House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 Jun 2014 (pt 0002)

Low Pay

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to safeguard the economic position of people on low pay. [904484]

Jenny Willott: Our main labour market policy to improve the position of the low paid is the national minimum wage. We have asked the Low Pay Commission to review and recommend minimum wage rates for 2015 that maximise wages without damaging employment.

We have also increased the focus on compliance and enforcement of the national minimum wage in order to ensure that those entitled to it, receive it.

In addition to the national minimum wage we are raising the personal tax allowance so that people take home more of what they earn.

Minimum Wage

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will carry out an assessment of the positive and negative effects of setting the minimum wage at £10 per hour. [201866]

Jenny Willott: It is the role of the independent Low Pay Commission to make national minimum wage rate recommendations that maximise earnings, without damaging employment prospects.

The national minimum wage for those aged 21 and over is currently £6.31, rising to £6.50 from 1 October 2014. Given the remit of the Low Pay Commission, we can conclude that they would consider that a higher rate would have a negative impact on employment.

In its 2015 recommendations, the Government have asked the Low Pay Commission to consider whether we are entering a new phase where real term increases in the national minimum wage can be afforded without damaging employment rates.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what resources have been allocated for enforcement action against employers who do not pay the national minimum wage. [904478]

Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what resources have been allocated for enforcement action against employers who do not pay the national minimum wage. [904486]

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Jenny Willott: The Government are committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have 173 staff dedicated to the enforcement of the national minimum wage.

The Government are already taking tougher action on employers that break minimum wage law. We have made it simpler to name and shame employers that do not pay the national minimum wage and increased the financial penalty that employers pay for breaking the law.

Overseas Students: EU Nationals

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the value of loans issued to students from other EU member states in the latest period for which figures are available. [201550]

Mr Willetts: Statistics on student support expenditure are published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England’. The latest statistics, published in November 2013, are available at the following link:

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

The value of tuition fee loans issued to borrowers domiciled in the EU prior to their course was £166.5 million, whereas £4,117.1 million was issued to borrowers domiciled in England. These estimates include borrowers under both the pre- and post-2012/13 student finance arrangements.

Statistics referring to the academic year 2013/14 will be published in November 2014.

Postal Services

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the proportion of UK addresses end-to-end postal delivery companies would need to cover before there is a threat to the financial sustainability of the universal service. [201887]

Jenny Willott: Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator for postal services, the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service and to this end Ofcom must have regard for the financial sustainability of the universal service.

Last year, following a consultation, Ofcom, as the independent regulator for postal services, set out its guidance on its approach to intervening in response to a material threat to the provision of the universal service.

Ofcom has made clear that if its ongoing monitoring regime, which keeps the situation under continual review and allows for any new evidence, does not prompt the need for any earlier assessment, it will as a matter of course carry out a full assessment of the impact of competition on the universal service towards the end of 2015.

More information about Ofcom’s regulatory regime can be found on its website:

www.ofcom.org.uk

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Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the time it would take for Ofcom to undertake a review of the effects of end-to-end competition on the universal service. [201888]

Jenny Willott: Last year, following a consultation, Ofcom, as the independent regulator for postal services, set out its guidance on its approach to intervening in response to a material threat to the universal service.

Ofcom’s comprehensive monitoring regime is forward looking, based on business plans of Royal Mail and other postal operators, and as set out in its guidance, appropriate intervention could be taken within six to nine months of identifying a potential risk to the provision of the universal service. More information about Ofcom’s regulatory regime can be found on its website:

www.ofcom.org.uk

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the change in mail volumes to the universal service provider in the NW postcode area as a result of end-to-end competition. [201889]

Jenny Willott: Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator, the powers and tools it needs to assess risks to the universal service and to take appropriate action if the provision of the universal service is ever at serious risk.

Ofcom has a comprehensive monitoring regime in place and it has the powers to take appropriate action if it considers the universal service to be at risk. More information about Ofcom’s regulatory regime can be found on its website:

www.ofcom.org.uk

Students: Loans

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his latest estimate is of the RAB charge for (a) student loans after 2012, (b) loans issued to part-time students, (c) loans issued to students in the Affiliated Loan Programme for Students, (d) Advanced-Learner Loans and (e) loans issued to non-English EU students. [201551]

Mr Willetts: We estimate the RAB charge on student loans issued after 2012 to be around 45%. We estimate the RAB charge for loans issued to part-time students to be around 65%.

We do not estimate a separate RAB charge for students at Alternative Providers.

The 2012 impact assessment on the introduction of 24+ Advanced Learning Loans stated that we anticipated this RAB charge would be 60% of the total loan amount. Now that we are beginning to receive figures on actual

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learner numbers, we are reviewing the assumptions within the RAB charge model. An updated estimate of the RAB charge on 24+ Advanced Loans will be published in July 2014 in the BIS Accounts.

We do not estimate a separate RAB charge for non-English EU students.

The actual cost of issuing student loans will be dependent on future macro-economic circumstances, in particular earnings and we will continue to update our forecasts on a regular basis to take account of changes to short-term and long-term macro-economic assumptions.

Trade Promotion: Northern Ireland

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps UK Trade & Investment took to promote Northern Ireland businesses at the International Festival for Business in Liverpool. [201733]

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has encouraged participation by UK businesses from throughout the UK at the International Festival for Business (IFB).

UKTI officials briefed representatives from the three devolved Administrations, including Invest Northern Ireland, on plans and preparations for the IFB in September 2013. UKTI subsequently facilitated meetings in London and Belfast, between senior IFB managers and Invest Northern Ireland, to discuss the detail of Invest NI’s engagement with the Festival.

All events at IFB have been, and are continuing to be, advertised and promoted to companies in Northern Ireland through the IFB and gov.uk/ukti websites.

Voluntary Work: Schools

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage businesses to free up their staff to volunteer in local schools. [201737]

Matthew Hancock: In the Careers Inspiration Vision Statement, launched in September 2013, we stated that we believe employers and schools must do more in partnership together and that the best mentoring and motivation comes from people in jobs. The revised statutory guidance to schools on careers reflects this. We have been working with key organisations that deliver inspirational careers activity. This, alongside the improved National Careers Service, will make it easier for businesses to identify opportunities to volunteer in schools and to recognise the benefits such as a more well-informed future workforce.

Home Department

Asylum

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will ensure that all asylum interviews are routinely audio and video recorded. [200379]

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Karen Bradley: The Home Office is required to allow claimants, with some exceptions, to have their asylum interviews electronically recorded on request. The request to record the interview is at the discretion of the claimant. The invitation to interview letter advises eligible claimants to inform the asylum office if they wish the interview to be recorded, and to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice of their request to avoid a delay on the day. For those in detention, at least three days notice must be provided. We recognise that digitally recording asylum interviews has the potential to bring benefits to both asylum seekers and to the Home Office and we are currently exploring this as an option for the future.

Asylum: Housing

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to ensure that accommodation provided by the COMPASS contracts meets the Decent Homes Standards. [201006]

Karen Bradley: It is a statutory requirement that social housing meets the Decent Homes Standard as defined in the Housing Act 2004.

All COMPASS contracts incorporate the requirements of the Decent Homes Standard for social housing as part of the contractual performance management arrangements and are robustly monitored through three key performance indicators which relate specifically to property standards.

Providers are required to inspect all properties on a monthly basis or at the point when a service user first occupies the property. In addition, the Home Office has a team of 17 contract compliance officers who also closely monitor property standards as part of their contract compliance and assurance role.

Any failure of the critical service levels may result in financial penalties.

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to ensure that asylum seekers in COMPASS accommodation are able to register complaints quickly and easily. [201007]

Karen Bradley: The COMPASS contracts lay down requirements for the management of enquiries and complaints received in respect of accommodation services provided to asylum seekers.

COMPASS providers have a complaints service in place through which the asylum seeker, their representative, the voluntary sector or local authorities can raise concerns or issues direct. Providers also provide asylum seekers with a detailed briefing on how they can raise a complaint as part of the move in process. Asylum seekers can raise a complaint in a confidential way, and with the assistance of an interpreter when required.

The complaints process is subject to performance management under the Key Performance Indicators regime. Providers are required to report their performance in terms of dealing with complaints on a monthly basis. In addition, the Home Office has a team of 17 contract compliance officers who also closely monitor complaints made to providers or made direct to the Home Office as part of their contract compliance and assurance role.

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Any failure of the critical service levels may result in financial penalties.

Domestic Violence

Mr Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans her Department has to bring forward proposals to criminalise coercive control and psychological abuse for the purpose of protection of victims of domestic violence; [201084]

(2) what plans her Department has in response to the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Inquiry into police response to domestic violence in creating a culture change towards domestic violence. [201085]

Norman Baker: Last September, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct a review of the response to domestic abuse across all police forces. HMIC published its findings in March 2014, emphasising that the key priority is a culture change in the police so that domestic violence and abuse is treated as the crime that it is and that the police use the full range of tools already available to them.

In response to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a new national oversight group, which she is chairing, and on which I sit, to oversee delivery against each of HMIC’s recommendations. Their first meeting was held on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014.

There are a number of offences that make domestic abuse illegal, including actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and assault. Assault can extend to non-physical harm. This Government has introduced stalking and harassment legislation which can apply to coercive control and psychological abuse. However, the Government will continue to consider what measures will drive culture change in the police in response to the findings of the HMIC review.

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department is taking to help end domestic abuse and violence against women. [201115]

Norman Baker: Domestic violence is a dreadful form of abuse and is not acceptable within our society. The coalition Government’s approach to tackling domestic violence and abuse is set out in its Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan, updated in March 2014.

In 2013, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to undertake a comprehensive review on how the police deal with domestic violence and abuse. HMIC’s report exposed significant failings. In response to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a National Oversight Group, which she is chairing, and on which I sit, to ensure HMIC’s recommendations are acted upon. The Group met for the first time on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014, to improve their response to domestic violence and abuse.

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The Government is committed to ensuring that the police and other agencies have the tools necessary to tackle domestic violence, to bring offenders to justice and to ensure victims have the support they need to rebuild their lives. On 8 March 2014, the Government announced the national roll-out of Domestic Violence Protection Orders following the successful conclusion of a one-year pilot in three police force areas including Wiltshire, as well as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme following the successful conclusion in September 2013 of a one-year pilot in four police force areas—once again including Wiltshire.

Marriage Certificates

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward legislative proposals to allow mothers' names to be recorded on marriage certificates; if she will bring forward proposals to permit mothers' names to be retrospectively added to existing marriage certificates; and if she will make a statement. [199641]

Karen Bradley: We are currently considering how the information contained in the marriage entry can be updated to include this, and to reflect changes since the coming into force of the Registration of Marriages Regulations 1986, as well as the most suitable opportunity for doing so.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential cost to her Department of including mothers' names on marriage certificates. [199697]

Karen Bradley: The marriage certificate is an exact copy of the marriage entry which is in a form prescribed in the Registration of Marriage Regulations 1986. We are currently considering how the information captured in the marriage entry can be updated to reflect changes since 1986, as well as including the names of mothers; the costs of doing so and the most suitable opportunity for doing so.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy

Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the support cost over 15 years of (a) 1gw of field solar generating capacity procured with renewable obligation certificate or Contract for Difference support, (b) 1gw of biomass generating capacity procured with renewable obligation certificate or Contract for Difference support and (c) 1gw of gas fired power station capacity procured with capacity market payment support. [201410]

Michael Fallon: In order to make a fair comparison between the RO and CfD, my officials have looked at the differences in support costs between the two support mechanisms over the full support period (20 years for the RO, 15 years for CfDs) for solar and biomass combined heat and power.

The Government also support biomass conversions under both the RO and CfDs. Given that the Government support for biomass conversion ends on 1 April 2027, support costs for biomass conversions have been modelled over 11 years (from 2016-17).

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Table 1: Comparison of Total Discounted RO and CfD Support Costs
£ million
£2012	Renewables Obligation (RO) (20 years)	Contracts for Difference (CfDs) (15 years)
1GW of Solar PV (>5MW)	772	529
1GW of Biomass CHP	7,147	5,154

£ million
£2012	Renewables Obligation (RO) (11 years)	Contracts for Difference (CfDs) (11 years)
1GW of Biomass Conversions	2,620	2,325
Note: Estimates based on new capacity commissioning in financial year 2016-17. Values are in £2012 real prices and discounted to the first year of generation (2016-17), using the Government’s 3.5% discount rate.

It is not possible to directly compare renewables support costs (offered via the Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference), with support costs offered via the capacity market, as support under the Capacity Market is offered only for capacity and does not vary directly with the amount of generation produced by a plant.

Under the Capacity Market, all successful capacity will receive the clearing price of the auction in which they bid. The first capacity market delivery year is in 2018-19. Our latest estimate of the average clearing price over the first 15 years of the Capacity Market is £34/kW/year (in 2012 prices). For 1GW of de-rated capacity this corresponds to £500 million over 15 years.

Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which levy control framework constraints have required him to move an early administrative allocation model for Contract for Difference auctions to an auction arrangement. [201529]

Michael Fallon: The reasons for introducing competition for Contracts for Difference earlier than previously proposed are the potential to improve value for money (including by managing expenditure within the Levy Control Framework cap) and drive innovation; and because the strong development of the renewables pipeline has helped to create appropriate conditions for competition. In developing our proposals we have also been mindful of the final EU Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-20 published on 9 April 2014.

Energy: Prices

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of how much renewables subsidies (a) added to industrial electricity bills in 2012-13 and (b) affected the wholesale price of energy. [201623]

Gregory Barker: In March 2013 DECC published an assessment of the impact of climate change and energy polices on electricity and gas prices and consumer bills¹. The report estimated that, in 2013, support costs for renewables added around 10% to electricity bills for

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energy intensive users (8% in relation to the renewables obligation (RO) and 2% in relation to the small-scale feed-in tariffs (FIT)).

Increased deployment of low-carbon generation, including renewables, which typically have low generating (and therefore operating) costs, helps to put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices. It is not possible to split out the impact of renewable support policies on these wholesale price effects from other drivers such as, for example, the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS). However, the March 2013 report estimated that the overall wholesale price impact of all low-carbon policies was a reduction in the wholesale price faced by industry of around 30p/MWh in 2013.

The Government recognise the particular competitiveness issues faced by some industries in terms of their energy costs and have acted to mitigate the impact of energy policies on those industries. This includes the announcement, as part of the 2014 budget that the Government intend to compensate those energy-intensive industries most at risk of higher electricity prices resulting from the RO and the FIT schemes. We expect that compensation will begin in 2016-17, subject to EU state aid clearance.

¹ Available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimated-impacts-of-energy-and-climate-change-policies-on-energy-prices-and-bills

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to assess whether the whole of the reduction in costs levied for investment in renewables has been passed on to consumers by energy suppliers. [201834]

Michael Fallon: In December 2013 the Government announced a package of measures to reduce household bills by an average of around £50 in 2014 compared to what they would have been. The package consisted of a £12 government electricity rebate which will be delivered to customers of all licensed domestic electricity suppliers in autumn 2014 and 2015, proposed changes to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which will result in £30-£35 off bills, on average, this year and voluntary action by electricity distribution network companies to reduce network costs in 2014-15, which will allow a further one-off reduction of an average of around £5 on electricity bills. All of the big 6 have announced how they will be passing the benefits on to consumers. This is set out in an Energy UK publication available here:

http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/3-factsheets-and-guides/1106-eco-changes-major-energy-suppliers.html

Fracking

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of (a) the extent to which the future use of shale gas could reduce carbon emissions and (b) how this could contribute to the Government's target for an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. [201622]

Michael Fallon: In September 2013, DECC published a study by Professor David MacKay and Dr Tim Stone which gathered the available evidence on the potential greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from shale gas production

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and use in the UK and discussed the compatibility of shale gas production and use with UK and global climate change targets. The study concluded that with the right safeguards in place the net effect on GHG emissions from shale gas production in the UK will be relatively small. Indeed emissions from the production and transport of UK shale gas are likely to be lower than imported liquefied natural gas and gas piped from outside Europe, which shale gas is expected to replace.

DECC’s Gas Generation Strategy (2012) and Heat Strategy (2013) both set out the important role gas has to play to maintain adequate capacity margins, meet demand and provide supply-side flexibility while keeping emissions within the limits set out in the carbon budgets to 2030 and beyond. We need further drilling and testing to establish how much shale gas will be recoverable, but it is likely that domestically produced shale gas would contribute to the overall natural gas mix that is used for both heat and electricity generation, replacing some imported and slightly higher carbon liquefied natural gas.

Housing: Energy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of off-grid households in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland are located within 500 metres of the gas grid. [201481]

Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 June 2014, Official Report, columns 235-36W.

Radioactive Waste

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has co-sponsored with its US, French and German counterparts at the Sandia National Laboratory into the safety and security of spent nuclear fuel casks; and if he will publish details of the reports arising from such research. [201317]

Michael Fallon: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not funded any co-sponsored research with US, French and German counterparts, at the US Sandia National Laboratories into the safety and security of spent nuclear fuel casks.

Renewable Energy

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was spent on subsidies for renewable energy over the last three years; and what proportion of that amount was paid for by (a) domestic and (b) industrial electricity bills. [201643]

Gregory Barker: The total cost of the two existing schemes to promote renewable electricity—the renewables obligation (RO) and the feed-in tariffs (FIT) scheme—was £1,300 million in 2010-11, £1,609 million in 2011-12 and £2,498 million in 2012-13 (figures not adjusted for inflation).

DECC's methodology for estimating the impact of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and consumer bills assumes that the costs of supporting

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renewable energy faced by energy suppliers are passed on in full to consumers (domestic and non-domestic). In the absence of firm evidence on differential cost pass-through, it is assumed that costs are spread over UK electricity sales on an equal per MWh basis.

Given the respective shares of total UK electricity consumption, this implies that households bear approximately one-third of the total UK costs of supporting renewables and that non-domestic consumers (which includes the commercial and public sectors as well as industry) bear the remaining two-thirds. The precise method of cost pass-through will vary between energy suppliers depending on their own tariff structure and approach to cost mark-up.

Renewables Obligation

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 4 March 2014, Official Report, columns 763-64, on the renewables obligation, when he intends to introduce price competitions for Contracts for Difference; and what assessment he has made of whether the economics of onshore wind will change once this new system is introduced. [201642]

Gregory Barker: The Government intend to move to auctioning of contracts for difference (CfDs) for at least those technologies classified as ‘established' (such as onshore wind) from the first allocation round in October 2014.

The Government Response to the consultation on our approach to competitive allocation of CfDs published on 13 May 2014, set out our view that there is some scope for further cost reduction in the onshore wind sector, and that the evidence from UK developers suggests that in the years to 2020, the most significant contributor to reduced costs in the UK is likely to be a constrained and competitive allocation framework under which only the lower-cost projects come forward.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 4 March 2014, Official Report, column 764W, on wind power, whether the Government's decision that there will be no further review of the renewables obligation scheme before it closes to new generation on 31 March 2017 would stand if it were found that (a) wind turbines and (b) other particular renewables could be competitive without subsidies. [201648]

Gregory Barker: The answer of 4 March 2014, Official Report, column 764W, on wind power, explained that there is no further comprehensive banding review planned for the renewables obligation (RO) scheme before it closes to new generation on 31 March 2017.

However, as a principle of responsible budget management, we keep under review whether any further targeted actions or banding reviews for specific technologies may be necessary as a result of, for example, technology costs falling faster than expected. This helps to ensure value for public money and protection of consumers from unnecessary costs.

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Secondment

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many employees of the big six energy companies are currently seconded to his Department. [202242]

Gregory Barker: There are currently no employees, seconded from any of the big six energy companies, working in the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Wind Power

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 167W, on wind power: electrical substations, what constitutes a nationally significant infrastructure proposal (a) generally and (b) in relation to onshore wind farms. [201521]

Gregory Barker: The Planning Act 2008 defines what can be included in an application for development consent for a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP). Electricity substations are not categorised as NSIPs in their own right but, under the Act, can be included in an application for development consent for such a project if they can be considered as associated development in England.

In addition, substations may be included in applications for generating stations (including onshore wind farms) under the Act if they are integral to the main development.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 841W, on wind power, what the equivalent figures for spending on subsidies for onshore and offshore wind were for (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and whether he expects to see an increase or decrease in the level of spending in each category in 2013-14. [201645]

Gregory Barker: The cost of supporting onshore and offshore wind through the renewables obligation in 2010-11 and 2011-12 was as follows (figures not adjusted for inflation):

£ million
	2010-11	2011-12
Onshore wind	398	483
Offshore wind	254	371

Some small-scale onshore wind was also supported by the feed-in tariff scheme (FITs), but FITs costs are not available disaggregated by technology.

Outturn data are not yet available for spend in 2013-14, but we would expect an increase in the total level of support for each technology as there was a higher level of deployment.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average proportion of time is that (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind turbines produce energy. [201647]

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Gregory Barker: Information on the hours of operation of individual wind turbines is not held centrally.

However, information on load factors, which express the average quantity of electricity produced as a percentage of the maximum achievable (based on installed capacity) are published in table 6.5 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, and table 6.1 of Energy Trends; copies of both these publications are available in the House Library and on the gov.uk website.

The March 2014 edition of Energy Trends showed average load factors for the last quarter of 2013 were 36.9% for onshore turbines and 46.1% for offshore turbines. Data for the first quarter of 2014 will be contained in the next edition of Energy Trends, being released on 26 June 2014.

Justice

Acklington Prison

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Acklington spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data are available. [201992]

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cells. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.

HMP Acklington merged with HMP Castington to form HMP Northumberland in 2011-12.

It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell. Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.

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increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.

Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf

The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Blakenhurst Prison

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Blakenhurst spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data are available. [201989]

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.

HMP Blakenhurst merged with HMP Hewell Grange and HMP Brockhill to form HMP Hewell in 2008-09.

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The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.

Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf

The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Community Orders: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in Ashfield constituency convicted of each category of offence received community sentences in each of the last five years. [201706]

Jeremy Wright: Since 2010, crime has continued to fall and fewer individuals are entering the criminal justice system for the first time. The Government are committed to transforming the way that offenders are dealt with in the community and have legislated so that all community orders must now have a punitive element as well as requirements that are effective at preventing further offending.

Information available centrally does not allow a breakdown of cases by parliamentary constituency.

Crime

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against and (c) convicted of an offence under the provisions of the (i) Game Act 1831, (ii) Deer Act 1991, (iii) Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (iv) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (v) Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, (vi) Animal Welfare Act 2006, (vii) Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and Conservation

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of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, (viii) Hunting Act 2004, (ix) Night Poaching Act 1828, (x) Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997, (xi) Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, (xii) Pests Act 1954 and (xiii) Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in each year since 2009. [201202]

Damian Green: The number of offenders cautioned and defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences (all in England and Wales from 2009 to 2013) under the Game Act 1831 can be viewed in Table 1, under the Deer Act 1991 in Table 2, under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in Table 3, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in Table 4, under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 in Table 5, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in Table 6, under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in Table 7, under the Night Poaching Act 1828 in Table 8, under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 in Table 9 and under the Hunting Act 2004 in Table 10.

No defendants were proceeded against under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. Data for the Pests Act 1954 are held as part of a miscellaneous group that cannot be separately analysed.

We are very clear that serious offences will always go to court where tough punishments are available to the independent judiciary, who make their sentencing decisions based on the individual facts of the case.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations his Department has received on increasing penalties for uninsured drivers since May 2010. [201868]

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice, along with the Department for Transport, receives a large number of representations from members of the public and Members of Parliament on driving offences, including those involving uninsured drivers. Identifying individual representations on uninsured drivers could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

On 16 August 2013 the fixed penalty for driving without insurance was increased from £200 to £300.

The Government announced on 12 May this year that they intend to carry out a review of the offences and penalties available for a range of driving offences. This will include offences involving uninsured drivers.

Family Law

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the recent increase in the number of parties representing themselves in court in private family law cases; [201855]

(2) what assessment he has made of the causes of changes in the number of parties representing themselves in court in private law family cases. [201801]

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Simon Hughes: Litigants in person have always been a feature of the justice system. Data on disposals in the financial year prior to April 2013 indicate that in 64% of private family law cases there was at least one party without recorded legal representation.

We are closely monitoring the performance of the family justice system. The number of family cases where one or more parties present themselves is published in Courts Statistics Quarterly:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly

Judges are trained to help people with no legal representation and are accustomed to doing so, including by explaining procedures and what is expected of the parties. We have taken steps to help people who either want to represent themselves in court or have to do so, which include publishing a revised guide for separating parents and more training for judges. The link to the guide is:

http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/GetLeaflet.do?court_leaflets_id=2756

Homicide: Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims bereaved by homicide have received support from the National Homicide Service in England and Wales since May 2010. [201874]

Damian Green: Victim Support, who run the national Homicide Service, report that since the service became operational on 1 March 2010 until 24 June 2014 it has provided support to 5,687 victims bereaved by homicide.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of peer support groups supporting victims bereaved by homicide in each year since May 2010. [201875]

Damian Green: Since 2011 the Ministry of Justice has funded a number of peer support groups to provide support to families bereaved by homicide. In the 2013-14 financial year the Ministry of Justice is supporting 13 peer support groups. From October 2014, the new national Homicide Service will incorporate peer support for those bereaved since the current service became operational in 2010. In addition, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that it will continue to fund the 13 peer support groups until October 2015 and will work with these groups and others to develop funding arrangements from October 2015 onwards.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Grant for Coordination and Delivery of Support to those Bereaved by Homicide advertised by his Department on Contract Finder on 12 February 2014 was a grant or a public contract. [201911]

Damian Green: The advertised Grant for Coordination and Delivery of Support to those Bereaved by Homicide is a grant, not a public contract.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what bids were submitted for the Grant for Coordination and Delivery of Support to those Bereaved by Homicide advertised by his Department on Contract Finder on 12 February 2014. [201912]

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Damian Green: Three bids were received in response to the advertised Grant for Coordination and Delivery of Support to those Bereaved by Homicide. These were from Victim Support, Refuge and Johnston and Blockley.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria were used to determine the winning bidder for the Grant for Coordination and Delivery of Support to those Bereaved by Homicide advertised by his Department on Contract Finder on 12 February 2014. [201913]

Damian Green: We held a competitive process for the grant and the successful bidder was selected on the basis of delivering the best quality service. The award criteria were made available to all potential bidders at the start of the commissioning process and are listed as follows.

1. Health and Safety

2. Equalities

3. Capability

4. Delivery Structure

5. Managing Transition

6. Recruitment and Training

7. Service Delivery

8. Managing the Grant

9. Efficiencies

10. Expenditure Profile

Mediation

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the role of the professional not-for-profit mediation sector in increasing the take-up of mediation by separating and divorcing couples; [201786]

(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of the commercial solicitor sector and the professional not-for-profit National Family Mediation network in ensuring a future increase in take-up of family mediation by divorcing couples; [201782]

(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of introducing a free non-means tested initial mediation information and assessment meeting on the take-up of mediation; [201790]

(4) what his policy is towards funding the Help with Family Mediation scheme; [201797]

(5) what assessment he has made of the reasons for recent changes in the provision of not-for-profit mediation; [201799]

(6) what steps he plans to take to address changes in the number of mediation providers in England and Wales. [201800]

Simon Hughes: There has been a significant decrease in referrals to publicly funded family mediation since April 2013 when the legal aid reforms were implemented. This is in part due to fewer people visiting solicitors who previously would have directed clients to mediation.

Before April 2013, attendance at a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM) was a pre-requisite for legal representation for people eligible to obtain public funding. We introduced a statutory MIAM in April 2014 as part of the Children and Families Act 2014.

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This placed a legal obligation on an applicant to attend a MIAM for the purpose of considering mediation, before being permitted to issue court proceedings in certain private family law matters (children and financial disputes).

Legal aid remains available for mediation (and for legal help with mediation) for those who meet the eligibility criteria. We are keen to encourage mediation as an alternative to court both for those eligible for public funding and for privately funded cases.

We are aware that a small number of mediation services have closed or are in difficulty. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is constantly monitoring the situation to make sure there is sufficient provision for client access to mediation services. While a decline in demand is a contributory factor in mediation service closures, another significant factor is poor and unsustainable business models. There is some evidence that a number of the mediation services which have closed following legal aid reforms were vulnerable to closure before the reforms took effect.

I have convened a Family Mediation Task Force, chaired by David Norgrove, which has considered many of the issues raised by the Member of Parliament for Exeter, including how to reverse the fall in referrals and engage the second party in the mediation process, and incentivising mediators and lawyers to work in partnership to support clients through the resolution of their dispute in compliance with the new legislation. A number of short-term financial options have been considered as well as the long-term view for the future of dispute resolution services.

The task force report will be published imminently. The Government will respond to the report in due course.

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what steps he is taking to inform the public of the availability of legal aid for family mediation; [201795]

(2) what steps he is taking to inform the public of the benefits of mediation. [201794]

Simon Hughes: We are delivering a wide-ranging programme of activity to improve public awareness and to make sure that advice agencies are providing the correct information about family mediation. This includes being very clear that legal aid is still available for mediation, and for legal support for mediation.

We have taken action to update and improve information on our own websites and gov.uk and we have included an article about mediation in the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) newsletter—aimed at advisers—to clarify that legal aid does remain available for mediation.

We have also written to the mediation profession setting out some of the work we are doing and we continue to work very closely with the Family Mediation Council (FMC) to raise the profile of the court and that of the profession. This has principally included funding and working with the FMC to develop an improved website which can be used as a public signpost to mediation and information services, and developing a marketing ‘toolkit' to support mediators in promoting their services to prospective clients.

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Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that family mediation fees remain affordable; [201798]

(2) how much has been spent on legally aided family mediation in each of the last four years for which figures are available. [201796]

Simon Hughes: Statistics on the volume and value of family mediation funded through legal aid are contained within legal aid statistics: April 2013 to March 2014:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/322466/legal-aid-statistics-2013-14.pdf

Tables 7.1 and 7.2 contain family mediation data between 2006-07 and 2013-14.

An extract of the legal aid spend on family mediation is included in the following table:

	MIAMS volumes	MIAMS expenditure (£)	Mediations starts	Mediations (£)
2010-11	26,388	6,276,568	14,186	6,997,924
2011-12	31,338	7,796,253	15,357	6,917,892
2012-13	30,662	8,053,106	13,609	6,307,518
2013-14	13,354	3,182,662	8,400	4,291,680

The large drop off in 2013-14 was due to removal of mandatory MIAM for onward legal aid funding, which meant that solicitors were no longer referring to mediation. We introduced a statutory MIAM in April 2014 as part of the Children and Families Act 2014 which places a legal obligation on an applicant to attend a MIAM before being able to issue court proceedings in certain private family law matters (children and financial disputes).

It is too early to say what impact the introduction of statutory MIAMs has had on referral numbers but anecdotally we have heard from mediators and the judiciary that referrals are increasing and the message is getting through to the public.

Family mediation is not regulated by this Department but legal aid remains available for mediation for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

Prisoners

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Kirkham spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available; [201816]

(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Brixton spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available; [201814]

(3) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Birmingham spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available; [201815]

(4) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Erlestoke spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available. [201896]

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Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Belmarsh spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available; [201820]

(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Wellingborough spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available; [201817]

(3) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Wetherby spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available; [201818]

(4) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Warrington spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available; [201819]

(5) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Whatton spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data are available. [201821]

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Blantyre House spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data are available; [201988]

(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Bedford spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data are available; [201990]

(3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Aylesbury spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data are available. [201991]

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.

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in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.

Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf

The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many incidents of assault there were against prison staff at HM Prison Oakwood in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14; [201176]

(2) how many incidents of assault there were against prison staff at HM Prison Featherstone in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14; [201177]

(3) how many incidents of assault against prison staff at HM Prison Brinsford there were (a) in 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14; [201180]

(4) how many incidents of assault there were against prison staff within the boundaries of prisons in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [201306]

Jeremy Wright: We do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison and take any instance extremely seriously. We are working closely with the police and CPS to develop a new joint approach to report crimes in prison—this includes pushing for prosecutions when our staff are attacked. We are comprehensively reviewing how we

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manage violence in prisons to introduce further improvements to ensure prisons are safer places for everyone.

The number of assault on staff incidents at each establishment is published annually in the Safety in Custody Statistics bulletin. The latest figures are in Table 3.15 of the Assaults in Prison Custody 2002-13 tables which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics-quarterly-update-to-december-2013

Figures for the number of assault on staff incidents in prisons in England and Wales are published in the main Safety in Custody bulletin, also found at the link provided. These national figures are published quarterly with the latest bulletin covering calendar years. The next publication on 31 July 2014 will cover periods April to March.

Prisons: Employment

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison (a) Hull, (b) Holloway, (c) Hollesley Bay and (d) Hindley spent (i) in cells and (ii) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of prisoners in each such prison were classed as unemployed on the most recent date for which data are available. [201847]

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.

Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully whilst they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.

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and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.

Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf

The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Probation Trusts

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent on non-disclosure or compromise agreements for former employees of probation trusts since 1 January 2014. [201230]

Jeremy Wright: There have been no non-disclosure or compromise agreements included as part of the departure packages of the trust chief executives who have taken early retirement. The terms of departure for other former trust staff were agreed through their own local arrangements.

Wellingborough Prison

Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) if he will meet the hon. Member for Wellingborough to discuss HMP Wellingborough; [200825]

(2) if he will reopen HMP Wellingborough to increase prison capacity; [200826]

(3) what decisions he has made about the future of HMP Wellingborough. [200827]

Jeremy Wright: As this Government have made clear, we will not take any steps to dispose of the mothballed HM Prison Wellingborough because it is a sensible measure to retain reserve capacity. I have no immediate plans to change that status.

My office will be in touch to arrange a meeting to discuss this matter further.

Treasury

Carbon Emissions

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the savings to the public purse of reductions in carbon emissions leading to a low carbon economy. [200653]

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Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The Climate Change Act (2008) commits the UK to reducing emissions of GHGs and the accompanying Impact Assessment sets out that within the context of global efforts to limit climate change the benefits to the UK will be greater than the costs. However, the Department has not made specific estimates of the savings to the public purse from a move to a low carbon economy as the precise fiscal impact of carbon emission reductions will depend on the mix of policies used.

For this reason individual assessments of the fiscal impacts of policies have been made and published where appropriate. In addition, it is worth noting that in the coalition Agreement, the Government committed to increase the proportion of tax revenue accounted for by environmental taxes.

Child Benefit

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether hours of care during overnight stays and holidays are included in calculations of payments to recipients of child benefit. [201836]

Mr Gauke: Child benefit is a payment in recognition of the costs of bringing up a child. It is paid at the weekly standard rates of £20.50 for the eldest or only child and £13.55 for each additional child.

Child Benefit: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Warrington North constituency are in receipt of child benefit at the most recent date for which figures are available. [201740]

Mr Gauke: The latest information on the number of families receiving child benefit, by each parliamentary constituency, local authority and region is available in the HMRC snapshot publication “Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis. August 2013”. This can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/286668/Child_Benefit_statistics_ geographical_analysis_August_2013.pdf

Table 6 has this information by parliamentary constituency.

Children: Day Care

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to paragraph 5.43 of Delivering Tax-Free Childcare: the Government's response to the consultation on design and operation, published in March 2014, whether HM Revenue and Customs will (a) check declared earnings total and (b) run checks with the Department for Work and Pensions to confirm that parents have not begun claiming universal credit, for all parents reconfirming their eligibility at the end of every quarterly entitlement period. [201846]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs will be able to check parents’ details via automated system checks in order to confirm that those who seek to reconfirm for Tax-Free Childcare remain eligible for the scheme.

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Parents’ income will be checked against information HMRC holds. Automated links with DWP systems will tell HMRC which parents are claiming universal credit or have applied to do so.

The vast majority of checks will be automated and not require contact with the parent.

Dover Priory Station

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations HM Revenue and Customs has made to Mapeley regarding the sale of a portion of land on the western perimeter of the Priory Court site, Dover, to allow Network Rail to construct new parking facilities for Dover Priory railway station. [201484]

Mr Gauke: Previous replies have explained that further discussions in relation to Priory Court in Dover are a matter for Mapeley who own the land. While HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) occupy the property under the STEPS contracts and will consider any reasonable proposals, resolution of commercial considerations is for Network Rail and Mapeley.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Mapeley Group paid for the estate at Proxy Court, Dover; and where the company which paid for the estate is based. [201922]

Mr Gauke: Previous replies have explained that the Department's freehold interest in the site at Priory Court, Dover (also know as Custom House) was sold to Mapeley Limited as part of the STEPS contract in 2001. When the Department sold the properties, a price was paid based on the value of the whole estate, not individual properties.

The question of ownership of former HMRC properties (now owned by Mapeley STEPS Ltd) is dealt with in the Public Accounts Committee's Thirty Second report, "HM Revenue and Customs' estate private finance deal eight years on", which was published on 8 April 2010.

Infrastructure

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have invested in national infrastructure as a percentage share of gross domestic product in each year since 2000. [201660]

Danny Alexander: The Government do not publish outturn or forecast data for expenditure on infrastructure projects as a proportion of GDP.

The Office for Budget Responsibility publishes historical data on public sector gross investment (PSGI) as a percentage of GDP—this can be accessed at the following address:

http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/pubs/PSF_aggregates_databank_Jun_2014.xls

Further information on infrastructure investment can be found in the National Infrastructure Plan 2013, which is available on the Infrastructure UK website.

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Interest Rate Swap Transactions

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all participating banks completed all customer review assessments for the sale of interest rate hedging products by the deadline set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); and what (a) fines and (b) other measures the FCA plans to impose on banks which missed the deadline. [201895]

Andrea Leadsom: All nine participating banks have now completed their assessment of customers that joined the FCA review of interest rate hedging products before March 2014. This is within the projected FCA time scale.

Unemployment: Young People

Mark Durkan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of youth unemployment in the UK of the tourism VAT rate. [201704]

Mr Gauke: No specific assessment has been made of the effect on the level of youth unemployment in the UK of the current levels of VAT that apply to the tourism sector.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Qualifications

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants have been sponsored to undertake an MBA or other business qualifications in the last five years; and how many such people passed such a qualification. [201876]

Mr Maude: The information requested is not held centrally.

Government Departments: Trade Unions

Hywel Williams: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will retract his request to Government

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Departments to end check-off payroll deductions for trades union subscriptions. [202194]

Mr Maude: Departments are required to recover the cost of check off.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave during Cabinet Office Orals on 25 June 2014, Official Report, column 302W, to the right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East (Mr Brown).

Pancreatic Cancer

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the recent trends have been in survival rates for pancreatic cancer. [201701]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Health what the recent trends have been in survival rates for pancreatic cancer (201701).

ONS publish one- and five-year cancer survival estimates for England, for a range of cancers including pancreatic cancer.

The latest one- and five-year survival estimates available are for persons diagnosed in 2007-2011 and followed up to 2012. These are provided in Table 1, with figures for each preceding period back to 2000-2004, with follow-up to 2005.

Although pancreatic cancer survival estimates prior to the period 2000-2004 are available, these are not in a consistent time series so have not been included in Table 1.

The latest published figures on cancer survival in England are available on the National Statistics website at:

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/cancer-survival/index.html

The Office for National Statistics produces statistics on cancer in England. The Scottish Cancer- Registry produces statistics on cancer in Scotland. Statistics on cancer in Wales are produced by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit. The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry produces statistics on "cancer" in Northern Ireland.

Table 1: One and five-year age-standardised net survival estimates (percentage), for pancreatic cancer, males and females in England: Patients diagnosed 2000-04, followed up to 2005 to patients diagnosed 2007-11, followed up to 2012^{1, 2, 3, 4}
Period of diagnosis and follow up		One-year relative survival (percentage)	Five-year relative survival (percentage)
2000-04, followed up to 2005, England	Male	14.5	2.7
	Female	14.9	2.4

2001-06, followed up to 2007, England	Male	15.3	2.8
	Female	15.9	3.1

2003-07, followed up to 2008, England	Male	16.2	3.1
	Female	17.3	3.3

2004-08, followed up to 2009, England	Male	16.7	3.8
	Female	18.5	3.4

2005-09, followed up to 2010, England	Male	17.4	3.6

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	Female	19.1	3.8

2006-10, followed up to 2011, England	Male	18.0	3.9
	Female	19.6	4.4

2007-11, followed up to 2012, England	Male	18.8	4.7
	Female	20.7	5.4
¹ As cancer survival varies with the age at diagnosis, the relative rates for all ages (15 to 99) have been age-standardised to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time, thus making them comparable with previously published figures. ² When age-standardised survival estimates cannot be provided, the un-standardised estimate is provided instead, in italics. ^{3 2} Pancreatic cancer is defined as C25 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10). ⁴ Adult patients aged 15 to 99.

Performance Appraisal

Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14. [202049]

Mr Maude: Performance ratings have not been finalised for Cabinet Office staff for 2013-14.

International Development

Developing Countries: National Income

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target that by 2030 countries progressively introduce broader measures of progress beyond gross domestic product into national accounting, with supportive statistical capacity building in developing countries in Open Working Group negotiations on the sustainable development goals. [201425]

Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK supports the target that by 2030 countries progressively introduce broader measures of progress beyond gross domestic product into national accounting, with supportive statistical capacity building in developing countries. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

Sustainable Development

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to substantially strengthen capacities for data collection and statistical analysis relevant to sustainable development by 2020 with a focus on generating timely and high-quality data disaggregated, as appropriate, by income, age, race, ethnicity and rural urban location in Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals. [201865]

Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK supports the target to, by 2020, substantially strengthen capacities for data collection and statistical analysis relevant to sustainable development with a focus on generating timely and high-quality data disaggregated, as appropriate, by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, and rural/urban location. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to ensure that adequate policy space is given to developing countries by the international organisations to establish and implement their policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development in Open Working Group negotiations on the sustainable development goals. [201890]

Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK agrees with the importance of ensuring that developing countries design and own national policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development. Language on the adequate policy space is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

Work and Pensions

Child Support

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether hours of care during overnight stays and holidays are included in calculations of payments to recipients of child support. [201837]

26 Jun 2014 : Column 319W

Steve Webb: Where the Child Support Agency or Child Maintenance Service work out how much maintenance should be paid, a reduction can apply where parents share the care of a child.

For a reduction in the amount of child maintenance to be considered, a paying parent must provide overnight care for the child in the case for at least 52 nights per year. Overnight care can take place on a weekly basis, or in blocks of nights/weeks.

Children: Day Care

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 344W, on children: day care, what assumptions on the number of families claiming support for childcare in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18 and (d) 2018-19 have been built into the universal credit programme. [201909]

Steve Webb: We announced our plans for the implementation of universal credit on 5 December, and these were set out in a written ministerial statement. The WMS can be found here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131205/wmstext/131205m0001 .htm#13120551000006

Official statistics on universal credit were most recently published on 11 June and can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-statistics-apr-2013-to-31-march-2014

Children: Maintenance

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects his Department to have closed all outstanding Child Support Agency cases. [201808]

Steve Webb: The process of closing Child Support Agency cases begins in 2014 and the current planning assumption is that it will take around three years to complete.

Council Tax Benefits

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) East Midlands and (d) the UK received council tax benefit in each of the last five years. [201708]

Steve Webb: Most of the information requested is published and available for each month from November 2008 to February 2013 and can be found in Table 10 of the publication at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-benefit-and-council-tax-benefit-caseload-statistics-published-from-november-2008-to-present

Council tax benefit (CTB) was replaced in April 2013 by the local council tax reduction scheme and in England the Department for Communities and Local Government is now responsible for these statistics. The Scottish and Welsh Governments have similar responsibility.

26 Jun 2014 : Column 320W

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

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

The information requested for Ashfield parliamentary constituency is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However a parliamentary constituency breakdown for CTB was produced as a one-off exercise for January 2011 and this is published at:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107093842/http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hb_ctb_parlc_jan11.xls

Employment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the comparative employment outcomes of people in receipt of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement. [201892]

Esther McVey: 720,000 more people are now being supported to prepare or look for work as a result of the incapacity benefit reassessment process.

The structure of employment and support allowance provides much more support than the incapacity benefit regime to those who it is reasonable to expect to take steps to return to work.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 628W, on the employment and support allowance, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the recent Mind report entitled Fulfilling Potential? ESA and the fate of the Work-Related Activity Group. [201857]

Esther McVey: Our Department is fully committed to providing personalised support for people with health conditions. Jobcentre Plus and the work programme are successfully helping claimants into work.

We are determined to do even more to help ESA claimants into work. We are trialling new approaches to extend our knowledge about what works and inform future policies.

We have set up the work programme building best practice group to help share what works and we are driving providers to improve performance for this group.

Our Disability and Health Employment Strategy also sets out a range of interventions to further shape positive attitudes, encourage employers to see the value of disabled people in the work force and better target support to where it will make the most impact.

Last year the Prime Minister launched the Disability Confident campaign which targeted over 1,100 local and national employers, aiming to increase their confidence in employing disabled people. We received hundreds of pledges from companies in their quest to improve employment outcomes for disabled people.

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Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the costs of administering employment and support allowance between 2014-15 and 2018-19. [201891]

Esther McVey: The Secretary of State has regular meetings with the Chancellor to discuss all departmental policies.

Home Visits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many home visits his Department made in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011, (d) 2012 and (e) 2013; and for which purposes; [201893]

(2) how many recipients of (a) employment and support allowance, (b) housing benefit, (c) income support and (d) jobseeker's allowance received a home visit in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2011, (iv) 2012 and (v) 2013. [201894]

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Esther McVey: Information is not available in the format requested and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the value of the average claim for housing benefit made by those (a) out of work, (b) self-employed and (c) employed was in each of the last five years; [198960]

(2) what the value was of housing benefit paid to claimants who were (a) out of work, (b) self-employed and (c) employed in each of the last five years; [198955]

(3) what proportion of housing benefit claimants were (a) out of work, (b) self-employed and (c) employed in each of the last five years. [198959]

Steve Webb: The available information is in the following tables:

Table 1: Housing benefit recipients by employment status: Great Britain, 2009-10 to 2013-14
Caseload (thousand)1
		Not in employment
As at September:	In employment	Receiving means-tested out of work benefits	Not receiving means-tested out of work benefits (pensioners and other working age)	Total	Proportion in employment (percentage)
2009	527	2,067	1,944	4,539	11.6
2010	702	2,142	1,953	4,797	14.6
2011	835	2,174	1,925	4,934	16.9
2012	934	2,227	1,880	5,041	18.5
2013	1,019	2,192	1,811	5,022	20.3

Table 2: Average housing benefit award by employment status: Great Britain, 2009-10 to 2013-14
£ (per week)
		Not in employment
As at September:	In employment	Receiving means-tested out of work benefits	Not receiving means-tested out of work benefits (pensioners and other working age)	Total
2009	76.54	92.01	71.62	81.58
2010	84.68	94.06	73.54	84.42
2011	86.92	96.08	76.64	87.01
2012	87.75	97.55	80.19	89.32
2013	89.51	95.87	82.64	89.87

Table 3: Housing benefit outturn expenditure by employment status: Great Britain, 2009-10 to 2013-14
£ million, real terms (2014-15 prices)
		Not in employment
	In employment	Receiving means-tested out of work benefits	Not receiving means-tested out of work benefits (pensioners and other working age)	Total
2009-10	2,591	11,208	8,275	22,074
2010-11	3,438	11,460	8,161	23,060
2011-12	4,092	11,667	8,257	24,016
2012-13	4,558	11,965	8,335	24,858

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26 Jun 2014 : Column 324W

2013-14	4,958	11,383	8,122	24,462
Notes: 1. In employment expenditure is based on instances where either the claimant or their partner has recorded earnings (which could be part-time or full-time) including pensioners, estimated using administrative data from local authority systems. 2. A small number of claimants on passported benefits who receive housing benefit may also be working, or have a working partner. These claimants are not identified in the data. 3. “Out of work benefits” refer to income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance and income-based employment support allowance. 4. Annual expenditure is calculated using quarterly averages of claimant numbers and claim amounts, aligned to out-turn expenditure from local authority subsidy returns. 5. Total out-turn expenditure for 2013-14 an estimate, based on SHBE data and the 2012-13 out-turn expenditure; this is subject to revision as local authority subsidy returns are made. 6. Expenditure figures may differ from previous published figures due to a change in methodology and data sources. 7. Housing benefit caseload and average weekly amounts information can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) and local authority subsidy returns

It is important to note that the increase in the housing benefit caseload in employment is driven by a number of factors, including:

The overall increase in the number of households renting, whether or not in receipt of housing benefit.

Recession-related impacts such as previously unemployed HB claimants moving into work and losing eligibility to passported benefits but continuing to claim HB, where as a consequence of the complexity of the benefit system it is possible that in some cases these households may not have made a claim for HB had they not had a spell on out-of-work benefits. A key feature of universal credit is its smoothing of this type of transition.

The information requested for those who are self-employed is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information on numbers in employment do not include those housing benefit recipients whose claim is passported: that is those receiving income support, jobseeker’s allowance (income-based), employment and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit (guaranteed credit). This is unlikely to have a significant impact on the trends shown in the tables.

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