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.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the annual cost of imprisoning foreign national offenders in UK prisons has been in each of the last three years. [202470]

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not calculate separately the annual cost of imprisoning foreign nationals in England and Wales. NOMS does not analyse cost by prisoner nationality, as costs recorded on the NOMS central accounting system do not allow identification of costs attributable to holding individual prisoners.

All prison costs for Scotland and Northern Ireland are a devolved matter and the responsibility of the relevant Minister.

Prisoners: Iraq

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to achieve a prisoner transfer agreement between Iraq and the UK; and what steps he is taking to achieve a prisoner transfer agreement between Iraq and the UK with regard to Danny Fitzsimons. [202224]

Jeremy Wright: The negotiation of a prisoner transfer agreement between the United Kingdom and Iraq is at an advanced stage. Officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in discussion with the Iraqi authorities and we hope to finalise the agreement at the earliest possible opportunity. Once in place British nationals imprisoned in Iraq and Iraqi nationals imprisoned here, will be able to serve their sentences in their own country. Given the security situation in Iraq, we have reminded the Iraqi Government of their important duty of care for foreign nationals held in their prisons and have asked for urgent advice on their contingency planning.

Prisons: Business

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the planned timetable is for each prison in England and Wales to achieve Steady State under the systems introduced under the new Business Development Gateway programme; and if he will make a statement. [202080]

30 Jun 2014 : Column 397W

Jeremy Wright: The timetable for each prison to achieve Steady State is shown in the following tables. Arrangements are in place by which region Deputy Directors Custody (DDC) may recommend an earlier date to the Director of Public Sector Prisons.

Benchmarking Phase 1
EstablishmentSteady State Date

Bedford

31 March 2015

Bristol

31 March 2015

Brixton

31 March 2015

Bullingdon

31 March 2015

Bure

31 March 2015

Cardiff

31 March 2015

Channings Wood

31 March 2015

Chelmsford

31 March 2015

Coldingley

31 March 2015

Dartmoor

31 March 2015

Durham

31 March 2015

Erlestoke

31 March 2015

Exeter

31 March 2015

Featherstone

31 March 2015

Guys Marsh

31 March 2015

Haverigg

31 March 2015

Hewell

31 March 2015

High Down

31 March 2015

Highpoint (North and South)

31 March 2015

Holme House

31 March 2015

Hull

31 March 2015

Huntercombe

31 March 2015

Kennet

31 March 2015

Leeds

31 March 2015

Leicester

31 March 2015

Lewes

31 March 2015

Lincoln

31 March 2015

Liverpool

31 March 2015

Maidstone

31 March 2015

Mount, The

31 March 2015

Norwich

30 March 2015

Nottingham

31 March 2015

Onley

31 March 2015

Pentonville

31 March 2015

Preston

31 March 2015

Ranby

31 March 2015

Risley

31 March 2015

Rochester

31 March 2015

Stafford

31 March 2015

Stocken

31 March 2015

Stoke Heath

31 March 2015

Swansea

31 March 2015

Usk/Prescoed

31 March 2015

Wandsworth

31 March 2015

Wayland

31 March 2015

Wealstun

31 March 2015

Whatton

31 March 2015

Winchester

31 March 2015

Wormwood Scrubs

31 March 2015

Wymott

31 March 2015

Benchmarking Phase 2
EstablishmentSteady State Date

Askham Grange

31 March 2016

Aylesbury

31 March 2016

Belmarsh

31 March 2016

Blantyre House

31 March 2016

Brinsford

31 March 2016

Cookham Wood

31 March 2016

30 Jun 2014 : Column 398W

Deerbolt

31 March 2016

Downview

31 March 2016

Drake Hall

31 March 2016

East Sutton Park

31 March 2016

Eastwood Park

31 March 2016

Elmley

31 March 2016

Feltham

31 March 2016

Ford

31 March 2016

Foston Hall

31 March 2016

Frankland

31 March 2016

Full Sutton

31 March 2016

Garth

31 March 2016

Gartree

31 March 2016

Glen Parva

31 March 2016

Hatfield

31 March 2016

Hindley

31 March 2016

Hollesley Bay

31 March 2016

Holloway

31 March 2016

Isis

31 March 2016

Isle of Wight (Albany, Parkhurst)

31 March 2016

Kirkham

31 March 2016

Kirklevington Grange

31 March 2016

Lancaster Farms

31 March 2016

Leyhill

31 March 2016

Lindholme

31 March 2016

Littlehey

31 March 2016

Long Lartin

31 March 2016

Low Newton

31 March 2016

Manchester

31 March 2016

Moorland

31 March 2016

New Hall

31 March 2016

North Sea Camp

31 March 2016

Portland

31 March 2016

Send

31 March 2016

Spring Hill/Grendon

31 March 2016

Standford Hill

31 March 2016

Styal

31 March 2016

Sudbury

31 March 2016

Swaleside

31 March 2016

Swinfen Hall

31 March 2016

Thorn Cross

31 March 2016

Wakefield

31 March 2016

Warren Hill

31 March 2016

Werrington

31 March 2016

Wetherby

31 March 2016

Whitemoor

31 March 2016

Woodhill

31 March 2016

Prisons: Employment

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison (a) Blundeston, (b) Brinsford, (c) Bristol, (d) Bullingdon and (e) Bullwood Hall spent in (i) cells and (ii) working. [201811]

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.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 399W

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 front-line 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.

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 number 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, available at:

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.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many training places and work-related experience places have been provided by the ONE3ONE Solutions, since it replaced the Prison Industries Unit, in each prison in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [202082]

Jeremy Wright: Information is not collected and recorded to identify separately prisoner training and work-related places specifically attributed to ONE3ONE Solutions at each prison in England and Wales. To provide the information requested would incur disproportionate

30 Jun 2014 : Column 400W

cost as it would need to be extracted from different management information systems including local and central records, quality checked, recorded and formatted.

Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure that 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.

We are committed to increasing the number of prisoners working. The number of prisoners working in workshops in public sector prisons rose significantly from 8,600 at the end of 2010-11 to 9,700 at the end of 2012-13. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they provided work for some 1,200 prisoners in 2012-13.

This work does not include the large number of jobs prisoners undertake such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning that contributes to the upkeep of prisons and helps offset the cost of imprisonment.

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

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

Prisons: Libraries

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many books are in each prison library. [202002]

Jeremy Wright: The requested information is not held centrally and would need to be collated through inquiries at each prison and with each prison library provider in England and Wales. This would incur disproportionate cost.

Risley Prison

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Risley spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years. [202152]

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.

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. Figures for time in cell for the year 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

30 Jun 2014 : Column 401W

work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.

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 number 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, available at:

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.

Secure Colleges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the success criteria against which the secure college pathfinder will be evaluated. [202533]

30 Jun 2014 : Column 402W

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice is developing a robust monitoring and evaluation strategy for the Secure College Pathfinder. This will ensure that the most appropriate methods for measuring the performance of the Secure College Pathfinder are in place.

Detail relating to performance measures against which the Secure College Pathfinder’s construction and operation providers’ performance will be measured will be contained within their individual contracts, which will be published on Contract Finder in due course.

Youth Custody

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children aged between (a) 10 and 12, (b) 13 and 14 and (c) 15 and 17 years were held in each secure training centre and secure children's home in each year since May 2010. [202534]

Jeremy Wright: Informed by advice from local youth offending teams, the Youth Justice Board places young people who are remanded or sentenced to custody in the secure establishment most appropriate to their needs.

The spreadsheet shows the average number of children and young people aged between (a) 10 and 12, (b) 13 and 14 and (c) 15 and 17 held in each secure training centre and secure children's home in each year since 2009-10 (April to March).

The 2013-14 figures will be published in the 2013-14 Youth Justice Statistics in January 2015.

These 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 and can be subject to change over time.

Average number of young people in each Secure Children's Home and Secure Training Centre by age group, 2009-10 to 2012-13
Accommodation typeEstablishmentAge group2009-102010-112011-122012-13

Secure children’s homes

Aldine House

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

1

1

1

1

 

 

15 to 17

2

3

3

2

 

Total

 

4

4

4

3

       
 

Atkinson Unit

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

1

0

0

0

 

 

15 to 17

3

0

0

0

 

Total

 

3

0

0

0

       
 

Ayliffe Young People's Centre

10 to 12

1

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

11

7

9

5

 

 

15 to 17

10

16

15

12

 

Total

 

22

23

24

17

       
 

Barton Moss Secure Unit

10 to 12

1

1

1

1

 

 

13 to 14

8

7

4

5

 

 

15 to 17

8

9

13

11

 

Total

 

17

17

19

17

       
 

Beechfield

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

0

0

0

0

30 Jun 2014 : Column 403W

30 Jun 2014 : Column 404W

 

 

15 to 17

1

0

0

0

 

Total

 

1

0

0

0

       
 

Clayfields House

10 to 12

0

1

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

6

8

5

4

 

 

15 to 17

5

5

9

9

 

Total

 

11

13

14

13

       
 

East Moor

10 to 12

1

1

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

14

8

9

8

 

 

15 to 17

13

19

14

13

 

Total

 

28

28

23

21

       
 

Hillside

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

3

3

4

3

 

 

15 to 17

12

12

11

12

 

Total

 

15

15

15

15

       
 

Kyloe House

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

1

1

0

0

 

 

15 to 17

1

0

0

0

 

Total

 

2

1

0

0

       
 

Leverton Secure Unit

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

0

0

0

0

 

 

15 to 17

0

0

0

0

 

Total

 

0

0

0

0

       
 

Lincolnshire Secure Unit

10 to 12

1

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

4

2

3

2

 

 

15 to 17

4

6

6

7

 

Total

 

8

9

9

9

       
 

Orchard Lodge

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

1

0

0

0

 

 

15 to 17

1

0

0

0

 

Total

 

2

0

0

0

       
 

Red Bank Community Home

10 to 12

1

1

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

8

7

8

4

 

 

15 to 17

16

16

19

13

 

Total

 

25

24

26

16

       
 

Sutton Place

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

0

0

0

0

 

 

15 to 17

1

0

0

0

 

Total

 

1

0

0

0

       
 

Swanwick Lodge

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

5

4

4

5

 

 

15 to 17

5

7

7

6

 

Total

 

10

11

11

11

       

30 Jun 2014 : Column 405W

30 Jun 2014 : Column 406W

 

Vinney Green

10 to 12

1

0

0

1

 

 

13 to 14

6

8

8

6

 

 

15 to 17

12

11

12

13

 

Total

 

19

19

20

20

       
 

All secure children's homes

10 to 12

6

5

3

2

 

 

13 to 14

69

56

55

43

 

 

15 to 17

92

105

109

98

 

Total

 

167

165

166

142

       

Secure training centres

Hassockfield STC

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

7

4

2

1

 

 

15 to 17

36

39

48

38

 

Total

 

42

43

50

40

       
 

Medway

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

19

11

9

6

 

 

15 to 17

44

57

63

62

 

Total

 

63

68

72

68

       
 

Oakhill STC

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

19

12

11

8

 

 

15 to 17

53

65

65

64

 

Total

 

72

77

75

72

       
 

Rainsbrook

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

13

11

9

6

 

 

15 to 17

62

66

73

67

 

Total

 

75

77

82

73

       
 

All secure training centres

10 to 12

0

0

0

0

 

 

13 to 14

58

38

31

22

 

 

15 to 17

196

226

249

231

 

Total

 

253

264

280

253

Notes: 1. These figures are averages of 12-monthly snapshots of the custodial population in the secure estate for children and young people, taken on the last Friday of the month or first Friday of the following month, depending on which is nearer to the actual month end. 2. The data only represents those young people placed by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales into secure children's homes (SCHs) and secure training centres (STCs). Some young people are placed in SCHs under welfare grounds and are not included in this data. Some of the SCHs in the table do not or never have had beds commissioned by the YJB, though the YJB is able to spot purchase beds from welfare establishments when the need arises. 3. Numbers may not sum due to rounding. 4. The information comes from the YJB's Secure Accommodation Clearing House System (SACHS) database and eAsset database. Information from April 2012 comes from the YJB's eAsset database which replaced the SACHS database for placing young people in custody. 5. These 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 and can be subject to change over time.

Communities and Local Government

Local Authority Funding

21. Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the spending power of local authorities in relation to the level of demand for their statutory services. [904524]

Brandon Lewis: Councils are responsible for balancing their budgets, and every one of them issued a balanced budget for 2014-15. We have increased councils' flexibility by removing ring fencing from many local government grants. This gives them freedom to work with their residents to decide how best to meet on local priorities.

Council Tax Freeze

22. Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the effect on local authorities of the freeze on council tax. [904526]

Brandon Lewis: Council tax freeze funding has helped cut council tax by 11% in real terms since 2010. We have made £5.2 billion available to support councils who freeze, and built funding into the spending review baseline.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 407W

Social Housing: Rent Arrears

Mr Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of rent arrears in social housing. [904521]

Stephen Williams: According to the Homes and Communities Agency, at the end of 2013-14 the average level of rent arrears among larger housing associations was 3.6%, an improvement from 4.1% over the previous quarter.

Accommodation Agencies

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the average lettings agency fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector (a) at the start of a new tenancy and (b) when a tenancy is renewed. [202249]

Kris Hopkins: My Department has not made its own estimate of the average lettings agency fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector but has taken note of the figures reported by independent organisations, such as the Office of Fair Trading, Shelter and Which.

The Government are currently legislating through the Consumer Rights Bill to ensure there is full transparency on fees charged by all letting agencies, ending hidden fees. By contrast, I would observe that the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has commented that the policy proposals of HM Opposition on fees would harm tenants, as it would lead to:

“increases in rents to cover the additional costs visited upon landlords”

and a

“reduction in supply”

(RICS, Letting agent fees for tenants: a tale of two amendments, 15 May 2014).

Care Homes

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to support (a) public sector and (b) private sector provision of extra care housing facilities for older people; and if he will make a statement. [202382]

Kris Hopkins: The Department of Health is providing £315 million over five years for the Care and Support Specialised Housing fund. The fund is administered by the Homes and Communities Agency and, within London, by the Greater London Authority. The main aim of the fund is to support and accelerate the development of the specialised housing market for older people and disabled adults, which includes extra care housing for older people. The successful bids for Phase 1 of the fund were announced last year and will deliver over 3,500 affordable homes. The prospectus for Phase 2 should be published later this year. Phase 2 will build on the earlier phase and will seek to include developments which work across sectors to deliver more specialised housing.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 408W

Extra care housing for older people is also funded through the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Affordable Homes Programme. The allocations made outside London for the current 2011-15 programme include funding for over 1,100 extra care homes. In addition, extra care schemes are eligible for investment through the range of private sector investment programmes run through the Homes and Communities Agency; for example the Builders Finance Fund and Build To Rent. Details can be found on the Agency’s website:

http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/ourwork

Allocations for the 2015-18 Affordable Homes Programme are expected to be announced in July.

Older people have a wide range of different housing needs, ranging from suitable and appropriately located market housing through to residential institutions. On 6 March, we published our planning guidance, which contains guidance on assessing housing need, and requires local councils to consider housing for the elderly against their housing requirement. The guidance requires plan makers to consider the size, location and quality of dwellings needed in the future for older people, which will be clearly set out in the Local Plan. We are clear that local councils and mainstream housing providers need to start taking older people’s housing far more seriously and increase the quality, choice and provision of housing for older people.

Combined Authorities: North East

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to exercise his oversight role in relation to the North East Combined Authority and its scrutiny arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [904525]

Brandon Lewis: The Order setting up the combined authority requires that authority to have one or more overview and scrutiny committees.

We have written to the councils concerned making clear we expect their combined authority to follow best practice on scrutiny, including that the membership of scrutiny committees should reflect the political balance of the councils. The letter can be found online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-leaders-of-the-combined-authority-for-the-area-of-durham-northumberland-and-tyne-and-wear

We have also consulted recently on proposals to make it a legislative requirement for a combined authority's scrutiny committee to be balanced in this way. The consultation closed on 24 June and we are now considering the responses. The consultation is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposals-to-amend-legislation-relating-to-combined-authorities-and-economic-prosperity-boards.

Educational Testing Service

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies holds with the Educational Testing Service or its subsidiaries. [202241]

Brandon Lewis: None.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 409W

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what military assets have been deployed in which locations in accordance with the Home Office Model Response plans during recent periods of strike action called by the Fire Brigades Union; [201938]

(2) what assessment he has made of the number of military pumps available in England during each of the Fire Brigades Union strikes in 2013-14; where each pump was located; and whether each such pump was deployed. [201939]

Brandon Lewis: Pumping appliances crewed by Ministry of Defence personnel have been deployed at various defence locations during the strike action by the Fire Brigades Union. These are sited after consultation with the chief fire and rescue adviser. Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for undertaking their own business continuity planning, and associated contingency arrangements.

No Ministry of Defence resources have been mobilised in England during the last 14 periods of strike action.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will publish his assessment of the robustness of resilience arrangements in place during periods of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union in the event of strikes of duration greater than 24 hours. [201940]

Brandon Lewis: The responsibility for the preparation of business continuity plans to deal with industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union rests with individual fire and rescue authorities. Fire and rescue authorities’ business continuity plans have performed well in the last 14 periods of strike action by the Fire Brigades Union, including the 24-hour strike on 12 June. We expect them to perform well in any periods of longer duration.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many crew were available in each fire and rescue authority area during the 24-hour strike on 12 June 2014; and how many crew are available in each area on non-strike days; [202133]

(2) if he will publish his Department’s risk assessment of the potential under-resourcing of fire and rescue services during strike action; [202132]

(3) if he will publish his assessment of the workability of the protocol agreed between his Department and the Fire Brigades Union on recall to duty in the event of a major incident or national disaster. [202134]

Brandon Lewis: The levels of crewing available for each authority, whether or not during periods of strike action, are dependent upon a number of factors. These include the duty system being worked locally, availability of on-call firefighters and, during strike periods, local contingency arrangements, which are the responsibility of each fire and rescue authority. The Department collects details of appliance availability from local fire and rescue authorities on a confidential basis. The

30 Jun 2014 : Column 410W

arrangements for business continuity planning during strike action are kept under review by the chief fire and rescue adviser.

The principles of the recall to duty protocol, published as National Joint Council for Fire and Rescue Services Circular NJC/09/13, were agreed between the chief fire and rescue adviser, the Fire Brigades Union and the National Employers. Appendix 1 applies to fire and rescue authorities in England and makes clear that the chief fire officers are responsible for arrangements locally, in accordance with their service’s major incident policies. I am confident that should there be a major disaster, striking firefighters would return to work.

Floods

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the contribution made by the Prime Minister of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 1116W, (1) what extra resource his Department will provide to deal with extended eligibility for claims made under the (a) council tax relief, (b) business rate relief, (c) business support relief, (d) repair and renewal grant and (e) severe weather recovery schemes; [201511]

(2) what assessment he has made of the cost of flooding damage to (a) householders and (b) small businesses in the UK from the beginning of the financial year 2013 which will become eligible for support under the (i) council tax relief, (ii) business rate relief, (iii) business support relief, (iv) repair and renewal grant and (v) severe weather recovery schemes; and what estimate he has made of the number of additional claims made under each such scheme as a result of this extended eligibility. [201512]

Brandon Lewis: I can confirm that this is under active consideration. My officials are currently assessing the impacts of flooding throughout the financial year 2013-14 and the likely costs of extending the recovery funding schemes.

Floods: Bournemouth

Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many requests from residents of Bournemouth East constituency for financial support following the winter flooding have been granted; and if he will make a statement. [201544]

Brandon Lewis: This Government have provided a range of financial support schemes to help individuals, businesses, farmers and local authorities return to normality after the winter's severe weather: these include council tax relief, business rate relief, the business support scheme, and repair and renew grants.

The Government deal with local authorities who administer support schemes on its behalf. It does not deal directly with residents and does not therefore hold information at constituency level in terms of requests for financial support that have been granted: that is a matter for the local authorities concerned. I can say, however, that Bournemouth borough council has received some £350,000 to repair local roads damaged by severe weather, a further £268,000 from the Department for Transport's Potholes Fund and my Department is aware that as at 25 June, the council has received 70 claims for

30 Jun 2014 : Column 411W

council tax relief totalling some £14,000, one claim for business rate relief and three applications from residents for repair and renew grant to help build better flood protection into their homes. The Government retrospectively reimburses councils for the costs incurred from their flood recovery schemes.

Housing: Thames Gateway

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses were built in each local authority area in the Thames Gateway in the last 15 years for which figures are available. [201951]

Kris Hopkins: Statistics on house building completions in each local authority district, including the local authorities in the Thames Gateway, are published in the Department’s live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:

http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the number of houses that could be built according to maximum local authority allocations on brownfield sites in each local authority in the Thames Gateway in each of the last 15 years for which figures are available. [201952]

Kris Hopkins: The requested information is not available centrally.

New Towns

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many expressions of interest in response to the locally led garden cities prospectus have been (a) received and (b) considered to date. [202543]

Kris Hopkins: Garden cities are not just housing developments: they are extremely complex infrastructure projects, and high quality proposals will take time to develop. We have had a number of positive informal discussions with localities in response to our locally led garden cities prospectus, published in April. We expect expressions of interest to be made formally once proposals are properly worked up.

Planning Permission

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he gives local authorities on assessing the infrastructure required for sites which are included in their site allocations process; and what steps he takes if local authorities do not adhere to that guidance. [202253]

Nick Boles: The National Planning Policy Framework and our planning guidance make clear that Local Plans should be supported by evidence to establish what level of infrastructure is needed to enable the development proposed for the area and how it will be delivered.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 412W

At examination, local authorities should justify their plan policies, including their deliverability over the plan period. Where an inspector concludes that there are fundamental issues regarding the soundness of the Plan, they will identify any conflicts between a draft local plan and national policy and regulatory process. They are able to recommend modifications to overcome these issues if they are asked to do so by the council itself.

Private Rented Housing

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 578W, on rent, what his policy is on developing rent review clauses which are index-linked to inflation in a model for longer-term tenancies in the private rented sector. [202546]

Kris Hopkins: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer to him of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 578W, which outlines the Government's policy and our opposition to the Labour party calls for rent controls.

Regeneration: Thames Gateway

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates the Thames Gateway Strategic Group has met since 2010. [201949]

Kris Hopkins: The Thames Gateway Strategic Group is a local authority led partnership that was set up by local authorities to provide strategic direction and targeted solutions to realise the area’s potential. Its Secretariat has confirmed that the Group met on the following dates:

2011: 16 February, 22 June, 7 September, 1 December

2012: 20 March, 9 July, 20 September, 20 December

2013: 19 March, 11 June, 22 October

No meetings of the Group have taken place in 2014 to date, but a meeting is provisionally scheduled for September.

Retail Trade: Change of Use

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what types of premises will be excluded from the wider retail use class announced in the Budget 2014; [202512]

(2) when he expects to consult on the review of the General Permitted Development Order announced in Budget 2014. [202542]

Nick Boles: We will consult in due course. The consultation will include proposals on the wider retail use class announced in the Budget 2014.

Valuation of Life and Health Interdepartmental Group

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what monetary thresholds were applied to the cost-per-quality adjusted life year quoted in the evidence submitted as part of his Department's work with the Inter-departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008; [202428]

30 Jun 2014 : Column 413W

(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's submission to the inter-departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review, including evidence submitted to the series of interviews with his Department's staff conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds and published in 2008; [201419]

(3) what the explicit monetary value per quality-adjusted life was in the context of the Fire and Resilience Directorate, as quoted as part of his Department's submission to the Inter-departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008. [202538]

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not held by my Department. I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), on 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 283W, which explains the historical context to this review under the last Administration.

International Development

Burma

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of UK aid to Burma is channelled through Burmese Government-approved organisations or mechanisms. [202347]

Mr Duncan: The UK does not provide funding directly to the Burmese Government. We publish details of which organisations receive DFID funding, and how much they have received, on the

www.gov.uk

Development Tracker.

Developing Countries: Disability

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people with disabilities her Department aims to reach with its development programmes. [201770]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID does not disaggregate programme data across our portfolio. Our objective is to integrate disability into wider programming and to influence partners to do more, and so the overall results largely depend on the nature of the social and economic reform programmes of partner governments.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in what ways her Department's work to give people in developing countries better access to financial services takes account of (a) lack of Braille facilities, (b) laws and practices discriminating against people with disabilities and (c) other barriers experienced by people with disabilities. [201771]

Lynne Featherstone: Our financial sector development programmes work to strengthen regulation, build infrastructure and improve financial capability to increase the access of poor people, including disadvantaged groups, to financial services that meet their needs.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 414W

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department's country offices are encouraged to seek the views and input of people with disabilities in the design and delivery of their programmes. [201772]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID recognises the importance of people with disabilities having influence in the programmes and decisions which affect them. In DFID country offices, stakeholder engagement and participation, including with people with disabilities, are a fundamental part of strategic decision making and programme management.

Developing Countries: Trade

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 promote an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that complies with the mandate for agriculture, services and non-agricultural products of the World Trade Organisation Doha Round and implements the outcomes of the World Trade Organisation Bali Declaration in Open Working Group negotiations on the sustainable development goals. [202219]

Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK supports a target to promote an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that complies with the mandate for agriculture, services and non-agricultural products of the World Trade Organisation Doha Round and implements the outcomes of the World Trade Organisation Bali Declaration. 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 UK is a firm supporter of an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system. The UK is using its influence within the WTO to push for an achievable and pro-development outcome of Doha Round negotiations, while also ensuring full and swift implementation of the WTO Bali agreements.

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 increase trade-related capacity-building assistance to developing countries, including support for building their capacity to meet product regulations and standards; and if she will take steps to enhance Aid for Trade initiatives through (a) the Enhanced Integrated Framework in the Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals and (b) other measures. [202225]

Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK supports the provision of trade-related capacity-building assistance to developing countries, and the importance of enhancing Aid for Trade commitments. Language on this 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.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 415W

Aid for Trade is a vital ingredient for helping developing countries build their capacity to trade. The UK spends around £1 billion annually on Aid for Trade, and DFID is working alongside other donors, multilateral organisations, and recipient countries, to enhance the effectiveness of Aid for Trade initiatives.

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.

Educational Testing Service

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what current contracts (a) her Department and (b) her Department's non-departmental public body hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries. [202172]

Lynne Featherstone: My Department has no current contracts with the Educational Testing Service or its subsidiaries.

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that there is greater equity across governments in donations to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations. [202200]

Lynne Featherstone: The UK is the largest donor to the GAVI Alliance with around 32% funding share during 2011-15. We wish to see the UK's donor share reduce and other donors share increase during the GAVI Alliance's 2016-20 strategic period. We are lobbying other donors to contribute their fair share ahead of the next replenishment pledging event in early 2015.

Marie Stopes International

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department plans to give to Marie Stopes International for (a) abortion, (b) family planning and (c) other reproductive health services in the next 12 months; what assessment she has made of the value for money of such expenditure since June 2011; and if she will make a statement. [201697]

Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development (DFID) will provide approximately £45.8 million to Marie Stopes International (MSI) during the period 2014-15. DFID adheres to Development Co-operation Directorate (OACD-DAC) expenditure coding requirements to allow comparison across donor spending towards attainment of the millennium development goal targets. This does not include the facility to calculate spend for individual components of sexual and reproductive health.

DFID assesses the value for money (VfM) of all its expenditure through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on an annual basis. Every project is subject to an annual review and a judgment is made as to whether the funding is achieving good VfM. More generally, investing in reproductive, maternal and newborn health is excellent value for money due to its low cost and far reaching benefits.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 416W

Tax Evasion

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 co-operate globally to reduce substantially international tax evasion and avoidance in the Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals. [202226]

Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK supports a target to co-operate globally to reduce substantially international tax evasion and avoidance. 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.

At last year’s Lough Erne G8 summit, leaders agreed to introduce a new international standard of automatic exchange of information to help countries combat tax evasion. We are working in the G20 to develop a roadmap that identifies obstacles to developing country participation in this new global standard. We are also working in the G20 to identify Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) issues most relevant to developing countries and to recommend actions to address them.

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.

Uganda

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking in response to the Ugandan anti-homosexuality act; and what steps she plans to take to encourage its repeal. [202545]

Lynne Featherstone: We have consistently raised concerns about the legislation with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels, and sought assurances on the protection of individuals. Most recently, the Secretary of State for International Development and the Minister for Africa raised the issue with the Ugandan President on 6 May. We will continue to press the Ugandan Government at the highest levels to defend human rights for all.

The UK suspended all Budget Support to the Government of Uganda in 2013 following the misappropriation of donor funds. After the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act we assessed our programme to ensure that UK aid was not being provided to organisations that proactively and publically promoted the legislation. Following this, the UK and other donors suspended funding to one organisation. We will continue to monitor this situation. We are also stepping up our support to human rights organisations that protect minority rights in Uganda.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Recruitment

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how the civil service fast stream programme is promoted to students in Northern Ireland. [201730]

30 Jun 2014 : Column 417W

Mr Maude: The civil service fast stream marketing team use the careers site, advertising campaigns, on-campus promotions and events and social media to promote the civil service's graduate development programme across the UK. The Northern Ireland civil service is a separate organisation from the home civil service and therefore employs graduates separately through the Northern Ireland fast stream.

In 2013 the fast stream marketing team used the free vacancy advertising service offered by the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast to promote fast stream opportunities. The fast stream programmes are also advertised on graduate recruitment websites with databases of over 700,000 students across the UK. Last October, fast stream representatives attended the Business and Finance Fair at Queen's University Belfast to generate awareness and attract talented students to the civil service.

Data Protection

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many assessments of (a) nuclear facilities and (b) other critical infrastructure have been undertaken against his Department’s information assurance maturity model; and if he will publish all such assessments undertaken since May 2010. [202073]

Mr Maude: There is ongoing work assessing and mitigating vulnerabilities in UK’s critical national infrastructure. Details of this work, including any assessments, are classified.

Progress against the National Cyber Security Strategy is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-cyber-security-strategy-statement-on-progress-2-years-on

Exports

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contribution intangible exports made to UK GDP in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [201813]

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 Minister for the Cabinet Office what contribution intangible exports made to UK GDP in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 [201813].

ONS measures UK exports of services. Exports of services cover a range of intangible products and activities and therefore will be the best estimate for intangible exports.

Export of services contribution to GDP growth is shown in Table 1 attached.

The underlying data can be found in ONS Quarterly National Accounts which is available on the ONS website at

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa2/quarterly-national-accounts/q1-2014/index.html

30 Jun 2014 : Column 418W

Annual UK export of services and contribution to GDP 2011 to 2013
Chained Volume Measure (Reference year 2010)
 Exports of services KTMT (£ million)Export of services growth (percentage)Gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices ABMI (£ million)GDP growth (percentage)Export of services Contribution to GDP growth (percentage)

2010

182,026

148,5616

2011

189,128

3.9

150,2216

1.1

0.5

2012

192,123

1.6

150,6388

0.3

0.2

2013

192,919

0.4

153,2652

1.7

0.1

Source: ONS Quarterly National Account 2014 Q1

Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 147W, on Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce, for what reasons the Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce has been reconstituted; what the terms of reference and mandate for the new taskforce are; what the membership of that taskforce is; and when the minutes of the reconstituted taskforce will be made available. [202553]

Mr Maude: Before 2010 there was no co-ordinated action to tackle fraud, error and debt across Government despite the significant losses to the Exchequer. In 2011 alone the Annual Fraud Indicator estimated Government annual losses from fraud and error were over £30 billion. It is also estimated that between £7 billion and £8 billion per annum is lost through debts owed to Government not being pursued.

This Government established the first cross-departmental taskforce to address this issue after the last general election. In 2012-13 the Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce reported savings and improved performance in detecting and preventing fraud and error of £6.5 billion, and is overseeing initiatives to improve debt collection. Despite this progress, we know there’s much more to do. The reconstituted taskforce is chaired jointly by the Cabinet Secretary and myself, and attended by senior Ministers and permanent secretaries, supported by industry sector experts, to ensure there is full alignment towards further reducing fraud and error losses and improving debt collection in benefits and tax credits.

As was the case under previous Administrations, minutes of internal meetings are not usually disclosed.

Government Departments: Databases

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was saved as a result of digitising data records in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [201677]

Mr Maude: The Government announced digital and IT savings of £0.3 billion for 2010-11, £0.2 billion for 2011-12, and £0.5 billion for 2012-13, against a 2009-10 baseline.

We don't hold full details of the discrete savings made by Departments in digitising their data records.

30 Jun 2014 : Column 419W

Government Departments: ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what audit he has made of (a) ICL mainframes, (b) IBM mainframes and (c) other legacy ICT systems in Government Departments and the availability of skills needed to maintain them; and when each relevant maintenance contract falls due. [202463]

Mr Maude: Government Digital Service (GDS) has worked to identify legacy IT equipment, which includes a small number of important legacy IBM and ICL mainframes. To ensure these are effectively managed Government are creating a Crown Hosting Service, which is due to go live next year.

In many cases Departments are locked into contracts signed over 10 years ago, by the previous Administration, which means they are dependent on suppliers to manage these systems.

GDS is supporting Departments to bring in new skilled officials to address a long-standing lack of digital skills.

Heart Diseases

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people died of congenital heart

30 Jun 2014 : Column 420W

disease below the age of 40 years in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last 15 years. [202131]

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 question asking how many people died of congenital heart disease below the age of 40 in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last 15 years. (202131)

Table 1 provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons below the age of 40 for each region in England for the years 1998 to 2012 (the latest year available).

Table 2 provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons below the age of 40 in each constituent country of the UK for the years 1998 to 2012.

Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are published by National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency respectively.

The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and underlying cause, are published annually on the ONS website at:

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-27475

Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons under the age of 40, English regions, deaths registered between 1998 and 20121,2,3
Deaths (persons)
Registration YearNorth EastNorth WestYorkshire and The HumberEast MidlandsWest MidlandsEast of EnglandLondonSouth EastSouth West

1998

16

36

30

26

27

32

56

34

27

1999

8

36

36

27

20

37

57

38

13

2000

13

33

36

23

25

34

46

37

22

2001

10

45

24

30

26

27

42

31

19

2002

15

30

43

16

23

22

28

36

17

2003

8

25

28

24

27

30

31

43

13

2004

11

28

31

24

28

29

33

32

17

2005

8

49

39

15

25

18

41

33

31

2006

5

27

23

15

26

18

29

34

21

2007

6

20

32

23

30

15

39

36

18

2008

5

33

20

19

25

12

27

22

13

2009

10

27

33

23

27

12

32

33

23

2010

7

40

31

20

20

18

32

18

15

2011

7

21

29

17

22

20

34

20

20

2012

9

30

23

28

29

22

28

17

10

1 Congenital heart disease was the underlying cause of death defined using the International Classification of Disease, ninth revision (ICD 9) from 1998-2000; and the tenth revision (ICD 10) from 2001. See Box 1 and Box 2 for the ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes. 2 Figures are based on boundaries as at May 2014 and exclude deaths of non-residents 3 Figures are based on deaths registered rather than deaths occurring in a calendar year. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html