Written Questions

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department in the last parliamentary Session did not receive a substantive answer by the time of the 2014 prorogation; and when each such question was first tabled. [200448]

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice received 3,087 questions tabled in the Commons during the 2013-14 Session. Of these, 26 parliamentary questions did not receive a substantive answer by the end of the last Session. In these cases the relevant Minister committed to write providing a substantive answer and the written responses. We have now answered 16 of the outstanding questions and are in the process of responding to the remaining 10. The following table sets out the month in which each of the questions was tabled.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and his ministerial team take their obligations to Parliament seriously and want to ensure that MPs

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receive answers of a high standard which set out the relevant context. More complex questions can involve compiling and analysing large volumes of material. We respond to such questions as promptly as we can.

Attorney-General

Rape

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Attorney-General what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the number of rape convictions. [200919]

The Solicitor-General: Increasing the number of rape convictions continues to be a priority in the criminal justice system. On 6 June 2014, a Rape Action Plan was jointly published by the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which sets out a series of actions designed to improve the criminal justice response in rape cases. This followed a Rape National Scrutiny Panel led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Policing lead for rape, which considered the investigation and prosecution of rape cases including their referral from the police to the CPS. The Action plan can be found on the CPS website at:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/equality/vaw/rape_action_plan.pdf

Work and Pensions

Chief Scientific Advisers

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many meetings he has had with his Department's Chief Scientific Adviser in the last 12 months. [200795]

Esther McVey: As was the case under previous Administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

Children: Maintenance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to publicise information on changes to child maintenance. [200763]

Steve Webb: Since the Child Maintenance Service was launched in December 2012 we have been talking to clients (via caseworkers and through our Child Maintenance Options service) about the planned introduction of charging, and letters to Child Maintenance Service clients have made reference to the charges.

More widely we have engaged with stakeholders, partners, MP caseworkers and intermediaries to share information about the reforms to the child maintenance system.

Ahead of existing Child Support Agency cases closing, a regional media trial is currently running in the Manchester area. The media activity includes digital, radio and press advertising to let parents know that the Child Support Agency is changing and to reassure them that they do not need to take any action until they receive a

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letter. We will evaluate the results of this media activity before confirming plans to run this campaign nationally later this year.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will create an independent panel to review and assess the effectiveness of the employment and support allowance and work capability assessment tests. [200534]

Mike Penning: The Department has already conducted four independent reviews of the WCA, the most recent of which was completed on 12 December 2013 and is published online at the following address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-independent-review-year-4

A fifth and final independent review is currently under way and is due to be completed by the end of the year.

In addition to these independent reviews the Department has conducted an evidence based review of the WCA in which the descriptors for mental health and fluctuating conditions were examined by an independent panel against an alternative assessment designed in conjunction with representative groups and charities. On 12 December 2013 the Department published the results of this online at the following address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-evidence-based-review

Employment Schemes: Disclosure of Information

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what steps his Department taks to investigate allegations from a whistleblower of impropriety in a Work Choice contract; [200520]

(2) what steps his Department takes to investigate whistleblowers' allegations of impropriety relating to employment support contracts. [200519]

Esther McVey: The Department treats any allegation of fraud by contractors very seriously, regardless of where these emanate from. Any fraud is completely unacceptable. Where we identify, or are notified of, allegations of contractor fraud, these cases are investigated thoroughly by the Department’s professionally trained and experienced investigators to a standard required to support reference to the police whenever evidence of criminal offences is discovered.

All contracted employment providers are required to have whistleblowing procedures that support their employees in reporting suspected wrongdoing at work and ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’. If they consider that they cannot raise suspicions of abuse of Government funds with their employer, they should contact the Comptroller and Auditor General of the National Audit Office (NAO). This route is used to escalate whistleblower concerns and DWP Internal Investigations work with the NAO to investigate these matters and take appropriate action where issues are identified. This is an important channel in ensuring that employees can raise concerns and that they can be protected legally when doing so.

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Employment Schemes: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many youth contract wage incentives he estimates will be taken up by April 2015. [200921]

Esther McVey: The latest information that we hold on Youth Contract Wage Incentives was published in February 2014 and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283873/youth-contract-feb14.pdf

Wage incentives are a demand-led scheme, and we have not forecast the number of wage incentives we expect to be taken up by April 2015.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that jobseekers whose jobseeker's allowance claim is cancelled are informed with greater clarity that their housing benefit will also be cancelled as a result. [200548]

Esther McVey: When a jobseeker's allowance claim is terminated, the claimant is issued with an end of award notice. This notification informs the claimant that they need to contact their local authority if they have a claim to housing benefit and/or council tax benefit.

Over and above this, Jobcentre Plus guidance is being strengthened to stress the importance of advising claimants to contact their local authority if they have a claim to housing benefit and/or council tax benefit and their claim is terminated, sanctioned or disallowed.

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on whether jobseekers whose jobseeker's allowance claim is cancelled because they experience three periods of illness in one year must be informed of this by jobcentre staff. [200549]

Esther McVey: Legislation prescribes the circumstances where a person can remain on jobseeker's allowance where they suffer a period of sickness. Where someone declares a period of sickness that falls outside these circumstances, they are informed of their options, eg claiming employment support allowance and how to re-claim jobseeker's allowance as and when appropriate. Once a claim to JSA is terminated, the claimant receives a formal notification to this effect.

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide additional support to jobseekers whose jobseeker's allowance is sanctioned because they experience a series of short illnesses. [200550]

Esther McVey: Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people that are available for, and actively seeking, employment. It allows for two separate periods of sickness of up to 14 days within a 12 month period. Work coaches take individual circumstances, including health, into account when agreeing a claimant commitment. Claimants that are unable to meet their conditionality because of sickness can be signposted to employment and support allowance (ESA).

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Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he gives to jobcentre staff on informing jobseekers of cancellation of their jobseeker's allowance claim. [200551]

Esther McVey: All jobcentre staff have access to comprehensive and clear procedures, guidance and learning which equips them to advise customers appropriately.

Additionally, everyone claiming jobseeker's allowance is provided with information about the conditions under which it is paid and the potential consequences of not complying. Where a doubt is identified and the case is to be referred to a decision maker, this is explained to the claimant and information provided about what will happen next.

If a sanction or disallowance is applied or the jobseeker's allowance claim is cancelled, the claimant is notified of this in writing.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of jobseekers excluded from the claimant count because their benefit has been sanctioned; and if he will make a statement. [200930]

Esther McVey: No-one is excluded from the claimant count simply due to their benefit being sanctioned.

Jobseeker's Allowance: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) York Central constituency and (b) City of York local authority area were claiming jobseeker's allowance per Jobcentre Plus vacancy in each year since May 2007. [198520]

Esther McVey: Headline figures on the number of unfilled vacancies at a point in time are published by the Office for National Statistics, based on a regular survey of employers. The sample size of the survey is, however, too small to allow information to be published below national level.

Jobcentre vacancies are just a part of total recruitment, missing jobs available in the wider labour market beyond the local constituency or authority, and those coming up through other recruitment channels or filled by direct approaches to employers or word of mouth. A snapshot of unfilled vacancies also misses the regular turnover of new vacancies that come up as existing opportunities are filled. Information on the number of unfilled vacancies held locally by Jobcentre Plus was collected until 2012 and the available information is shown in the table.

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The latest claimant count figures show the number of JSA claimants in York Central and York local authority has fallen to 1,345 and 1,790 respectively in May 2014.

Universal Jobmatch has replaced the previous Jobcentre Plus system of taking vacancies. Equivalent statistical information on vacancies available through the new service is not currently available. The ONS data shows that nationally there are well over 600,000 vacancies available at any one time. Vacancies available locally through Universal Jobmatch can be accessed at:

https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch

Inputting a postcode, town or place in the appropriate box returns vacancies within a 20 mile radius. This can be further refined as necessary.

Official Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what visits each of the Ministers in his Department have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was. [200497]

Esther McVey: Details of Ministers' visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications

Personal Independence Payment: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North constituency who have submitted a claim for personal independence payment have been waiting more than (a) six months and (b) three months for a medical assessment. [200828]

Mike Penning: The information is not currently available.

Social Security Benefits: Greater Manchester

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit sanctions for (a) not actively seeking employment, (b) refusal of employment, (c) failure to attend a mandatory interview, (d) failure to participate in work-related activity, (e) non-compliance with a Jobseeker's Direction were received by claimants in Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency between (i) April 2011 and March 2012 and (ii) April 2013 and March 2014. [200418]

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

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Unemployment Benefits: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people for each jobcentre plus vacancy were claiming out-of-work benefits in Warrington North constituency in each year since 2007. [200917]

Esther McVey: Headline figures on the number of unfilled vacancies at a point in time are published by the Office for National Statistics, based on a regular survey of employers. The sample size of the survey is, however, too small to allow information to be published below national level.

Jobcentre vacancies are just a part of total recruitment, missing jobs available in the wider labour market beyond the local constituency and those coming up through other recruitment channels or filled by direct approaches to employers or word of mouth. A snapshot of unfilled vacancies also misses the regular turnover of new vacancies that come up as existing opportunities are filled. Information on the number of unfilled Jobcentre Plus vacancies was collected until 2012 and the available information is shown in the table. Consistent information on benefits other than jobseeker's allowance (JSA) is not available for parliamentary constituencies over this period.

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The latest claimant count figures show the number of JSA claimants in Warrington North has fallen to 1,474 in May 2014.

Universal Jobmatch has replaced the previous Jobcentre Plus system of taking vacancies. Equivalent statistical information on vacancies available through the new service is not currently available. The ONS data shows that nationally there are well over 600,000 vacancies available at any one time. Vacancies available locally through Universal Jobmatch can be accessed at:

https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch

Inputting a postcode, town or place in the appropriate box returns vacancies within a 20 mile radius. This can be further refined as necessary.

Work Programme: Older Workers

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve support for people over 50 provided through the Work Programme. [200920]

Esther McVey: The Work Programme is continuing to offer tailored support to those people over 50 at risk of becoming long-term unemployed and providers are continuing to design support based on their individual need.

Last year, the Government launched the Work Programme ‘Building Best Practice Group’, which is considering the best ways of addressing the particular needs of claimants, including older workers. The group will report back to Ministers later in 2014.

Northern Ireland

Business

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether she plans to attend the International Festival for Business in Liverpool. [200837]

Mrs Villiers: As the hon. Member will know, the Prime Minister opened the International Festival for Business recently. The events will be a great opportunity to showcase the very best of Britain and encourage foreign investors to set up or expand in the UK, including Northern Ireland.

While I have no plans to visit at present, I fully intend to discuss the Festival when I meet Dominic Jermey, the incoming CEO of UKTI, shortly and the Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to see how Northern Ireland businesses can best take advantage of the opportunities that it offers.

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Film

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps her Department has taken to ensure that further opportunities for Northern Ireland's film industry are secured. [200952]

Mrs Villiers: The hon. Member will appreciate that this is a devolved matter. However I take every opportunity to promote the Northern Ireland film industry which has been significantly boosted by the high end television tax credit introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

I have met the senior team at Home Box Office on two occasions. Last month I wrote to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to coincide with the publication of the UK Creative Industries International Strategy in China, in order to promote some 250 media production companies based in Northern Ireland that are already delivering on a global stage and offering world-class talent across the sector.

Foreign Investment: UKTI

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she last met the chief executive of UK Trade & Investment to discuss that organisation's role in attracting inward investment to Northern Ireland. [200804]

Mrs Villiers: It has not been possible to meet the outgoing chief executive of UKTI. I look forward to meeting Dominic Jermey in the coming weeks to discuss how UKTI can promote Northern Ireland trade and investment working in tandem with InvestNI.

Department for Social Development

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what topics were discussed at her meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development on 8 May 2014. [200834]

Mrs Villiers: I discussed a range of topics with Nelson McCausland MLA at our meeting on 8 May 2014.

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where and for what purpose she held her meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development on 8 May 2014; and what the duration was of that meeting. [200835]

Mrs Villiers: I met Nelson McCausland MLA in Stormont House to discuss a range of matters. The meeting lasted 45 minutes.

Official Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what visits each of the Ministers in her Department have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was. [200492]

Mrs Villiers: Details of Ministers' visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=northern-ireland-office

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Staff

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff were employed in her Department on 1 June 2014. [200836]

Mrs Villiers: As of 1 June 2014, my Department employed 155 permanent members of staff made up of Home civil servants and Northern Ireland civil servants staff seconded to the Northern Ireland Office. Three part-time members of staff are engaged on an annual contract.

House of Commons Commission

Clerk of the House

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, (1) whether the next Clerk of the House and Chief Executive will be subject to security vetting if he or she is appointed from outside the House service or Civil Service; and whether he or she will be subject to a confirmation hearing before a select committee; [200924]

(2) whether a tender was issued for the use of head-hunters to find candidates for the post of Clerk of the House and Chief Executive; [200925]

(3) what assessment will be made, prior to the appointment of the next Clerk of the House and Chief Executive, of each candidate's knowledge of and expertise on procedural and constitutional issues; [200926]

(4) who determined the terms of the advertisement seeking applications for the post of Clerk of the House and Chief Executive; [200927]

(5) what the composition will be of the selection committee for the appointment of the next Clerk of the House and Chief Executive; and what the composition was of the equivalent committee when the present postholder was appointed. [200928]

John Thurso: Three organisations specialising in executive search services were invited to tender to provide support for the recruitment of the next Clerk of the House and Chief Executive. Saxton Bampfylde was selected through this process.

The selection panel comprises Mr Speaker, Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP, Angela Eagle MP, John Thurso MP, Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP and Dame Julie Mellor (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman). No confirmation hearing is envisaged. The composition of the panel for the recruitment of the present postholder was Mr Speaker, Rt Hon Sir George Young MP, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, John Thurso MP, Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith MP, Rt Hon Lindsay Hoyle MP and Sheila Drew Smith.

Knowledge of procedural and constitutional issues will be tested as part of the formal interview process. The Clerk of the House is appointed by the Crown by Letters Patent, on the recommendation of the Speaker to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister to the Crown. As part of normal pre-appointment checks it

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will be a requirement for the next Clerk of the House to be subject to security vetting. The terms of the recruitment brief were agreed by the Commission by correspondence, and the advertisement, finalised by the Speaker and the Director General of HR and Change, was based on the agreed brief.

Magna Carta: Anniversaries

Mr Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will incorporate into commemorations of the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta commemoration of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and the Putney debates in 1647 on how the country should be ruled. [200965]

John Thurso: Parliament will be managing a year-long programme to celebrate both the Magna Carta and De Montfort Parliament anniversaries in 2015. The programme will be entitled 'Parliament in the Making' and as such will include stories from throughout the last 800 years. Parliament is being advised on the content by the History of Parliament Trust. Through school resources, exhibitions, cultural projects and special events the significant moments, movements and individuals who have made a difference on the journey to rights and representation will be commemorated.

The programme is still in development but plans do include an exhibition in Westminster Hall. Using large scale banners this will chart the evolution of parliamentary democracy which we hope will refer to the Putney debates and the Peasants' Revolt in the context of the fight for representation and freedoms.

Defence

Armed Forces Covenant: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which charitable projects in Scotland have received funding from the Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund to date. [200726]

Anna Soubry [holding answer 18 June 2014]: The allocation of some £35 million in LIBOR fines to the Ministry of Defence to support the armed forces community is just one example of the importance this Government places on the armed forces covenant.

We have provided £5.5 million of funding for 12 Scottish projects. In addition, the armed forces community in Scotland will benefit from a number of UK-wide projects which have been allocated over £16 million of LIBOR funding.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN05-011 Claims and insurance provisions for

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the use of Ministry of Defence vehicles in the UK and overseas and the process for ordering new motor insurance certificates or green cards. [199167]

Mr Dunne: A copy of Defence Instruction Notice 2014DIN05-011 regarding claims and insurance provisions for the use of Ministry of Defence vehicles in the UK and overseas and the process for ordering new motor insurance certificates or green cards will be placed in the Library of the House.

Army: Recruitment

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the National Audit Office report, Army 2020, HC 263, published on 11 June 2014, page 17, if he will provide details of the eight options for force structures that his Department considered in 2011, and his Department's estimate of the savings each would have accrued. [200537]

Mr Francois: I am not able to provide the information requested, since to do so could adversely affect the formulation of future defence policy.

Chemical and Biological Warfare

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN03-007 Notification of a change in CBRN policy. [199168]

Mr Dunne: A copy of Defence Instruction Notice 2014DIN03-007 regarding the notification of a change in CBRN policy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 318W, on conflict resolution: females, if he will publish in the Library the minutes of the meeting on this matter on (a) 24 February, (b) 5 March, (c) 20 March, (d) 18 March, (e) 19 March and (f) 13 March 2014. [198842]

Anna Soubry [holding answer 18 June 2014]: None of the meetings mentioned were convened by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). They were convened by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as the lead Department, or by the Department for International Development on behalf of the FCO and thus it is they who may have a record of the meetings; the MOD has no record of

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any formal minutes. However, the real output of these meetings was in the development of the UK’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security which was published by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 12 June at the Global Summit on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. This document is available from the FCO.

Electronic Warfare

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN03-010 Impact to outputs of defence electronic warfare centre due to five yearly electrical testing. [199166]

Mr Dunne: DIN reference 2014DIN03-010 “Impact to outputs of Defence Electronic Warfare Centre due to five yearly electrical testing” was cancelled and withdrawn by the sponsor on 22 April 2014.

Filton Airfield

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department owns any of the Filton Airfield site; and whether his Department will be entitled to any share of the site's sale. [200771]

Dr Murrison: The Department does not own any of the Filton Airfield site and is not entitled to any share in the site's sale.

Medical Equipment

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN04-053 Declaration of obsolete-medical, central and veterinary equipments. [199165]

Mr Dunne: A copy of Defence Instruction Notice 2014DIN04-053 regarding the declaration of obsolete-medical, dental and veterinary equipments will be placed in the Library of the House.

Sea King Helicopters

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN04-056 Sea King Helicopter drawdown and disposal. [199169]

Mr Dunne: A copy of Defence Instruction Notice 2014DIN04-056 regarding Sea King Helicopter drawdown and disposal will be placed in the Library of the House.