Educational Testing Service

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries. [202173]

Mr Vara: There are no current contracts held with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries by the Department or any of the Department's executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Fraud

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted for providing courts with false information on means forms in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013. [202483]

Damian Green: The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) rightly has a zero tolerance approach to fraud and works in partnership with the law enforcement agencies to support prosecution where appropriate. According to internal management information there were six convictions for fraud against the agency in 2011-12, one in 2012-13 and one in 2013-14.

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Homicide

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for legal aid were made in cases relating to homicide in each of the last three years; and how many of those applications were successful. [203661]

Mr Vara: The Legal Aid Agency does not record on its IT systems whether applications for civil legal aid were made in cases relating to homicide. There is no legal or business requirement for the agency to record this information. In the consideration of civil legal aid eligibility, the agency assesses a person’s overall financial circumstances.

The Legal Aid Agency’s IT system that is used to record applications for criminal legal aid does not record an offence type of ‘homicide’.

Homicide: Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which peer support groups were included in the successful bid by Victim Support to deliver the National Homicide Service from 1 October 2014; and what value of grant has been awarded to each such organisation. [203469]

Damian Green: Peer support groups that were included within Victim Support's successful bid to operate the new National Homicide Service from 1 October 2014 were Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, Child Bereavement UK, and The Jimmy Mizen Foundation (Families United).

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a grant to Victim Support in order to deliver a range of support based on need, including peer support and advocacy. It is for Victim Support, in discussion with the peer support and other organisations it will be working with to deliver the service, to develop the operational detail of how the different components of the new service deploy to best meet needs, consistent with the grant agreement and delivering the best outcomes for families bereaved by homicide. Victim Support is currently in negotiations with groups to establish the details and value of their contributions within the grant, and this will be closely monitored by the Ministry of Justice.

Jimmy Savile

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will revise his decision to redact documents relating to Jimmy Savile in the PREM 19/878 file in the National Archives. [203322]

Simon Hughes: The majority of the information in the file has been disclosed. An application for closed information in the file is currently subject to a pending appeal in the first-tier tribunal. Therefore the Government cannot comment further in these circumstances.

Legal Aid Scheme

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the residence test for civil legal aid with article 16 of the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons. [203474]

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Mr Vara: We believe that in principle, individuals should have a strong connection to the UK in order to benefit from the civil legal aid scheme. We therefore intend to introduce a residence test for civil legal aid requiring applicants to be lawfully resident in the UK, Crown dependencies or British overseas territories at the time they apply for civil legal aid and to have resided there lawfully for at least 12 continuous months in the past.

We are satisfied that the residence test is fully compatible with our domestic and international legal obligations, including the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons.

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people resident in (a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) England received an award of legal aid in each of the last five years. [203597]

Mr Vara: The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does not record the number of people who receive legal aid. Instead it records the number of ‘acts of assistance’. One individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance, and one act of assistance can help more than one person.

With regard to the breakdowns requested for Coventry, the west midlands and England, the LAA cannot separately identify legal aid cases by the location of the person receiving legal aid. Applicant postcodes are not systematically recorded against legal aid cases.

Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the savings from a residence test for claimants of legal aid. [203695]

Mr Vara: The Government do not currently record the residency status of applicants for civil legal aid so cannot accurately estimate the amount of funding currently received by those who would not satisfy the residence test. However, there is likely to be a reduction in legal aid volumes and expenditure from imposing a residence test on civil legal aid, resulting in savings to the legal aid fund.

We have been clear that the introduction of the residence test supports the principle that legal aid should be available to only those who have a strong connection to this country. This is fair to the taxpayer who pays for it and will help to restore credibility to our legal aid system.

Mediation

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government are taking to reverse the fall in take-up of family mediation for separating and divorcing couples. [203498]

Simon Hughes: We have changed the law to require people to consider mediation before applying to the family court. This will encourage people to resolve their issues through mediation rather than court, where appropriate.

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

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I have taken the opportunity to engage directly with mediation and legal practitioners about the issues facing them at the moment. I have hosted a webchat for people to come forward and offer ideas to encourage people to use family mediation and launched an online tool called Dialogue where people can post their ideas.

I have hosted two roundtable meetings to discuss increasing the take-up of family mediation with key figures in the mediation profession. The ideas from these events were considered by the Family Mediation Task Force, which was chaired by David Norgrove. The ‘Report of the Family Mediation Task Force’ has been published on the mediation Dialogue webpage at:

http://bit.ly/1o7roWW

The report makes recommendations about increasing the uptake of family mediation. The Government will respond in due course.

New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in relation to offences under section 57 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. [203464]

Jeremy Wright: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Mr Vara), on 1 July 2014, Official Report, column 561W.

Prison Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are currently employed in prisons to calculate the release date of prisoners. [202788]

Jeremy Wright: The number of staff employed in prisons specifically for the purpose of calculating release dates for prisoners is not held on central systems. To obtain the information would involve collecting data from every establishment, which would entail disproportionate cost.

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the ratio of prison officers to prisoners was in (a) HM Prison Swansea, (b) HM Prison Lincoln, (c) HM Prison Preston, (d) HM Prison Leicester, (e) HM Prison Exeter, (f) HM Prison Wandsworth, (g) HM Prison Kennet, (h) HM Prison Bedford, (i) HM Prison Cardiff and (j) HM Prison Doncaster in each year between 2010 and 2013. [203159]

Jeremy Wright: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Tooting (Sadiq Khan), on 4 March 2014, Official Report, column 805W.

Prisoners: Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 28 February 2014, Official Report, column 548W, on prisoners: females, what programmes and interventions are provided to male victims of domestic violence in prison; in which men's prisons such programmes and interventions are available; how much central Government funding has been made available to such programmes and interventions

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in

(a)

2013-14 and

(b)

2014-15; which domestic violence programmes and interventions will be delivered in which prisons in 2014-15. [202016]

Jeremy Wright: Offenders' needs are assessed using OASys and the outcome informs the sentence plan, which helps to determine the appropriate establishment (within the correct security category).

All prisoners who have been victims of domestic violence, rape, or abuse have access, as required, to appropriate support throughout custody as part of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) core rehabilitative offer. This service provision is articulated in the NOMS Rehabilitation Services (Custody) Specification.

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In particular, for offenders with personality disorder who are being treated in therapeutic communities, emerging signs of domestic violence victimhood will be addressed as part of these treatments.

As part of our Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, all prisoners will receive a resettlement service from Community Rehabilitation Companies; the resettlement service will include specialist services to meet the needs of victims of domestic abuse.

A number of prisons also provide counselling services for prisoners.

There are 13 Therapeutic Communities within four male prisons (HMPs Dovegate, Gartree, Grendon and Warren Hill) which address the interpersonal problems, attitudes, thinking and emotions of offenders and aim

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to engage in treatment those who also have additional emotional and psychological needs. These services are trauma-focused and are designed to respond to abuse where it is relevant to individuals.

There are also specialist personality disorder services at HMP Whitemoor and HMP Frankland (since 2005-06), and new treatment services opening at HMPs Garth and Swaleside this financial year 2014-15. These new services are part of a wider personality disorder pathway approach which is being implemented with support from the NHS at a number of prisons.

It is not possible to identify separately the costs associated with these specific interventions and treatments as they are often integrated into the wider cost structure of the therapeutic community and personality disorder services and also with the wider costs of operating prisons.

Prisoners: Per Capita Costs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the marginal cost was of one extra prisoner being accommodated in each prison in England and Wales when each prison is functioning at its operational capacity in the latest period for which figures are available. [202797]

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not have information on the marginal cost of a prisoner for each prison. The calculation of a marginal cost would normally apply where a permanent change to a prison’s operational capacity is taking place.

Prisons are not expected to operate above their operational capacity, and ensuring that this capacity is set to reflect the provision of safe and decent accommodation and the operation of suitable regimes ensures that levels of crowding in prisons are carefully managed.

Sensible measures have been taken to ensure that we have sufficient capacity to deal with any temporary increases in population. These include creating additional places in prisons in a safe and decent way and ensuring that prisons reflect the needs of the current population. Any short-term increases in capacity will only be those sites where additional prisoners can be safely and decently accommodated and where a senior prison manager has certified that the additional prisoners will be held in safe, secure and decent accommodation.

We will end this Parliament with more adult male prison places than we inherited, more hours of work in prisons than we inherited, more education for young detainees than we inherited and a more modern, cost-effective prison estate than we inherited.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what was the average number of assaults on prison staff recorded in prisons in England and Wales was in each year from 2010 to 2013. [203160]

Jeremy Wright: NOMS takes the issue of assaults very seriously. It currently has systems in place to deal with perpetrators quickly and robustly, with serious

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incidents referred to the police for prosecution. It is working closely with the police and CPS to develop a new joint protocol to report crimes in prison—this includes pushing for prosecutions when prison staff are attacked.

The number of assaults on staff in prison custody is published in Table 4 of the Safety in Custody Statistics bulletin which can be found at

http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics

Prisons: Offensive Weapons

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many incidents were recorded of knives or other weapons being confiscated by staff in each prison in England and Wales in each year between 2011 and 2013; [203140]

(2) how many inmates in each prison in England and Wales have been found in possession of knives or other weapons in each year between 2011 and 2013. [203141]

Jeremy Wright: Prisons deploy a comprehensive range of robust searching and security techniques to detect, deter and disrupt the supply of unauthorised items, including weapons, both at the point of entry to the prison or concealed within the prison.

The number of incidents recorded of knives or other weapons being confiscated by staff, and how many prisoners have been found in possession of knives or other weapons, in each prison in England and Wales in each year between 2011 and 2013 is recorded on a central incident reporting system, but not in a discrete category. In order to establish the number of recorded confiscations or possessions for the period in question would require the interrogation of over 30,000 individual electronic incident files. This could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Sexual Offences

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what training prison officers receive to enable them to detect incidents of sexual assault inside prison. [203841]

Jeremy Wright: During their initial training, prison officers learn how to identify and respond to a prisoner exhibiting signs of distress or a change in their normal behaviour. Prison staff also receive training in assessing and managing offenders' risk of harm, including the risk of harm from others.

Officers receive training about prevention of violence in prisons and to complement this, specific training about sexual violence will be included in the revised Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) course which will be introduced from January 2015.

Roads: Accidents

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many coroners’ inquests have been held into the death of a child below the age of four as a result of being a passenger in a road traffic accident in each of

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the last five years; in how many of those cases the inquest found that a faulty child’s car seat was a contributory factor; and in how many of those cases the inquest found that an incorrectly fitted child’s car seat was a contributory factor. [203091]

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice collects data from coroners for the annual Coroners Statistics bulletin, which is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics-2013

The statistical information is collected in summary form, which does not include data at the level of detail requested.

Coroners are independent judicial office holders, appointed by a local authority within the coroner area, and are not employed by the Ministry of Justice.

To provide the information requested would require the Ministry of Justice to ask coroners in England and Wales to examine their records for over 5,000 inquests to extract the information and provide a summary report to the centre. As such, this information is available only at disproportionate cost.

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Sexual Offences: Greater Manchester

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offences with code (a) 21, (b) 22, (c) 23, (d) 71, (e) 72, (f) 73, (g) 74, (h) 17Z, (i) 17B, (j) 19C, (k) 19D, (l) 19E, (m) 19H, (o) 20A, (p) 20B, (q) 22B and (r) 88A under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 were brought to trial in Greater Manchester in each year since 2008; how many of these resulted in convictions under each category; and what the conviction rate was in Greater Manchester in that period. [203064]

Jeremy Wright: The Government take very seriously all matters relating to the sexual abuse of children and adults. Our laws in these areas are rightly robust and clear.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides tough measures to deal with these truly abhorrent crimes. We have also already introduced automatic life sentences for a second serious sexual or violent offence, and we have announced plans to end automatic early release for child rapists, terrorists and all dangerous offenders.

The number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty at all courts in Greater Manchester police force area, for selected sexual offences from 2008 to 2013 (latest data available) together with the conviction ratio can be viewed in table 1 and table 2.

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Wills

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Decision Notice of 14 May 2013 on the extension of the reserved legal activities, (1) what steps he is taking to educate consumers on (a) the different types of providers, (b) their respective protections and (c) options for redress; [202956]

(2) what new guidance he has issued on will writing for the legal profession; [202957]

(3) what discussions he has had with the will writing industry on strengthening existing regulation of authorised persons in this area. [202958]

Mr Vara: In the Lord Chancellor’s Decision Notice of 14 May 2013, as well as confirming that he had decided not to make will writing a reserved legal activity, he indicated that further efforts should be made to see if alternatives to regulation could be made more effective in improving standards in relation to will writing.

Since then, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has taken a number of steps, with the intention of encouraging and supporting measures to improve standards, in both the regulated and unregulated legal service sectors.

In relation to the regulated sector, the LSB has written to the approved regulators, to encourage them to take steps to address concerns about the quality of will writing by authorised persons. In May 2014, the Solicitors Regulation Authority issued guidance for solicitors on will writing.

In relation to the unregulated sector, the LSB convened a roundtable with industry stakeholders, including leading will writing trade bodies, in January 2014, to explore ways to improve the coverage and effectiveness of voluntary schemes and codes. At this roundtable, the LSB and stakeholders also discussed how to improve consumer information, to better educate consumers about the differences between regulated and unregulated will providers, and related protections and redress routes.

Witnesses: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2014, Official Report, column 580W, on evidence in court, for what reason HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) does not hold data on the number of child witnesses summoned to give evidence in court; and if he will request HMCTS to do so in future. [203723]

Damian Green: HMCTS uses information about witnesses in criminal cases to ensure that individual trials are managed effectively. It has not been necessary to collate or retain this information after a trial has been completed. HMCTS is reviewing how it may capture those data in future.

Youth Custody

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how he will enforce his lights out policy for young offenders currently accommodated in adult prisons. [203205]

Jeremy Wright: There are currently no offenders under 18 years old being accommodated in adult prisons.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what time will be set in his lights out policy for young offenders; and what evidence was used to select that time. [203206]

Jeremy Wright: We are committed to reforming the youth secure estate. That includes improving the existing regime, within existing establishments, alongside our plans for Secure Colleges. Introducing a latest bedtime

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of 10.30pm in public Under-18 Young Offender Institutions is a sensible measure to ensure young people have a routine that will enable them to engage effectively in the regime.

In developing this standardised bedtime for young people in Under-18 Young Offender Institutions, we have undertaken consultation with a number of staff in those Under-18 YOIs to ensure that this measure will assist in providing young people with structure and consistency.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bahrain

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has received about the imprisonment of the Bahrain 13; [203694]

(2) what reports he has received about the reasons for the imprisonment of the Bahrain 13; [203713]

(3) if he will raise with his Bahraini counterpart the release of the Bahrain 13. [203714]

Hugh Robertson: The Government welcomed the decision to review these cases in a civilian court and to drop all charges relating to freedom of expression in 2012, but we understand that other serious charges against the individuals remain. At the time that these individuals were originally convicted, reports acknowledged by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry suggested that some defendants had been abused in detention, denied access to legal counsel and coerced into confessing. We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to meet all their human rights obligations and guarantee their citizens the fundamental liberties to which they are entitled.

British Overseas Territories

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the governance of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. [203446]

Mark Simmonds: Governance is continuously monitored by the FCO through frequent dialogue with the Governor, administrators, senior island government officials, NGOs and others. FCO and DFID officials also periodically visit the islands to inform their assessments. The FCO and Governor also meet a variety of stakeholders from all the islands to listen to their views.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received expressing concern about the governance of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. [203447]

Mark Simmonds: Individual complaints or allegations may be raised from time to time, relating to governance issues. Whenever such representations are received, they are taken very seriously, are properly investigated and dealt with as necessary.

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The annual Joint Ministerial Council hosted in London by the FCO is also a forum for elected representatives from the islands to raise any concerns about governance with UK Ministers.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the implementation of the Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009 and of the efficacy of that Order in securing democratic representation and human rights in that territory. [203448]

Mark Simmonds: The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009 is functioning well, serving as a sound foundation for the development of democratic process and providing comprehensive terms for the protection of human rights. Well-run general elections were held in St Helena and Ascension Island in 2013. On Tristan da Cunha, also in 2013, a new Island Council was formed. There were eight candidates nominated for the eight seats so an election was not necessary. Three councillors were also appointed, in keeping with the Constitution.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of recent trends in (a) the cost of living and (b) living standards in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. [203449]

Mark Simmonds: Managing the cost of living and living standards is largely a matter for the locally elected government with HMG providing support as may be appropriate.

As St Helena moves towards the opening of its airport, the island has seen a number of positive developments. Incomes have increased significantly over the last two years and unemployment is low. Ascension Island's special status means that those living there must be employed. The standard of living is good with satisfactory education and health services. Employees receive a competitive housing, salary and allowances package. Although Tristan da Cunha is not in receipt of budgetary aid, HMG provides support in training, health, education and infrastructure to help improve living standards.

Bulgaria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on recent difficulties facing Bulgarian banks. [203190]

Mr Lidington: Government Ministers have not had discussions with other EU member states on the recent events involving some Bulgarian banks. We understand that the Bulgarian authorities are conducting internal investigations on the activity of one bank.

Burma

Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has raised the jailing of journalist Zaw Pe with the Government of Burma. [203270]

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Mr Swire: Our ambassador has discussed the case of Zaw Pe, and those of other arrested journalists, with the Burmese Deputy Minister of Information Ye Htut, raising our concerns and encouraging the Government to ensure a safe environment for journalists to conduct their work. The cases of Zaw Pe and many other individuals were also raised during the first EU-Burma Human Rights Dialogue in May.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what projects his Department is supporting to promote free media in Burma. [203279]

Mr Swire: On 7 May, the British ambassador hosted a reception for members of the Burmese media to mark World Press Freedom Day. He welcomed widening freedom for media to operate in the country in the past few years, but expressed our serious concerns over the detention of several journalists in recent months.

The UK also funds several projects to support the development and professionalisation of the media in Burma. For example, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is funding a project that promotes responsible media coverage of religious freedom and conflict. Through the Department for International Development we provide a global grant to BBC Media Action, which supports work in Burma, such as training for local journalists and the launch of new programmes featuring opposition voices and the views of ordinary Burmese people. Through the British Council, we have funded workshops for photographers and filmmakers, and supported weekly radio broadcasts reaching millions of listeners across the country.

Through the EU, the UK also funds two projects providing training and capacity building for members of the Burmese media, especially those reporting on the peace process and democratic reforms. Supported activities include roundtable discussions between media, government and civil society; training of young journalists; courses in investigative reporting; and training for civil society organisations.

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of recent trends in the level of use of forced labour in Chin state, Burma. [203422]

Mr Swire: The Burmese Government have taken welcome steps towards the elimination of forced labour, as noted in the Resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in March this year. However, we recognise that forced labour continues to be a problem in Chin State and elsewhere in Burma. We urge the Government to continue their co-operation with the UN and International Labour Organisation to ensure this practice is eliminated once and for all.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the imprisonment of ethnic Rohingya people for getting married. [203632]

Mr Swire: We have not received any specific reports of Rohingya people being imprisoned for getting married. However, we remain deeply concerned about the situation of the Rohingya, including in relation to discriminatory marriage practices reported in Rakhine State.

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The British Government are one of the most vocal and active members of the international community in supporting those calling for human rights and democracy in Burma. We will continue to urge the Burmese Government to take action to protect the lives and rights of Rohingya, and to address the underlying causes of ethnic and religious discrimination and violence.

Central African Republic

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 201W, on the Central African Republic, how much funding the UK will allocate to the deployment of the team of experts to the Central African Republic to investigate sexual violence abuses; how many specialists will be deployed from the UK; when the team of experts will be deployed; and if he will make a statement. [202856]

Mark Simmonds: The UK is providing £279,000 to the African Union (AU) to support the deployment of a multidisciplinary team of African experts, including medical doctors, psychologists, lawyers and police officers. The programme will be managed by the AU Mission in the Central African Republic, MISCA, through Medecins D’Afrique, a Pan-African NGO with expertise in emergency response. The programme is designed to build African capacity to tackle conflict-related sexual violence, and the UK is not providing any experts as part of the deployment. The team will track and report on allegations of sexual violence, for further action by the AU Commission and African Governments. We expect the team to deploy shortly.

Counter-terrorism

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 256W, on counter-terrorism, which activities have ceased as a result of the reduction in the Counter-Terrorism Prevention Fund budget. [203492]

Mr Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not release details of specific activities funded by the Counter-Terrorism Programme Fund (CTPF), for operational and security reasons.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 256W, on counter-terrorism, by how much the Counter-Terrorism Prevention Fund has been reduced over what period. [203493]

Mr Hague: The Counter Terrorism Programme Fund (CTPF) budget has been:

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This reflects the redirection of Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) resources and the shift of some programmes to other Government Departments. The CTPF is only one element of the FCO’s resources for countering terrorism. It is complemented by other budgets used for counter-terrorism related activities and the tri-departmental (FCO, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence) Conflict Pool (ref WMS of 24 June). The FCO Strategic Programme Fund Allocation for 2014-15 will be announced shortly.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that businesses choosing to operate in Gibraltar are able to do so as easily as possible. [203191]

Mr Lidington: Business and economic matters are within the constitutional competence of HM Government of Gibraltar. Gibraltar provides a professional infrastructure that is compliant with European standards of regulation. The numerous international businesses already based in Gibraltar are testament to this.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar in relation to a change in law enabling British citizens to become Gibraltarians after 10 years of residence in Gibraltar. [203192]

Mr Lidington: Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar have introduced a Bill to amend the Gibraltarian Status Act 1962 lowering the qualifying period for registration from 25 years to 10 years. This is an area within the constitutional competence of Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar and I have had no discussions with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar about the change.

Gibraltar: Spain

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the current official position of the UN on Spain's claim to Gibraltar; and what steps he is taking to secure condemnation by the UN of Spain's behaviour in relation to Gibraltar. [203186]

Mr Lidington: Gibraltar is discussed in the UN’s Fourth Committee and Special Committee on Decolonisation. The most recent Fourth Committee decision on Gibraltar urges the Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom to reach a solution in light of all preceding resolutions, while listening to the interests and aspirations of Gibraltar that are legitimate under international law.

The United Kingdom robustly defends its sovereignty over Gibraltar at the UN through rights of reply in the various UN fora in which Spain raises the issue. The Government will also continue to ensure the views of Gibraltarians are heard at the United Nations, and the realities of Spain’s actions are widely understood.

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Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to assist the Government of Iraq in tackling the threat posed by ISIS. [203188]

Hugh Robertson: We support the Iraqi Government in their fight against terrorism. We are taking action in three areas: promoting political unity among those who support a democratic Iraqi state and regional stability, offering assistance where appropriate, and alleviating humanitarian suffering.

Tackling the threat from foreign extremists currently operating as part of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a priority.

We have pledged £5 million in direct support to Iraq. This includes funding for food and basic shelter to those affected by the crisis, clean water and sanitation, essential medicine, hygiene kits and basic household items, and protection for vulnerable girls and women through the deployment of dedicated UN safety and welfare teams in key internally displaced person/refugee camp sites and areas.

Lesotho

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current political situation in Lesotho. [203738]

Mark Simmonds: Through our high commission in South Africa, which covers our relations with Lesotho, we are closely monitoring the political situation in the country following the decision on 10 June by Lesotho's Prime Minister to prorogue Parliament for nine months (until 27 February 2015). The UK supports the South African Development Community's (SADC) call for all parties to follow the constitution.

Nigeria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department has offered to the Nigerian authorities in tackling the threat of Boko Haram. [203193]

Mark Simmonds: The UK is playing a leading role in helping Nigeria to tackle the terrorist threat from Boko Haram and related group Ansaru, working closely both with the Nigerian authorities and international partners the UK proscribed Boko Haram in July 2013.

Following the abduction in April of the Chibok schoolgirls the Prime Minister offered a package of support including: tactical advice and training for the military to help counter terrorism ; military air surveillance capacity and intelligence support to help try to locate the girls; £1 million towards the UN Safe Schools initiative. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), hosted a ministerial meeting on security in Nigeria on 12 June in London. The meeting delivered agreements from Nigeria, neighbouring countries and international partners on improved security, intelligence cooperation, and commitment both to coordination of development working in the region and to empowerment and education of women.

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We are also working with Nigeria on a range of judicial and security projects to improve military capacity, policing, access to justice and prosecution of terrorists. All UK counter terrorism work is subject to the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) process.

North Korea

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will bring the conclusions relating to the genocidal extermination of Christianity in the report commissioned by Human Liberty entitled “Crimes against humanity” published in May 2014 to the attention of the UN Security Council, the North Korean Government and HM Embassy in Pyongyang. [203385]

Mr Swire: We are aware of the report produced by Hogan Lovells on behalf of Human Liberty. However, we note that the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) was unable to establish the crime of genocide on religious grounds, because the available evidence in this respect was ambiguous.

However, the COI did find that systematic and widespread human rights violations were taking place, and did find reasonable grounds to establish that crimes against humanity had been committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The findings of the COI formed the basis of the core text of the subsequent UN Human Rights Council resolution on the DPRK, adopted in March 2014, which the UK cosponsored.

In April, the same month, the UK took part in a public ‘Arria-formula' briefing with other Security Council member states to consider DPRK human rights. In May, the UK raised DPRK human rights concerns during closed consultations between the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Security Council. In June, I visited Geneva, where I took part in an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the DPRK, Mr Mazuki Darusman. I raised the importance of DPRK human rights with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and stressed the importance of UN action. The next step will be to ensure there is an appropriate focus on DPRK human rights at this autumn's UN General Assembly (UNGA) session and that there is a strong DPRK resolution, strongly supported, in the UNGA Third Committee.

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government support recommendation 1224 of the UN Human Rights Council's Report of the detailed findings of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), published in February 2014; and whether his Department has taken steps to support the work of human rights non-governmental organisations in their attempts to broadcast accessible information into the DPRK and to improve the human rights situation in that country. [203413]

Mr Swire: The UK does not currently provide financial support to any of the organisations making cross-border broadcasts into the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK). Through our embassy in Pyongyang, however, the UK is one of the few countries that are able to engage directly with North Koreans,

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complementing the efforts of others, like the US, that support broadcasts into North Korea. The recent report of the UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights in North Korea recognised the importance of both approaches.

The UK continues to play an active role in raising human rights violations in the DPRK in other meaningful ways. For example, we pressed for a strong DPRK resolution at the March UN Human Rights Council, including a call for the UN General Assembly to submit the report of the Commission of Inquiry to the UN Security Council for its consideration and appropriate action. In April, we and other Security Council members took part in a public “Arria” briefing by the Commission and in May, we raised the need for a continued focus on human rights during a UN Security Council Sanctions Committee. Recently, I visited Geneva, where I took part in an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the DPRK, Mr Mazuki Darusman. I raised the importance of DPRK human rights with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and stressed the importance of UN action. The next step will be to ensure there is an appropriate focus on DPRK human rights at this autumn's UN General Assembly session and that there is a strong DPRK resolution, strongly supported, in the UNGA Third Committee.

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the UK has put to the Permanent Five members of the UN Security Council (P5) on collective participation in the Conference on the Humanitarian Effects of Nuclear Weapons being hosted in Vienna in December 2014 by the Austrian Government; and what discussions were held within the P5 on participation in the predecessor conferences held in Norway and Mexico. [203561]

Hugh Robertson: The UK has not put any proposals to the Permanent Five (P5) members on attendance at the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Effects of Nuclear Weapons. The UK, US, France, Russia and China exchanged views on attendance ahead of both of the previous humanitarian consequences conferences.

The P5 dialogue (initiated by the UK in 2009), provides a valuable opportunity for the P5 to exchange views on a range of nuclear disarmament issues, and is an essential step to building trust and confidence among the nuclear weapons states, as part of a step-by-step approach to disarmament.

Pakistan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to assist the Government of Pakistan in tackling the threat posed by the Taliban. [203189]

Hugh Robertson: Pakistan is on the front line of the global fight against terrorism, including against groups such as the Pakistan Taliban. It remains one of our priority countries for counter-terrorism work. A major

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part of this effort is dedicated to working with Pakistanis to reduce the threat from violent extremism and to build their capacity to deal with it. This requires a determined security response, but also investment in education, tackling poverty, and confronting the extremist narrative.

Alongside this, we have pledged further assistance, including UK strategic expertise, capacity development to improve detection and disruption of improvised explosive devices, support with developing effective approaches to countering violent extremism and infrastructure security. Our approach is supported by intensive diplomatic work, bilaterally, multilaterally, and in concert with key partners such as the European Union and the United States.

Palestinians

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the motivation of Hamas in kidnapping three Israeli teenagers on 12 June 2014. [R] [202988]

Hugh Robertson: We have made no assessment on this issue. We are encouraging Israel to continue to work with the Palestinian Authority in order to find the perpetrators. We will look very closely at any information about who is responsible.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department took to help secure the release of Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Sha'ar and Naftali Frankel, who were abducted in the West Bank on 12 June 2014. [203659]

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office offered practical support to the Israeli authorities to help find the kidnapped teenagers.

Pay

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations collect subscriptions through the employers' payroll service in his Department and its agencies. [203105]

Hugh Robertson: The following organisations collect subscriptions through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office payroll service:

Friends Life Service

British Health Care Association Services Ltd

The Benenden Healthcare Society

The Charity For Civil Servants

Civil Service Club

Civil Service Healthcare Society Ltd

Civil Service Sports Council

The Hospital Saturday Fund

Engage Mutual Assurance

Simplyhealth

Public and Commercial Service Union

Post Office Insurance Society Assurance Ltd

Prospect Union.

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Saudi Arabia

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to improve the situation of Christian people in Saudi Arabia who face difficulties as a result of publicly practising their faith. [203144]

Hugh Robertson: We have made clear to the Saudi authorities our strong support for the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi raised the importance of religious tolerance in meetings with Governor and Mayor of Makkah, Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, and the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in February 2014.

Syria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK contribution to establishing democracy in Syria. [203181]

Hugh Robertson: The lack of democratic freedoms in Syria is at the root of the current crisis. The recent elections held by the Assad regime were a parody of democracy, taking place against the backdrop of horrendous violence, and with many millions of Syrians disenfranchised.

Since its formation in October 2012, we have provided the National Coalition with practical and political support designed to help it become ever more credible and inclusive and to promote democracy inside Syria. We have also worked with grass-roots civil society groups and local councils in Syria to promote good governance at a local level. Our work with the moderate opposition is now more vital than ever as they face a dual threat from the Assad regime and terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) which wants to destroy democracy in the region and replace it with an Islamic state.

Ukraine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Ukrainian counterpart on immediate threats to Ukraine from Russia. [203185]

Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 23 June. During the meeting Mr Klimkin presented President Poroshenko’s peace plan, and asked for a clear EU message of support. Mr Klimkin stressed that the peace process should be inclusive, and reflected on the risk that, if the current situation were prolonged, illegal groups would destabilise the situation further.

In the Conclusions of the meeting, the EU reiterated its strong support for Ukraine's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and called upon Russia to do likewise, to repudiate the latest lawless acts in Eastern Ukraine and to contribute to stabilize the situation. The EU called on all parties to exercise restraint and commended the Ukrainian authorities for pursuing

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their law and order operations in a measured manner. The EU also encouraged the Government in Kyiv to contribute further to reducing tensions.

The Foreign Secretary also spoke to Mr Klimkin on 3 July to reiterate UK support in the face of continuing Russian aggression.

World War I: Anniversaries

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First Battle of the Marne between 5 and 12 September 2014. [203331]

Mark Simmonds: The Battle of the Marne is not part of the UK national programme for the First World War Centenary commemorations. We are in regular contact with the French Government regarding centenary commemorations, and will be guided by their plans to commemorate the Battle of the Marne, supporting them as appropriate.

Attorney-General

Corruption: Tanzania

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Attorney-General what reports he has received of bribery of foreign officials in Tanzania by African Barrack Gold plc; and whether the SFO plans to investigate those reports. [203352]

The Attorney-General: As and when matters are brought to the attention of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) they are assessed in the context of the SFO's remit to investigate fraud, bribery and corruption. If appropriate, relevant matters will be considered for criminal investigation in line with SFO internal procedures. The SFO does not comment on its assessments or their status at any one time but does publish on its website details of those cases formally adopted for criminal investigation, whenever this is possible without prejudice to the investigation.

Wonga

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what discussions have taken place between the Financial Conduct Authority and the Serious Fraud Office on the recent finding by that regulator that Wonga sent letters to debtors from non-existent solicitors demanding payment. [203475]

The Attorney-General: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has no records of any discussion with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in regard to this matter.

Press statements have been issued by both the FCA and the City of London Police concerning Wonga and their agreement to pay compensation.

If the SFO is approached by any law enforcement or regulatory bodies then any relevant matters will be considered for criminal investigation in line with the SFO's remit to investigate fraud, bribery and corruption.

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Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what consideration the Serious Fraud Office has given to investigating Wonga, for fraud by false representation under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. [203476]

The Attorney-General: The Serious Fraud Office is aware that City of London Police are reviewing whether a criminal investigation is now appropriate.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service has been contacted for investigative advice by any police force in England and Wales with regard to the possible criminal liability following the findings by the Financial Conduct Authority that Wonga has been threatening debtors with letters from fake law firms. [203477]

The Attorney-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has not yet been approached for investigative advice, by any police force, in respect of possible criminal matters arising from the Financial Conduct Authority investigation of Wonga.

Following the announcement that Wonga would pay £2.6 million in compensation, after sending letters from non-existent law firms to customers in arrears, the CPS Deputy Head of the Specialist Fraud Division contacted the City of London Police, on the 26 June 2014, to enquire whether this matter was being criminally investigated.

City of London Police are the national police lead for serious fraud investigations. They are currently assessing whether the case merits a criminal investigation and have confirmed that they will refer any request for advice to the CPS Specialist Fraud Division.

Work and Pensions

Apprentices

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many apprentices his Department and its agencies employed in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014; and how many he expects to employ in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016. [203722]

Mike Penning: The number of apprentices employed in DWP for the years asked for is as follows:

The anticipated number of apprentices to be employed in DWP in the future years asked for is as follows:

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Attendance Allowance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department are working on claims for attendance allowance for older people; and how many staff were employed in each of the last 16 quarters. [203436]

Mike Penning: Please see the data in the following table which shows the number of staff processing all claims to attendance allowance over the periods requested.

The headcount figures are in full-time equivalent form whereby part-time staff are counted as a proportion of one full-time staff member depending on the number of hours they work.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, columns 171W, on children: maintenance, on how many occasions where contingency measures had to be employed by the Department's Child Maintenance Group (CMG) to support the work of the Child Maintenance Options Service it was the case that call demands exceeded forecasted volumes; how many CMG staff were deployed on each such occasion; and in which office or offices of the CMG these trained contingency staff were located. [202918]

Steve Webb: Child Maintenance Group (CMG) staff, based at Barnsley, were used on three, limited duration, occasions (November 2013, January 2014 and February 2014) when call demand exceeded forecasted volumes.

The number of CMG staff engaged in this activity, at any one time, varied between five and 20 colleagues for periods ranging from minutes to hours. Most of this activity took place in the CMG Barnsley office. However,

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there was a short period, before telephony lines could be transferred, when CMG staff travelled to the Child Maintenance Options office.

CMG staff have been used as contingency only where demand is above the agreed contracted level. This planned approach ensures value for money as we are not paying for long-term resource where the forecast shows a short- term increase in demand.

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will bring into force section 40 of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008. [203664]

Steve Webb: We are exploring bringing into force powers laid out in the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, providing for the disclosure of payment information to credit reference agencies. This would be subject to a public consultation before any regulations were laid in Parliament.

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the written evidence from his Department to the Work and Pensions Committee of 20 October 2013 on child maintenance reform, when he will publish initial findings from the series of behaviour change trials undertaken by his Department to test different interventions aimed at addressing the barriers that prevent parents from making regular payments of child maintenance. [203665]

Steve Webb: The series of behaviour trials completed later than expected, in May 2014. Now that the trials are completed, a full evaluation is underway. Once the evaluation has concluded, we will share the findings in accordance with the undertakings we gave to the Select Committee, in October 2013. We will incorporate any learning from the successful trials into our approach to tackle and prevent the build-up of arrears.

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether debt accrued by non-resident parents transfers automatically to the Child Maintenance Service for enforcement when the Child Support Agency is abolished. [203899]

Steve Webb: Our first priority is to collect money for children who will benefit from regular ongoing maintenance payments, rather than the pursuit of historic arrears in cases where the children have now grown up.

However, where arrears of child maintenance are linked to an ongoing child maintenance case on the 2012 scheme, we will move arrears in those cases to the Child Maintenance Service and pursue them as appropriate alongside the ongoing maintenance case.

In cases where the arrears are not linked to an ongoing 2012 case, and a parent with care does not request that their arrears are written off, we will transfer them to the Child Maintenance Service and pursue collection as resources allow.

Children: Poverty

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in Yorkshire were in (a) relative and (b) absolute poverty in 1997-98 and in each year since. [202933]

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Esther McVey: Estimates of the number and proportion of children in relative and absolute low income are published in the National Statistics Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. This information is captured using the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The latest publication is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201213

Due to small sample sizes, local poverty estimates for Yorkshire are not available as robust estimates cannot be produced. However, HBAI does provide three-year average estimates of the number of children in relative and absolute low income in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Employment and Support Allowance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost incurred by his Department was of appeals against employment and support allowance decisions in 2010 and in each year since. [202927]

Mike Penning: We have taken action to reduce the cost of appeals by reforming the DWP appeal process. Mandatory reconsideration, where we look again at individual decisions before it goes to a tribunal, alongside our wider reforms to streamline the system are designed to avoid the need for expensive appeals.

We have seen a significant reduction in the volume of appeals. During the first quarter of this year appeals against ESA decisions decreased by almost 90%, compared with the same time last year. We expect that this will be reflected in a lower total cost incurred by this Department in 2014-15.

The operating costs incurred by the Department for appeals against ESA decisions prior to 2014-15 are as follows:

In addition to these costs, the Department has paid the following amounts to HMCTS. These costs are for the number of appeals against ESA decisions that HMCTS has handled which are in excess of the volume for which they have been funded for in their baseline funding.

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people wait more than (a) three, (b) six, (c) nine and (d) 12 months to receive a tribunal appeal decision following an employment and support allowance decision; and what steps the Government are taking to speed up that process. [202928]

Mike Penning: The information requested is not readily available.

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As a consequence of the recent significant drop in appeals the Tribunal Service expects its clearance times to significantly decrease.

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time is that people wait to receive employment and support allowance following a successful tribunal appeal. [202929]

Mike Penning: The information requested is not readily available.

DWP action appeal disposals from HMCTS as a matter of urgency once received to ensure the customer is not disadvantaged.

Employment Schemes: Autism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to help people with autism find appropriate work. [203179]

Mike Penning: The Government have contributed significantly to the development of the ‘Rethink Autism' strategy, owned by the Department of Health.

DWP is an active member of the Autism Programme Board and is working closely with colleagues from across Government to address a number of key commitments that support the employment of people with autistic spectrum conditions including Asperger's syndrome and associated hidden impairment conditions.

DWP is working with an extensive range of partner organisations and the Hidden Impairment National Group (HING), which the Minister has agreed to sponsor.

Employment: Depressive Illnesses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how many people are signed off work as a result of depression. [203170]

Mike Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold information on the number of people taking sickness absence from work as a result of depression.

European Social Fund: Cornwall

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on Cornwall's additional European social funding. [203605]

Esther McVey: The Government have asked Local Enterprise Partnerships to work with local partners on a strategy for how the European Social Fund (2014-20) should be spent in their area. The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership has developed a comprehensive strategy, the themes of which the Government have incorporated into the draft operational programme which will be submitted to the European Commission this month to begin the negotiating process.

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Gas Masks

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 126W, on gas masks, what progress he has made on preventing the continued online sale of Second World War gas masks containing asbestos. [203585]

Mike Penning: HSE has concluded its sampling exercise with online sellers. A number of the different types of gas mask available were analysed and most found to contain asbestos. The placing on the market, supply and transport of almost all items containing asbestos, including gas masks, is prohibited by the EU Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EU1907/2006) (REACH).

HSE and Trading Standards are working with the platform, which hosted the purchases of the gas masks involved in the study, on a policy to prohibit the sale of items that fall under REACH.

HSE will continue work on a case-by-case basis with Local Authority Trading Standards, which is responsible for enforcement relating to sale to consumers, to take robust action against those who break the law on asbestos and unnecessarily put themselves and others at risk.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty on (a) the total housing benefit bill, (b) overcrowding, (c) homelessness and (d) housing mobility. [203739]

Esther McVey: The information is as follows:

(a) The housing benefit bill was expected to rise above £25 billion in 2014-15 (£15 billion for the social rented sector alone) prior to the introduction of the removal of the spare room subsidy.

The Department estimated the policy would achieve savings of £490 million in 2013-14, £525 million in 2014-15 and £560 million in 2015-16.

(b) to (d) The policy to remove the spare room subsidy introduces not only parity of treatment between the private and social rented sectors, but encourages more effective use of social housing stock. It has reduced the number of households who under-occupy their properties, which has freed up larger homes for those currently on the social housing waiting list who are living in overcrowded conditions. It also encourages social providers to take account of local needs and demographic trends when allocating properties and developing their building programmes. Levels of homelessness acceptances in England have reduced 7% in the last quarter compared with the same period in the previous year. This is 65% lower than the peak in 2003.

The effects of the policy are being monitored and evaluated over a two-year period from April 2013. Initial findings will be published before recess and the final report in late 2015.

Jobcentre Plus: Wolverhampton

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what conclusions he has drawn from his small-scale test bed at Wolverhampton Jobcentre for the Supervised Pilot Scheme. [203350]

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Esther McVey: A supervised job-search test bed in Wolverhampton ran from December 2013 to February 2014. The purpose of the test bed was to examine on a small scale which areas would be viable design options for the supervised job-search pilots to be introduced later this year.

In overall terms the success of the test bed confirmed that a protracted supervised job-search could be delivered with the long-term unemployed client group. As a result of what we learnt from Wolverhampton, we have incorporated several elements into the pilots design, including:

induction sessions, to set clear expectations and assess individuals' abilities;

basic IT training;

integrating group sessions and one-to-one support to retain claimants concentration and engagement; and

supporting participants to focus on tailored, quality job applications.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish Matthew Oakley's independent review of jobseeker's allowance sanctions. [203495]

Esther McVey: The report and the Government's response will be published in due course.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 431W, on jobseeker’s allowance, how many jobseekers aged (a) between 18 and 21, (b) 22 and 24 and (c) 25 years and over were assessed for potential skills needs at the beginning of their claim to jobseeker’s allowance in the most recent year for which data are available; and how many jobseekers in each category were assessed as having a skills need. [203725]

Esther McVey: All jobseekers are assessed at the beginning of their claim to jobseeker’s allowance for potential skills needs that are a barrier to them finding work. Where a skills need is identified, claimants are referred to courses.

This Government are committed to ensuring jobseekers have the skills they need to get into work. In 2012-13, 171,100 young people aged 19 to 24 and claiming benefit started a learning course, an increase of 30% over 2011-12.

Pay

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which organisations collect subscriptions through the employers' payroll service in his Department and its agencies. [203111]

Mike Penning: The following list shows a Treasury- approved list of organisations to which employees can pay subscriptions and premiums through voluntary deductions to their salary.

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The Department is unable to determine which of these are specifically subscriptions as per the question asked, so for completeness this list details all potential voluntary deductions operated within the Department.

Benenden Healthcare Society

The following are covered under British Hospitals Contributory Association:

Anglia Health

Bolton and District

BUPA Cash Plan

Crewe Hospital

Gwent Hospital

Leicester & County

Mercia Health

Patients Aid

Premier Health Benefits

Provincial Hosp Service

Simply Health

Sovereign Health

Transport Hosp Fund—Healthshield

Wakefield Health Scheme

Western Provident Asscociation.

Birmingham Hospital Sat Fund

Charity Trust

Civil Service Benevolent Fund

Civil Service Club

Civil Service Retirement Fellowship

Civil Service Sports Council

CSBF Recovery Of Loans

Customs Annuity Ben Fund

FDA

Forester Health

HASSRA

HASSRA National Lottery

Health Scheme

Health Sure Group

Hosp Savings Assoc Crown

Hosp Savings Assoc Individual

Hospital Saturday Fund

Leeds Hospital Fund Ltd

Merseyside Health

Norwich Union

PCS

Post Office Insurance Soc

Prospect

Scottish Benevolent Fund

Sun Life Assurance Society

Transport and General Workers Union

UK Civil Service Benefit Society

Welsh Hosp and Health Servs Association

Westfield Health Scheme Discretionary

Westfield Health Scheme Fixed

Give As You Earn G.A.Y.E.