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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Scotland

Postal Services: Competition

8. Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on postal services in Scotland of competition between providers. [904535]

Mr Alistair Carmichael: Ofcom, as the UK’s independent regulator for postal services, has a duty to monitor any impacts of market competition on the provision of the universal service in Scotland. Ofcom has the power to intervene if the service is deemed to be at risk.

Passport Applications

9. Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to provide compensation for people in Scotland who have lost out financially as a result of delayed passport applications. [904536]

David Mundell: Her Majesty’s Passport Office is dealing with the highest demand for passports in 12 years and the overwhelming majority of people continue to receive their new passports within three or four weeks. But we recognise that a number of people are having to wait too long.

On 12 June, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), announced a series of additional measures to ensure people and families receive their passports in good time for their summer holidays.

The Government apologise to anybody who has been unable to travel because of a delay in processing their passport application and we recognise people’s understandable concerns. Her Majesty’s Passport Office staff are doing everything possible to put things right.

12. Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to provide compensation for people in Scotland who have lost out financially as a result of delayed passport applications. [904539]

David Mundell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (Gregg McClymont).

General Election Franchise

10. Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide that, in the event of a vote for Scottish independence in the forthcoming referendum, residents of Scotland will not be entitled to vote in the 2015 UK general election. [904537]

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Mr Alistair Carmichael: No.

Culture, Media and Sport

Cemeteries

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on the establishment of a national cemetery; and if he will make a statement. [202027]

Mr Vaizey: None. DCMS has no responsibility for cemeteries.

Golf: Tourism

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to promote golfing holidays in the (a) North West and (b) UK. [202446]

Mrs Grant: Golfing holidays in both the North West and the rest of the UK are promoted by VisitEngland and VisitBritain. Liverpool is using £62,500 from VisitEngland's Growing Tourism Locally programme, funded through the Regional Growth fund, to promote ‘England's Golf Coast’ in the golfing press, using the staging of the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool to encourage visits to the region. VisitBritain's consumer website highlights golf courses across the whole of the UK including the Golf Coast, which also features in its Sport is GREAT pillar guide. In advance of the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles, VisitBritain has organised familiarisation trips taking American and European journalists to the course. Previous experience tells us that hosting the Ryder Cup is worth tens of millions of pounds to the UK and to the local economy.

Lotteries

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department's proposed constitution on society lotteries, which was first announced in December 2012, will consider ways to help the sector maximise returns to good causes. [202398]

Mrs Grant: Decisions on what elements will be considered in the consultation on society lotteries have yet to be taken. We have commissioned advice from the Gambling Commission which will inform us of the scope and content of the consultation.

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on how much society lotteries have generated for good causes in each of the last six years. [202399]

Mrs Grant: Information about how much society lotteries generate for good causes is collected by the Gambling Commission. The most up to date information can be found in the Gambling Commission’s industry statistics, which are at:

http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/gambling_data__analysis/statistics/industry_statistics-1.aspx

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Press

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 125W, on the Press, when he expects a date for meeting victims of press abuse and their representatives to be finalised. [202966]

Mr Vaizey: DCMS, in line with Government procedure, publishes details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations on a quarterly basis. When published, details can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-culture-media-sport&publication_type=transparency-data

War Memorials

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has allocated to the maintenance of war memorials in each of the next three years; what steps it takes to ensure that war memorials are maintained to a high standard; and if he will make a statement. [202184]

Mr Vaizey: The DCMS-run Memorial Grant Scheme has a budget of £543,000 for this financial year. Grants are available to charities and faith groups and can be used to repair and maintain war memorials. The Government have today announced that we will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the first world war centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials and a network of trained volunteers.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) location of memorials to commemorate the war dead in the (i) first world war and (ii) second world war; and if he will make a statement. [202192]

Mr Vaizey: DCMS holds no records on the number or location of memorials to commemorate the war dead. Information about war memorials throughout the UK is held by both the Imperial War Museum and the War Memorials Trust. The Imperial War Museum is working with its partners to make this information more easily accessible to the public.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has (a) taken in each of the last three years and (b) plans to take in the next two years to ensure that war memorials are properly maintained and kept in a good state of repair; and if he will make a statement. [202338]

Mrs Grant: DCMS has spent the following amounts maintaining national memorials in each of the last three years. The Memorials Grant Scheme is available

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to charities and faith groups and can be used for works involving war memorials. The scheme will be available until 31 March 2015.

The Government have announced this week that we will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the First World War centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials, and a network of trained volunteers.

Northern Ireland

Business

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she last met the (a) CEO and (b) chair of the British Business Bank to discuss how that organisation can more effectively support Northern Ireland businesses; and if she will make a statement. [202614]

Mrs Villiers: I regularly hold discussions with representatives of the British Business Bank in my role as chair of the joint ministerial task force on banking and access to finance.

The task force has discussed how Northern Ireland business benefits from the British Business Bank schemes and will continue to explore how these measures can be delivered in the most effective way in Northern Ireland.

Corporation Tax

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she last discussed the potential devolution of corporation tax to Northern Ireland with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [202255]

Mrs Villiers: I regularly hold discussions with Treasury Ministers, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on a wide range of economic issues including the potential devolution of corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland.

As set out in “Building a Prosperous and United Community”, the Government will make a final decision on the devolution of corporation tax powers no later than the autumn statement 2014.

Northern Ireland Government

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role she will play in the forthcoming talks between party leaders in Northern Ireland. [202689]

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Mrs Villiers: I welcome the intensification of the party leaders’ talks. The Government will continue to support the parties in their efforts wherever possible. It is essential that early progress is made with every effort to secure an agreement as quickly as possible.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will commission an independent assessment of the effect of changes to funding levels of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and its compliance with the Paris Principles. [202284]

Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her question of 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 260W. My officials will study the Commission’s impact statement closely and work with it to ensure it is able to continue to meet its statutory and international obligations.

Terrorism

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are in prisons in Northern Ireland for terrorist-related offences; what the age profile is of those prisoners; what assessment she has made of that age profile; and if she will make a statement. [202557]

Mrs Villiers: This is a devolved matter within the remit of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice for Northern Ireland.

Cabinet Office

Civil Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many grades there are in the civil service; [202819]

(2) if he will take steps to reduce the number of grades in the civil service. [202923]

Mr Maude: Arrangements for setting grades below the senior civil service (SCS) are delegated to Departments and not held centrally. For the SCS, grading arrangements are determined centrally by the Cabinet Office. There are four main grades in the SCS.

To deliver a flatter structure in the civil service, Departments are, as set out in the Civil Service Reform Plan, reviewing their structures as part of ongoing change programmes and departmental improvement plans.

Crime: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of crime in (a) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years. [202647]

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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 (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the level of crime in (a) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, (b) North Yorkshire, and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years (202647).

Police recorded crime figures are provided for the last five calendar years for the Harrogate local authority area, the North Yorkshire police force area, and for Yorkshire and Humber. Crime data are not available at parliamentary constituency level, so data for the Harrogate local authority area is provided. These figures exclude fraud which is no longer recorded by local forces but reported centrally by Action Fraud.

These data have been published by the ONS and have been extracted from the ‘Recorded crime data at local authority level from 2002/03’, and ‘Recorded crime data at police force area level from 2002/03’ files, available here:

http://ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-287894

The Crime Survey for England and Wales provides the most reliable measure of crime experienced by the population resident in households, as it has used a consistent methodology over time and is unaffected by changes in police recording practices or public reporting. However, the sample is not large enough to give robust estimates at the sub-national level. Analysis by ONS showed that estimates of comparable crimes from the survey were 47% higher than in the comparable count of police recorded crime.

Following an assessment of ONS crime statistics carried out by the UK Statistics Authority, data on police recorded crime were found not to meet the required standards and have been de-designated as National Statistics. Police recorded crime remains badged as official statistics, and is the preferred source of subnational crime statistics.

Electronic Government

Mark Menzies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what digital-by-default Government services will be available by next year; and what support he plans to make available to older people and those who are not yet online. [202448]

Mr Hurd: By March 2015, 25 major Government services will be redesigned and rebuilt as digital-by-default, making them simpler, clearer and faster to use. Full details are listed on:

www.gov.uk/transformation

This Government’s approach is digital-by-default but not compulsion. We want to help get more people online, through our Digital Inclusion programme, but for those who cannot or will not we will always provide assistance, whenever they need it.

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Employment: Discrimination

Mr Denham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) which organisations funded by his Department restrict employment to members of particular faiths; [202939]

(2) what his Department's policy is on funding organisations that restrict their employment to members of particular faiths. [202940]

Mr Maude: All organisations funded by the Cabinet Office have to adhere to relevant employment legislation, including the Equal Opportunities Act and the Sex Discrimination Act.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people currently claiming jobseeker's allowance are aged (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, (d) 19, (e) 20, (f) 21, (g) 22, (h) 23, (i) 24 and (j) 25 years. [202617]

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 (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people currently claiming jobseeker's allowance are aged (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, (d) 19, (e) 20, (f) 21, (g) 22, (h) 23, (i) 24 and (j) 25 years. (202617)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) from the JobcentrePlus Administrative system. Unfortunately some of the requested age categories are not available individually.

As an alternative, Table 1 shows the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for those aged (a) under 17 years, (b) 17 years, (c) 18 years, (d) 19 years, (e) 20 to 24 years and (f) 25 to 29 years.

National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:

www.nomisweb.co.uk

Pearson VUE

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Government Departments use (a) Pearson VUE and (b) Pearson Professional Centres for delivering tests; and if he will provide details of each such use. [202965]

Mr Maude: This information is not held centrally.

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Civil Service Resourcing do not use Pearson VUE and Pearson Professional Centres.

Private Sector: Pay

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many private sector employees aged over 21 and under the state pension age have gross earnings between £111 and £192 per week in each constituent part and region of the UK. [202586]

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 July 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, how many private sector employees aged over 21 and under the state pension age have gross earnings between £111 and £192 per week in each constituent part and region of the UK. (202586)

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is possible to use ASHE to estimate the proportion of employees meeting these criteria, although these figures are not currently available. We expect to be able to provide them on 8 July 2014. I will write to you when this information is available.

Energy and Climate Change

Aviation: Fuels

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what estimate he has made of the duration in days that airports in the south east of England would be able to run at full aviation fuel demand capacity in the event of an emergency on the scale of the Buncefield explosion in 2005; [202806]

(2) what estimate he has made of the duration in days that the South East of England fuel demand could run at full capacity based on current stock levels of (a) refined petrol and (b) diesel products in the event of an emergency on the scale of the Buncefield explosion in 2005. [202805]

Michael Fallon: UK supplies of aviation fuels are resilient to most hazards and additional protections have been put in place since the incident at Buncefield in 2005. Any impact upon supplies would depend entirely on the nature of any incident.

Climate Change

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to publish its Fifth Assessment Report. [202659]

Gregory Barker: The Fifth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) comprises contributions from three Working Groups and a Synthesis Report. The Working Group (WG) reports on the science (WGI), impacts, adaptation and vulnerability (WGII) and mitigation of climate change

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(WGIII) were published in September 2013, March 2014 and April 2014 respectively. Copies of these reports are available at:

https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/.

The Synthesis Report is due to be completed and published at the end of the 40^th session of the IPCC, 27-31 October 2014, in Copenhagen. This will complete the publication of the entire Fifth Assessment Report.

Energy: Prices

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 May 2014, Official Report, column 595W, on electricity, what assessment he has made of whether the ability of auctions to drive value for money is dependent on market plurality and competition; and if he will make it a formal objective of his Department to ensure that independent generators are able to compete in Contracts for Difference auctions on an equal footing. [202195]

Michael Fallon: The secondary legislation for the Electricity Market Reform programme contains provisions to move straight to allocation rounds, with competitive auctions setting the price where the demand for CfDs exceeds the available budget.

DECC analysis shows that the pipeline of projects is strong and can deliver a competitive outcome, whilst the administrative strike price sets a cap to protect consumers.

More generally, the auction has been designed to encourage participation, and we are introducing the offtaker of last resort (OLR) to support independent renewable generators by providing them with a guaranteed route to market and improving their ability to raise project finance.

DECC officials have worked closely with developers and other stakeholders on these proposals, and the approach to implementing the OLR is currently being consulted on.

Oil

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanisms his Department has put in place to monitor the amount of available capacity in the UKOP, GPSS and MLP UK pipeline systems. [202801]

Michael Fallon: Both the UKOP and MLP pipeline systems are privately owned and operated. Currently there are no statutory provisions that require private pipeline owners and operators to make available commercial information on spare capacity.

The GPSS is a Government-owned pipeline and DECC is able to obtain information regarding available capacity on request.

Following the recent cross-government review of the role of both the UK refining and import sectors in the UK, and in recognition of pipeline access being cited as an issue by some stakeholders, the new independently chaired Midstream Oil Government and Industry Task Force will take forward further work on this issue.

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John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to ensure equality of access to the UKOP, GPSS and MLP UK pipeline systems. [202802]

Michael Fallon: Both the UKOP and MLP pipeline systems are privately owned and operated and commercial decisions on access are taken by the companies concerned. The Pipelines Act 1962 contains provisions for owners/operators to offer third-party access and for any spare capacity to be made available to anyone who wishes to apply for it.

The GPSS is a Government-owned pipeline operated by the Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA), a public corporation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. The OPA lets commercial contracts on a similar basis to operators of private pipelines, provided these are consistent with Defence requirements. Access to the GPSS may require the agreement of private companies which control ingress points, egress points or other pipelines connected to the network.

Following the recent cross-Government review of the role of both the UK refining and import sectors in UK, and in recognition of pipeline access being cited as an issue by some stakeholders, the new independently chaired Midstream Oil Government and Industry Task Force will take forward further work on this issue.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will provide information on the performance of those heat pumps which have been installed in domestic premises on a trial basis. [202960]

Gregory Barker: In January this year, we published a preliminary report on the renewable heat premium payment (RHPP) heat pump metering programme. This is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/276612/Preliminary_Report_on_the_RHPP_metering_programme_ 2014-01-31.pdf.

This report presents data from more than 400 heat pumps installed in domestic properties on a trial basis.

Trade Unions

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons he decided against change following his review into his Department's check-off system for employees' trade union subscriptions. [202858]

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), did not share the views of the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on this issue.

He also noted advice from the Department that the Department is charged a fixed cost for payroll services based on the number of employees, so there would be no immediate cost saving to the taxpayer in removing the check-off agreement.

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Bahrain about the death of Abdulaziz al-Abbar. [202558]

Hugh Robertson: We are saddened to hear about the death of Abdulaziz al-Abbar. We encourage the authorities to carry out a timely and thorough independent investigation.

Indonesia

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Indonesia on human rights in West Papua. [202599]

Mr Swire: In January 2014, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the situation in Papua and West Papua with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegewa, who made clear the determination of the Indonesian Government to improve the human rights situation there.

Most recently, in June 2014, our ambassador to Jakarta raised Papua with Indonesia’s Co-ordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs, who reconfirmed his Government’s intention to increase autonomy for the region. Our embassy staff also visit the provinces regularly, discussing our concerns with Government officials, civil society leaders and human rights defenders. We remain concerned about reports of violence and human rights abuses, including limitations on free speech and limitations on access to the region by international non-governmental organisations, foreign journalists and diplomats.

Saudi Arabia

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Embassy in Saudi Arabia provides support and protection to human rights activists in that country. [202665]

Hugh Robertson: Our policy on human rights defenders is guided by the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998) and the EU Guidelines. Embassy officials have regular contact with human rights defenders. It is, however, often the view of the defenders that involvement with foreign representatives and organisations can make their task of pressing for reform more difficult. Nevertheless, we work to align our priorities with theirs and continue to press for reform.

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the case of Fowzan al-Harbi with the Saudi Arabian Government. [202746]

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the case of Fowzan al-Harbi. We maintain a regular dialogue with the Saudi authorities on a range of human rights issues, including those of human rights defenders.

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St Lucia

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the Gloria Greenwood murder and trial of the suspects is discussed during any future visit to the UK by Government Ministers from St Lucia. [202947]

Mark Simmonds: Consular officials remain in regular contact with the St Lucian authorities about the investigation into Mrs Greenwood’s death. We will continue to use all appropriate opportunities to press upon them the importance we place on bringing this case to trial, including ministerial visits to the UK and to St Lucia. Consular officials are keeping Mrs Greenwood’s family updated and continue to provide full consular assistance.

Tajikistan

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise respect for human rights, the rule of law and the case of Mr Alexander Sodiqov with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojidin Aslov during his upcoming visit to the UK. [202904]

Mr Lidington: We discuss the importance of respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law with the Government of Tajikistan at both official and ministerial level whenever opportunity allows.

We remain deeply concerned by the continuing detention in Tajikistan of Alexander Sodiqov, an academic researcher working for the University of Exeter. Senior Minister of State Baroness Warsi discussed a number of issues, including human rights, the rule of law and the case of Mr Sodiqov, when she met Foreign Minister Aslov on 1 July.

Tony Blair

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what process Tony Blair was appointed to the post of Middle East peace envoy; and who approved that appointment. [202942]

Hugh Robertson: Tony Blair was appointed by the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) as the representative of the Middle East Quartet in June 2007. The Quartet principals (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana) approved his appointment.

Transport

First TransPennine Express and Northern Rail

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential increase in passenger numbers on (a) the TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Rail lines during the life of the next franchises starting in February 2016. [202293]

Stephen Hammond: Between 2002 and 2012 rail demand in the north of England grew by a total of 66% and demand is expected to continue to grow. The

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Department for Transport is currently preparing its own forecasts of passenger demand for the next franchises to inform the specification.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role (a) his Department and (b) local authorities will have in (i) specifying and (ii) managing the new franchises for rail passenger services on the (A) TransPennine Express and (B) Northern Rail lines. [202323]

Stephen Hammond: The specification for each franchise is being developed collaboratively by the Department for Transport’s Rail Executive and Rail North. Rail North is representing all the local transport authorities in the north of England. This is in line with the partnership agreement confirmed between the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), and leaders of the local transport authorities in the north of England in January 2014. An integrated partnership structure between Rail Executive and Rail North is being developed with a view to managing the franchise once it has been let.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the franchise specifications for rail passenger services on the (a) TransPennine and (b) Northern lines contained in his Department's consultation document published on 9 June 2014 will increase the rolling stock fleet on each line. [202435]

Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises have not yet been decided. A public consultation exercise is being conducted, which will inform these specifications. The consultation can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of-northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises

We do not, however, intend to specify rolling stock requirements in these specifications; it will be for the bidders to propose the appropriate rolling stock for their bids.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the performance of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency during the search for the Water Rail between 20 and 22 May 2014. [202922]

Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) performance in relation to the incident involving the Water Rail between 20 and 22 May 2014 was thorough and professional, and in line with established international protocols.

The operational activity of coastguards on duty at the Aberdeen Maritime and Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) were supervised by an experienced search mission co-ordinator.

Rescue Services: Belfast

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Belfast was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in (a) April 2014 and (b) May 2014. [202596]

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Stephen Hammond: Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk-assessed levels during:

(a) April 2014—40 occasions out of 60 shifts

(b) May 2014—22 occasions out of 62 shifts

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

Rescue Services: Stornoway

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Stornoway was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in (a) April 2014 and (b) May 2014. [202597]

Stephen Hammond: Stornoway Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk- assessed levels during:

(a) April 2014—12 occasions out of 60 shifts

(b) May 2014—14 occasions out of 62 shifts

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

West Coast Railway Line

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Virgin Trains on ensuring that its proposed train service from Blackpool to Euston will stop at Kirkham Station. [202374]

Stephen Hammond: On 19 June 2014 the Secretary of State announced that Virgin had been awarded a new Direct Award franchise. This commenced on 22 June 2014, and will run until the new planned commencement of the next competed franchise in April 2017.

Virgin and Network Rail will now submit an application to the Office of Rail Regulation for new services between Blackpool North and London Euston, which will include stops at Kirkham and Wesham and Poulton le Fylde stations. The new services are planned to commence in December 2014.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bees

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the proposed National Pollinator Strategy to reverse the decline in the bee population in the UK. [202661]

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA officials have been in regular contact with the devolved Administrations as we prepare the National Pollinator Strategy. We have shared lessons

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learned and how to work co-operatively to achieve common goals. As we move to implementation of the strategy’s actions, this co-operation will continue.

Dangerous Dogs

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made on provision for the kennelling and seizure of suspected dangerous dogs; and what changes he expects to make to the regulations on dangerous dogs. [202747]

George Eustice: On 6 February 2013 the Government announced, as part of our package of measures to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs, that we would provide powers for the police to allow suspected prohibited-type dogs to be kept with the owners in cases where they

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considered that the dog was not a threat to public safety. The Government are in the process of making changes to the relevant regulations to enable this power to be available to the police.

Dredging

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many marine dredging applications have been dealt with by the Marine Management Organisation using the online marine licensing system since 2009. [202809]

George Eustice: The online marine licensing system came into force on 6 April 2011 following the formation of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in 2010. To date the MMO has dealt with the following numbers of marine aggregate and non-aggregate dredging applications:

Non-aggregate dredging

There was a transitional period from 6 April 2011 to 5 April 2014 for non-aggregate dredging. This activity mainly included navigational dredging which became licensable from 6 April 2014.

Energy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of his Department's consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such consumption has been in each such month. [202704]

Dan Rogerson: The cost and consumption of electricity and gas purchased by Core DEFRA, for the period June 2010 to May 2014, is set out in the tables. These data are taken from monthly energy invoices for this period.

Core DEFRA has rationalised its estate during the period covered by this report and has consolidated into fewer buildings. This is reflected in the downward trend in cost and consumption.

All energy covered by this report was procured through Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Energy Frameworks.

Notes:

The data provided in this report may not be consistent with data published elsewhere because they include consumption and costs which are normally allocated to third-party occupants of DEFRA’s buildings.

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Organic Farming: Yorkshire and Humberside

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much land in Yorkshire was given over to organic farming in each year since 2008-09. [202850]

George Eustice: The following table shows the areas of “in conversion” and fully organic land in the Yorkshire and the Humber region from 2008 to 2013, which is the most recent year for which these data are available. Data are not available just for Yorkshire.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Construction: Training

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve skill levels in the construction industry. [202372]

Michael Fallon: Under the auspices of the Construction Leadership Council, the house building industry is developing an action plan to address three immediate priorities: improving the image of house building; attracting back experienced workers who left during the recession; and attracting other workers with relevant skills.

More widely, the Government are making a number of reforms to the skills system to improve skills supply; putting employers in the driving seat and making providers more responsive to their needs.

The Government are also currently undertaking a triennial review of the way the Construction Industry Training Board operates and challenging it on the service it delivers to the sector.

In addition, the Government believe that a more robust and more visible Government construction procurement pipeline is key to improving investment decisions in construction. We are working to enhance the pipeline to give construction businesses the confidence to upskill staff, to recruit, and to commit to apprenticeships.

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Electronic Warfare

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library copies of the K-Matrix UK Security Sectors reports for each year from 2008 to 2013. [201948]

Michael Fallon: The K-Matrix reports requested will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The report for 2013 is not yet available.

Energy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of his Department's consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such consumption has been in each such month. [202700]

Jo Swinson: This information is currently being collated and I will arrange for these data to be deposited in the Libraries of the House as soon as possible.

Enterprise Zones: Coleraine

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans UK Trade & Investment has to promote the new Enterprise Zone in Coleraine as a location for potential international investors. [201734]

Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) follows the ‘UK First’ principle when promoting inward investment. This means that we seek to promote the UK as the country of choice and propose the most suitable locations based on the inward investor's particular needs, which are matched to the strengths of individual areas.

Invest Northern Ireland promotes Northern Ireland and UKTI works together with it on potential opportunities and to highlight benefits of areas such as Enterprise Zones.

Environment Protection: Scotland

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in how many green infrastructure projects the Green Investment Bank has invested in Scotland. [202943]

Michael Fallon: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) has helped finance energy efficiency improvements at two distilleries in Scotland and expects to finance similar projects at further distilleries soon. GIB has also financed the introduction of energy efficient lighting at NCP car parks across the UK, including a number located in Scotland, and GIB is in advanced discussions with Glasgow city council to finance the replacement of 10,000 old street lights in Glasgow with energy efficient LED lights, with the longer-term aim of replacing up to 50,000 lights across the city. Full details about projects supported by GIB may be found on the bank’s website at:

www.greeninvestmentbank.com

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Medicine: Scotland

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect on funding for medical research of Scottish independence. [202905]

Mr Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has made no assessment of the effect of funding for medical research in a separate Scotland.

The “Scotland Analysis: Science and Research” report published in November 2013 examined the current UK framework for funding, infrastructure, co-ordination and collaboration. It demonstrated that Scottish research has thrived within this system, for example by regularly receiving a higher percentage of Research Council funding when compared to UK population share.

The same holds true for research charities. In 2011, Scotland received 13% of all investment made by members of the Association of Medical Research Charities.

The evidence shows that being part of the UK complements and strengthens Scotland’s world-class research base.

The UK Government’s position is clear: if Scotland left the UK, the current framework for research could not continue. The best way for research to continue to flourish in Scotland is together as part of the UK.

Science: Research

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on increasing the research budget for science to 0.7% of gross domestic product. [202944]

Mr Willetts: The Government recognise that science and research is vital in driving economic growth. Our ambition is to make the UK the best place in the world to do science and research.

In 2012, Government expenditure on science and research through the Research Councils and the Higher Education funding bodies was £4.9 billion, equal to 0.3% of GDP. In the same year, total public spending on science was 0.6% of GDP. Total UK spending on Research and Development was 1.7% of GDP.

In the recent spending review, the Government made a long-term commitment to investment in science and research infrastructure: increasing capital investment in real terms to £1.1 billion in 2015-16 and growing this in line with inflation each year to 2020-21. We also continued to protect the science resource ring fence in cash terms for financial year 2015-16. On the basis of existing commitments, the Government’s investment in science through the Research Councils and Higher Education funding bodies will be £5.9 billion¹ in 2015-16, an increase in cash terms of 20% since 2012.

¹ Cash terms including additional spending announced in AS13 and Budget 14.

Trade Union Officials

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on funding for trade union representatives studying Trade Union Congress (TUC) learning aims

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in

(a)

each of the last five years and

(b)

2014-15; and what his estimate is of funding in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) any future years for which budgets are available. [202334]

Matthew Hancock: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 11 July 2011, Official Report, column 195W, by the Minister for Universities and Science, my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr Willetts).

Further education (FE) colleges and training organisations receive a post-19 funding allocation each academic year at the programme level (for example budgets for adult skills, adult safeguarded learning and/or offender learning and skills).

As funding is not allocated at the learning aim level, the amount of money spent on TUC learning aims is not reported centrally by the Skills Funding Agency.

From the 2011/12 academic year a single adult skills budget was introduced. This will provide FE colleges and training organisations with the flexibility to offer the range and balance of programmes, from basic skills to higher-level skills, in the mode of delivery that will best meet the needs of learners, employers and communities (classroom, workshop, online and in the workplace).

Treasury

Mapeley

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 675W, on Mapeley, how many years the Private Finance Initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley Steps Contractor Limited has left to run. [202953]

Mr Gauke: As explained in the answer I gave on 1 July 2014, Official Report, column 581W, a copy of the contract, which runs until April 2021, can be viewed on the National Archive website at:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/freedom/steps-contract.htm

Personal Savings

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet representatives of financial institutions to discuss how those institutions can assist customers to get the best return on their savings. [202658]

Andrea Leadsom: Treasury Ministers have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

It is important that customers can make the most of their savings. This is why at Budget 2014 we announced a radical package of measures to support savers—reducing

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taxes for the lowest income savers, reforming the ISA regime to give savers greater flexibility as to where and how they save their money, and creating a product to help retired savers see a better return.

Reserve Forces: Taxation

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of reserve servicemen who have been allocated the wrong tax code by HM Revenue and Customs as a result of their additional income accruing from military duties. [202559]

Mr Gauke: The information requested is available only at a disproportionate cost.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has processes in place to ensure that reservist service personnel called up for military service receive the full benefit of their personal income tax allowances while they are on active duty.

Tax Avoidance: British Virgin Islands

Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has held with his counterpart in the British Virgin Islands on tax evasion and avoidance in that country; and if he will make a statement. [202498]

Mr Gauke: The Treasury engages in regular discussions with the British Virgin Islands on tax issues, including avoidance and evasion.

Following the commitments made at the G8, the British Virgin Islands, along with all of the UK's Overseas Territories with financial centres, and the Crown Dependencies have taken significant steps forward on tax transparency, putting them at the forefront of this agenda globally.

Tax Collection

Mr Sanders: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made to the methodology for assessing compliance yield for tax collection in the last 10 years. [201672]

Mr Gauke: It is important that HMRC’s methodology for assessing the effects of its compliance activities reflects the full range of impacts of its activities on customer compliance. Both to provide accountability for its overall performance and to manage its business and the performance of its compliance teams on a day-to-day basis, HMRC periodically refines its methodology for compliance yield to reflect the latest evidence. This is consistent with recommendations from the NAO and PAC.

Changes at the start of this Government were implemented to better assess the total impact of HMRC’s work. Some reduced the revenue HMRC could score, while others recognised that HMRC was achieving a greater impact on future taxpayer behaviour than they had previously assumed.

Key changes to scoring rules at the start of the 2010 Spending Review period were:

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1. Ensuring reported performance better reflects the amount of revenue that HMRC can expect to receive

2. Recognising the revenue effects of work against criminals

3. Refining our methodology to reflect our latest understanding of the effects of our interventions on customers’ behaviour in the future.

Further information on HMRC’s compliance methodology will be set out in its Annual Report, which will be published in due course.

Welfare Tax Credits: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) York Central constituency and (b) York Unitary Authority area received child and working tax credits in 2009 and in each year since. [202934]

Nicky Morgan: The finalised annual award child and working tax credits statistics for 2012-13 are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-tax-credits-finalised-award-statistics-geographical-statistics-2012-to-2013

The finalised annual award child and working tax credits statistics for 2011-12 are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-tax-credits-finalised-award-statistics-geographical-statistics

For the years 2009-10 to 2010-11, please refer to the archived publication webpage:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121106034103/http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/final-award-geog.htm

Table 2 of these publications provide a breakdown of figures by local authority, including York.

Table 3 of these publications provide a breakdown of figures by parliamentary constituency, including York Central.

Work and Pensions

Employment and Support Allowance

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much revenue has been raised by his Department from employment and support allowance claimants telephoning 0843 515 8650 in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date. [202484]

Mike Penning: DWP does not operate any telephone lines starting 0843, and therefore receives no revenue from 0843 515 8650.

Similarly, DWP is unable to provide any information on the number of employment and support allowance claimants who call 0843 515 8650.

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employment and support allowance claimants telephoned 0843 515 8650 in the first quarter of 2014; what the average cost of such calls has been to claimants; and what the average length of each such call has been. [202503]

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Mike Penning: DWP does not operate any telephone lines starting 0843, and therefore receives no revenue from 0843 515 8650.

Similarly, DWP is unable to provide any information on the number of employment and support allowance claimants who call 0843 515 8650.

Employment and Support Allowance: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for employment and support allowance submitted by people in Preston in 2013 have yet to be determined. [202489]

Mike Penning: We have interpreted the question to be for the number of employment and support allowance (ESA) and incapacity benefits reassessments (IBR), work capability assessments (WCA) which are still to be decided in 2013, for Preston local authority and this information is shown in the following table:

Employment Schemes: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what budget was set for the Youth Contract in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15. [202908]

Esther McVey: Following the Youth Contract launch in 2012-13, the Department has set the following budgets:

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on the Youth Contract in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [202909]

Esther McVey: The spend on the Youth Contract since it was launched in April 2012 is as follows:

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Energy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of his Department’s consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such consumption has been in each such month. [202711]

Mike Penning: The actual consumption and cost for gas and electricity, as requested, has been provided on an annex and will be available in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many councils in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland funded discretionary housing payments beyond the funds allocated to them by his Department in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15. [202667]

Steve Webb: In 2013-14, (a) 85 (out of 326) English authorities, (b) 15 (out of 27) Welsh authorities and (c) 27 (out of 32) Scottish authorities spent more than the contribution provided by DWP towards discretionary housing payments.

Figures for 2014-15 will not be available until after 30 April 2015—the deadline for local authority DHP returns for the year in question.

Independent Living Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department is gathering from local authorities on the number of disabled people who are currently supported to live in their own homes who will move into residential care as a result of changes to the Independent Living Fund; and what support his Department is providing to those people affected. [202310]

Mike Penning: The potential implications of closing the Independent Living Fund are set out clearly in the Equality Analysis published on 6 March alongside the written Ministerial Statement announcing the closure.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department plans to monitor the effect of changes in the Independent Living Fund on individual recipients; and if he will make a statement. [202311]

Mike Penning: As stated in the Equality Analysis published on 6 March, the Department will be developing plans for evaluating the impact on former users of the closure of the Independent Living Fund.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on disabled people in work of the closure of the Independent Living Fund. [202326]

Mike Penning: The potential implications of closing the Independent Living Fund are set out clearly in the Equality Analysis that was published on 6 March alongside the written ministerial statement announcing the closure.

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Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the employment status of Independent Living Fund recipients; and if he will make a statement. [202327]

Mike Penning: The Independent Living Fund does not collect or record data on the employment status of its users when assessing their care and support packages.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to address the current geographical imbalance in Independent Living Fund (ILF) use by local authorities in the allocation of transitional funding as the ILF comes to an end. [202800]

Mike Penning: The funding that will be transferred to local authorities and to the devolved Administrations when the Independent Living Fund closes will be distributed in a way that reflects the patterns of expenditure at that time.

Pension Credit: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in (a) York Central constituency and (b) York Unitary Authority area received pension credit in the last year for which data are available; [202932]

(2) how many people in (a) the city of York local authority area and (b) York Central constituency were in receipt of (i) the basic state pension and (ii) pension credit in 2008-09 and in each year since; and what the average weekly value of pension credit received was in each case during those periods. [202926]

Steve Webb: Statistics for state pension and pension credit are available from 100% data and are published on the Department’s website at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/pc/tabtool_pc.html

and

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/sp/tabtool_sp.html

Guidance for users is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Personal Independence Payment

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are being taken to better identify those personal independence payment claimants who could be assessed solely on the basis of evidence without the need for face-to-face assessments. [202753]

Mike Penning: We are working with our providers to ensure that all PIP claims received are reviewed, and where sufficient evidence is available at that initial review we may make a decision on the claim without the need for a face-to-face consultation. Where a face-to-face consultation is needed or further evidence must be gathered, the assessment provider will undertake that activity.

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Personal Independence Payment: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for personal independence payments submitted by people in Preston in 2013 have yet to be determined. [202491]

Mike Penning: Figures on the number of personal independence payment (PIP) claims outstanding are not available.

However, a breakdown of the statistics published on 5 June 2014 shows that during April to December 2013, 820 new PIP claims were registered and 250 decisions were made for individuals living in Preston local authority.¹

¹Source:

PIP Computer System claimant records

There are several reasons why a new claim could be registered and awaiting a decision. For example, the claimant is waiting to receive or has not yet returned their PIP 2 How your disability affects you form, the claimant is awaiting their assessment appointment date, the DWP have not yet made a decision on the claim, or the claimant has told DWP that they wish to withdraw their claim.

Universal Credit

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when and where his Department plans to next introduce universal credit. [202325]

Esther McVey: Universal credit is now available in 19 live sites across England, Scotland and Wales, and is continuing to roll out across the north-west of England. See link to the Press Notice published on 20 June 2014:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/north-west-universal-credit-expansion

In total, 90 Jobcentres, or one in eight Jobcentres in Britain, will offer the service once the north-west expansion has been completed.

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the risk register for the universal credit programme. [202496]

Esther McVey: In line with standard practice, as the universal credit risk register includes details of a sensitive nature, the Department will not be putting the risk register into the public domain.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many universal credit claimants have been sanctioned in each month since October 2013. [202907]

Esther McVey: The information requested is not currently available.

The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on universal credit (UC) in September 2013. It can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics

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Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many universal credit claimants have become ineligible for the benefit as a consequence of increased income since October 2013. [202945]

Esther McVey: The information requested is not currently available.

The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on universal credit (UC) in September 2013. It can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department is currently pursuing plans for jam jar bank accounts under the universal credit programme; and if he will make a statement. [202948]

Esther McVey: We are looking at a wide range of support options and considering the best outcomes for universal credit claimants which provide value for the taxpayer.

We are continuing to have discussions with providers of financial products and other stakeholders and we will make an announcement once those discussions have concluded.

Valuation of Life and Health Interdepartmental Group

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the Health and Safety Executive's submission to the Interdepartmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review and evidence submitted to the series of interviews with his Department's staff conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds in 2008. [202417]

Mike Penning: The submission will be placed in the Library shortly.

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the explicit monetary value per quality-adjusted life was in the context of workplace accidents and regulation, as quoted as part of the Health and Safety Executive's submission to Interdepartmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008. [202432]

Mike Penning: In response to a review of departmental valuation practices conducted for the Interdepartmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health in 2008, HSE submitted a summary of a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. In this appraisal, HSE applied a value of £42,000 per quality-adjusted life year (2005 prices), derived from the Department for Transport’s Value of a Prevented Fatality (VPF) (£1.4 million in 2005), to assess the health benefits of reduced noise exposure at work. This value was derived specifically for the appraisal of the Noise at Work regulations. The full RIA is published on the HSE website:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/noise.pdf

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HSE routinely applies the VPF, with adjustment, in an annual report of the costs of work-related injuries and ill health. The most recent report, Costs to Britain of workplace fatalities and self-reported injuries and ill health, 2010/11, is published on the HSE website

http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/cost-to-britain.pdf

An accompanying methodology report describing HSE’s current approach to valuing the impacts of work-related injuries and ill health is also available on the HSE website:

Work Capability Assessment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the backlog of work capability assessments. [202333]

Mike Penning: We are working closely with Atos to deliver the best possible service for claimants and ensure the number of cases outstanding with it continues to fall.

We announced last summer that we were looking to bring in further provision to support the delivery of the work capability assessment. In the meantime, we have been working closely with Atos to improve its performance and have put in place changes to better manage the flow of work between the Department, all designed to reduce waiting times for claimants. These measures are taking effect and the backlog of cases has fallen over the past few months.

Education

Public Expenditure

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions ministerial authorisation has been granted for expenditure which exceeded his Department's internal efficiency control thresholds for (a) advertising, marketing and communications, (b) consultancy and (c) external recruitment; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) value of any such agreed expenditure has been in the last 12 months. [202359]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education has its own internal efficiency controls thresholds and complies with the Cabinet Office controls.

1. Advertising, marketing and communications expenditure above the Departmental threshold of £100,000 is submitted to Efficiency and Reform Group at Cabinet Office for final clearance.

2. Consultancy expenditure above £20,000 (and is a new contract expected to exceed nine months, an existing contract to be extended beyond nine months or is expenditure for procurement related consultancy) is submitted to Cabinet Office for final clearance.

3. Cabinet Office is not directly involved in recruitment approvals.

The approved expenditure requests which have exceeded departmental thresholds are published on a quarterly basis on the Department’s website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approved-exemptions-to-the-efficiency-controls