Data has been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The data has been derived from analysing free text fields therefore may not be 100% accurate. 3. Count of applicants refers to new DSA applicants in academic year 2012-13 who have been assessed as eligible for DSA. 4. Applications are for new DSA applications received in academic year 2012-13. 5. Total does not add up due to rounding.

Disabled Students' Allowances: Brighton

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students received disabled students' allowance in Brighton and Hove local authority area in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [199423]

Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and paid disabled students' allowance is published annually by student loans company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release “Student Support for Higher Education England”. The latest statistics are available at the following link:

http://www.slc.co.uk/media/694170/slcsfr052013.pdf

A further breakdown for Brighton and Hove local authority has been provided in the table. Equivalent figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from November 2014.

12 Jun 2014 : Column 325W

Students in receipt of disabled students allowance from Brighton and Hove local authority
Academic Year 2012/13. Effective date: 13 November 2013
Application typeNumber paid DSA

Full-time application

450

Part-time application

10

Post graduate DSA

80

Total

530

Notes: 1. Disabled student allowance may be paid to the student or to a supplier on the student's behalf. 2. Figures are derived from the post code of the applicant's home address. 3. The effective date is that of the November 2013 Awards Statistical First Release. The figures are therefore provisional and do not include students who were awarded DSA after November 2013. 4. DSA payments may be made at any point during the Academic Year or after the end of the Academic Year. 5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not add to the sum of the components due to rounding.

Employment: Young People

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the number and proportion of young people aged 16 to 24 in York in (a) training, (b) employment and (c) education in each year since 1995-96; [198511]

(2) how many young people (a) started and (b) completed apprenticeships in (i) York Central constituency, (ii) York local education authority, (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iv) England in each year since 1995-96. [198521]

Matthew Hancock: Data are not available prior to 2000. Estimates for the proportion of young people in training, employment and education separately are not available.

Information on the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements by geography and age is published in supplementary tables to a Statistical First Release:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeships-2

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/308808/apprenticeship-starts-by-geography-level-and-age.xls

https://www.gov.uk/govemment/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/296382/apprenticeship-achievements-by-geography-level-and-age.xlsm

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding has been allocated to (a) York College and (b) Askham Bryan College by the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People's Learning Agency in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each year since 2009-10. [198510]

Matthew Hancock: The Skills Funding Agency is responsible for the allocation of funding to further education college for post-19 education and training, and for Apprenticeships for people aged 16 and over. The information requested is available in the following tables.

12 Jun 2014 : Column 326W

Table 1 sets out funding allocations for 2014/15 to York College by the Skills Funding Agency. Previous PQs provided data up to and including 2013/14 academic year.

Table 2 sets out funding allocations for 2014/15 by the Education Funding Agency (the successor body to the YPLA) to York College. Previous PQs provided data up to and including 2013/2014 academic year.

Table 1: SFA Funding allocations for York College
£
Academic year 19+ Cash allocation1Real terms2

2014/15

Adult allocations 3

3,382,992

3,382,992

Table 2: EFA Funding allocations for York College
£
Academic year16-18 Cash allocationReal terms2

2014/15

15,900,930

15,900,930

Table 3 sets out funding allocations for 2010/11 to 2014/15 to Askham Bryan College by the Skills Funding Agency. Data are available from the creation of the Skills Funding Agency in April 2010.

Table 4 sets out funding allocations for 2010/11 to 2014/15 to Askham Bryan College by the YPLA and its successor body, the Education Funding Agency.

Table 3: SFA Funding Allocations for Askham Bryan College
£
Academic year 19+ Cash allocation1Real terms2

2010/11

Adult allocations

2,264,811

2,455,137

2011/12

Adult allocations

3,106,679

3,291,154

2012/13

Adult allocations

3,249,205

3,382,422

2013/14

Adult allocations 3

3,045,779

3,108,486

2014/15

Adult allocations 3

2,846,003

2,846,003

Table 4: EFA Funding Allocations for Askham Bryan College
£
Academic year16-18 Cash allocationReal terms2

2010/11

6,668,827

7,229,250

2011/12

411,277,092

11,946,729

2012/13

12,342,976

12,849,038

2013/14

13,451,499

13,728,442

2014/15

14,840,339

14,840,339

1 Skills Funding Agency allocation data for 19+ participation, additional learning support and discretionary learner support. 2 These figures have been calculated using HM Treasury deflators, last updated 5 December 2013. 3 Includes 24+ Advanced Learning Loans that were introduced in 2013/14. 4 Askham Bryan college took over the land-based provision from University of Cumbria in 2011/12.

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people from (a) York Central constituency and (b) City of York local authority area (i) applied for and (ii) started a degree course in each year since 2009-10. [198512]

Mr Willetts: The latest available information on applicants is shown in Table 1.

12 Jun 2014 : Column 327W

Table 1: UCAS applicants aged under 211 to full-time undergraduate courses from York Central constituency and York local authority
 Year of entry
 20092010201120122013

York Central

470

475

535

450

430

York local authority

1,205

1,225

1,245

1,130

1,085

1 This analysis uses country specific age definitions that align with the cut off points for school and college cohorts within the different administrations of the UK. For England, ages are defined on 31 August. Defining ages in this way matches the assignment of children to school cohorts. Source: UCAS

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The number of young (under 21) entrants to UK HEIs who were domiciled in York Central constituency and York local authority prior to starting their course is shown in Table 2. HESA figures for 2013/14 will be available in January 2015. There are differences in the coverage of UCAS and HESA: the UCAS figures cover applicants to HEIs, Further Education Colleges (FECs), and Alternative Providers (APs) of higher education in the UK; the HESA figures cover HEIs only, plus the University of Buckinghamshire. Not all applicants apply via UCAS: some apply directly to institutions. In addition, some applicants who obtain a place via UCAS opt to defer entry until the following year.

12 Jun 2014 : Column 328W

Table 2: Young 1 entrants 2 domiciled 3 in York Central constituency 4 and York unitary authority, UK Higher Education Institutions, academic years 2009/10 to 2012/13
Domicile2009/102010/112011/122012/13

York unitary authority

965

995

1,070

825

York Central constituency 4

4440

385

460

330

1 Young refers to students aged under 21 on 31 August in the reporting year. 2 Entrants refers to students in their first year of study. 3 Domicile refers to a students’ home or permanent address prior to starting their course. 4 Parliamentary constituency boundaries were revised from the 6 May 2010 UK General Election. The figure for 2009/10 refers to the City of York constituency. Source: HESA Student Record

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding for each (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate student the Higher Education Funding Council for England allocated to (i) the University of York and (ii) York St John University in (A) cash and (B) at current prices in each year since 1997-98. [198514]

Mr Willetts: The following table shows the amount of grant distributed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for teaching and research per full-time equivalent student for each of the years requested. There have been changes in HEFCE's funding methodology over this period, so these tables do not provide like-for-like yearly comparisons. In particular, the data prior to 1998-99 are not available in a similar format to that for later years.

   Cash figures
   York St John UniversityUniversity of York
 Base price UGPGTPGRUGPGTPGR

1998-99

£2,662

Funds

4,952,504

29,835

9,477

12,929,019

1,013,979

3,941,856

  

FTEs

2,176

71

8

4,394.5

550.5

622.6

  

Rate

2,276

418

1,185

2,942

1,842

6,332

         

1999-2000

£2,682

Funds

5,363,737

56,807

19,253

14,689,431

1,148,184

599,490

  

FTEs

2,278.0

119.0

11

4,883.7

584.5

237.0

  

Rate

2,355

477

1,719

3,008

1,964

2,529

         

2000-01

£2,731

Funds

5,710,880

46,797

9,813

14,429,476

968,398

613,648

  

FTEs

2,248.3

109.0

8

4,681.0

483.0

249.5

  

Rate

2,540

429

1,258

3,083

2,005

2,460

         

2001-02

£2,805

Funds

6,850,259

51,666

1,610

15,606,079

1,017,459

667,144

  

FTEs

2,530.6

87.0

2

5,005.0

530.0

254.5

  

Rate

2,707

594

716

3,118

1,920

2,621

         

2002-03

£2,870

Funds

6,738,292

25,183

954

16,890,816

920,051

597,943

  

FTEs

2,448.5

113.6

1

5,347.0

535.0

227.5

  

Rate

2,752

222

954

3,159

1,720

2,628

         

2003-04

£2,808

Funds

7,398,683

47,555

2,646

17,368,394

976,328

616,426

  

FTEs

2,476.0

108.0

4

5,584.0

587.0

238.0

  

Rate

2,988

440

662

3,110

1,663

2,590

         

2004-05

£3,484

Funds

8,674,927

39,794

5,833

19,573,908

948,967

695,924

  

FTEs

2,463.1

111.0

4

5,854.2

639.5

225.0

12 Jun 2014 : Column 329W

12 Jun 2014 : Column 330W

  

Rate

3,522

359

1,458

3,344

1,484

3,093

         

2005-06

£3,608

Funds

9,234,557

28,016

0

20,684,286

893,106

0

  

FTEs

2,499.0

80.0

0

6,016.5

580.0

0.0

  

Rate

3,695

350

n/a

3,438

1,540

n/a

         

2006-07

£3,721

Funds

10,062,003

48,864

0

22,742,134

1,144,124

0

  

FTEs

2,582.1

96.0

0

6,200.8

684.3

0.0

  

Rate

3,897

509

n/a

3,668

1,672

n/a

         

2007-08

£3,833

Funds

10,617,720

77,064

0

25,094,421

1,245,662

0

  

FTEs

2,605.9

120.1

0

6,442.9

681.5

0.0

  

Rate

4,075

642

n/a

3,895

1,828

n/a

         

2008-09

£3,964

Funds

10,007,467

59,616

0

27,080,209

1,027,227

0

  

FTEs

2,454.0

64.3

0

6,624.6

537.6

0.0

  

Rate

4,078

927

n/a

4,088

1,911

n/a

         

2009-10

£3,947

Funds

10,258,008

65,646

72,126

28,697,321

407,717

3,537,180

  

FTEs

2,773.2

95.5

15

7,426.8

560.0

671.5

  

Rate

3,699

687

4,808

3,864

728

5,268

         

2010-11

£3,951

Funds

9,803,245

43,090

82,963

29,649,309

402,751

3,329,509

  

FTEs

2,717.0

116.2

19

7,869.6

561.0

676.5

  

Rate

3,608

371

4,366

3,768

718

4,922

         

2011-12

£3,670

Funds

9,613,815

74,480

106,146

30,212,888

515,555

3,308,911

  

FTEs

2,722.5

122.6

26

8,468.5

673.8

711.0

  

Rate

3,531

608

4,098

3,568

765

4,654

         

2012-13 (final)

 

Funds

6,603,696

25,808

32,230

20,468,001

549,602

4,073,426

  

FTEs

3,168.9

68.8

15.3

9,038.1

715.9

680.2

  

Rate

2,084

375

2,113

2,265

768

5,989

         

2013-14 (adjusted)

 

Funds

4,119,752

31,542

32,818

14,094,459

495,831

3,962,711

  

FTEs

3,474.9

57.1

16.3

9,321.9

703.7

694.4

  

Rate

1,186

552

2,020

1,512

705

5,706

         

2014-15 (initial)

 

Funds

1,522,646

31,998

40,665

7,796,656

595,182

4,067,118

  

FTEs

3,586.0

59.0

19.3

9,529.5

686.1

715.0

  

Rate

425

542

2,107

818

868

5,688

   Current figures
   York St John UniversityUniversity of York
 Base price UGPGTPGRUGPGTPGR

1998-99

£2,662

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,178

584

1,654

4,107

2,571

8,839

         

1999-2000

£2,682

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,237

656

2,363

4,135

2,700

3,477

         

12 Jun 2014 : Column 331W

12 Jun 2014 : Column 332W

2000-01

£2,731

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,444

582

1,706

4,180

2,719

3,335

         

2001-02

£2,805

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,578

785

946

4,122

2,538

3,465

         

2002-03

£2,870

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,559

287

1,234

4,086

2,224

3,400

         

2003-04

£2,808

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,781

557

837

3,936

2,105

3,277

         

2004-05

£3,484

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

4,350

443

1,801

4,130

1,833

3,820

         

2005-06

£3,608

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

4,467

423

n/a

4,156

1,862

n/a

         

2006-07

£3,721

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

4,585

599

n/a

4,315

1,967

n/a

         

2007-08

£3,833

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

4,672

736

n/a

4,466

2,096

n/a

         

2008-09

£3,964

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

4,549

1,034

n/a

4,560

2,131

n/a

         

2009-10

£3,947

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

4,017

747

5,222

4,196

791

5,721

         

2010-11

£3,951

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,823

393

4,626

3,992

761

5,214

         

2011-12

£3,670

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

3,664

630

4,252

3,701

794

4,828

         

2012-13 (final)

 

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

2,124

382

2,154

2,308

783

6,104

         

2013-14 (adjusted

 

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

12 Jun 2014 : Column 333W

12 Jun 2014 : Column 334W

  

Rate

1,186

552

2,020

1,512

705

5,706

         

2014-15 (initial)

 

Funds

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

FTEs

-

-

-

-

-

-

  

Rate

416

532

2,066

802

851

5,577

Note: The reforms to HE funding which this Government introduced in 2012/13 have seen grant that HEFCE makes to universities reduce as the income that universities receive from students increases.