Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to enable elderly people to claim their benefits manually without requiring an online application. [203215]

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Steve Webb: The main benefits claimed by elderly people are state pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, carer's allowance and housing benefit. Claims for state pension can be made online, by telephone or by letter. Claims for pension credit can be made by telephone or by paper application.

Claims for attendance allowance are made by paper application. For carer's allowance, claims can be made either online or through a paper application. Claims for housing benefit can be made by paper application and in certain circumstances by telephone. In addition, people over women's state pension age receive a winter fuel payment, which in most cases does not need to be claimed since the Department already holds the information necessary to make the payment.

Personal Independence Payment

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to demonstrate transparency and accountability with specific regard to the level of service provided to customers claiming personal independent payments. [203323]

Mike Penning: The Department has introduced a number of actions to ensure that our levels of service are transparent and claimants are aware of how long their PIP claim might take. Information about estimated journey times is included with the, “How your disability affects you”, form and by sending a text message acknowledging receipt of this form. We have updated the online information available to claimants and support organisations via gov.uk to include information regarding how long a claim might take.

We are committed to regularly publishing details of the number of cases we process and the number of awards of PIP.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the data on clearance time for personal independent payments are robust enough to be published; and what timescale he has set for implementing such steps. [203324]

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department will include data on clearance times of personal independence payment applications using normal and special rules claims in its quarterly statistical publication. [203399]

Mike Penning: Statistics on clearance times are intended for future publication, but releasing them at this stage would give an incorrect representation of the process since the system has not yet reached maturity, and further quality assurance of the data is required. Departmental analysts are currently assessing the quality of these data to ensure they meet the standards set by the UK Statistics Authority before they can be published.

In accordance with UK Statistics Authority guidelines, we will preannounce our intention to release these statistics, at least one month prior to their publication, on the UKSA hub and also on our PIP statistics webpage at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics

7 July 2014 : Column 109W

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what specific steps the Department took to reduce the delays to personal independence payment (PIP) claimants using special rules; and when PIP claimants using normal rules will benefit from efforts to reduce waiting times. [203392]

Mike Penning: So far we have introduced:

A dedicated phone service with specially trained staff;

An electronic transfer of information between a claimant’s health professional, DWP and assessment providers.

Trialling a new process to enable decisions to be made in-house with support from health-care professionals

Clearer guidance for DWP staff.

We are absolutely committed to reducing the delays. By the autumn, we expect no one to be waiting for an assessment for longer than 26 weeks and by the end of the year we expect no one will be waiting longer than 16 weeks.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department’s target time is for people to receive an accurate decision for claiming the personal independence payment. [203393]

Mike Penning: There are no legal requirements to complete action on a claim to PIP within a specified time, but we continue to monitor how long the claimant journey is taking and implement measures to speed up the process.

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to better identify personal independence payment claimants who could be assessed solely on the basis of written evidence and without the need for face-to-face assessments. [203696]

Mike Penning: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewisham East (Heidi Alexander) on 2 July 2014, Official Report, column 641W.

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has conducted an impact assessment of the effects of the time taken to resolve claims for personal independence payments on claimants. [203698]

Mike Penning: We keep the time taken to process claims under constant review and are absolutely committed to improving performance. We are already seeing improvements to our processes and will continue to work to further reduce delays and backlogs.

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department took to reduce delays to personal independence payment (PIP) special rules claims; how long it took to resolve those delays; what steps he plans to take to reduce delays to PIP claims in the normal rules; and what estimate he has made of the time that will be taken to reduce those delays. [203699]

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Mike Penning: As soon as I became aware of the length of time it was taking some special rules cases to be processed I took action to reduce the timescales and introduced:

A dedicated phone service with specially trained staff;

An electronic transfer of information between a claimant's health professional, DWP and assessment providers;

a trial of a new process to enable decisions to be made in-house with support from health care professionals

I am pleased to say that we are now seeing improvements to clearance times for claims from terminally ill people.

We have acknowledged that claims under our normal rules are currently taking too long. We are absolutely committed to improving performance—ours and that of the assessment providers. We are already seeing improvements to our processes and will continue to work to further reduce delays and backlogs.

By the autumn, we expect no one to be waiting for an assessment for longer than 26 weeks and by the end of the year, we expect no one will be waiting longer than 16 weeks.

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what forecast his Department has made of the length of time each part of the claims process for personal independence payment (PIP) up to provision of accurate and targeted assessments will take; and what guidance his Department uses for a reasonable amount of time for an individual to wait for an accurate targeted assessment for PIP. [203706]

Mike Penning: We keep the time taken to process claims under constant review and are absolutely committed to improving performance. We accept that the delays faced by some people are unacceptable, and we are committed to putting that right. By the autumn, we expect no one to be waiting for an assessment for longer than 26 weeks and by the end of the year we expect no one will be waiting longer than 16 weeks.

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether disabled people who go into debt because of long delays in processing their personal independence payment claims will be able to receive assistance from the Government to help pay off the interest on their debts. [203731]

Mike Penning: Most claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) will already be receiving some element of financial support to meet day-to-day living expenses, for example through earnings or through receipt of income maintenance benefits such as employment and support allowance. No successful new claimant to PIP will lose out financially as claims will be backdated. Additionally, disability living allowance (DLA) claimants claiming PIP continue to receive their DLA while the PIP claim is being assessed.

Poverty

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) children, (b) pensioners and (c) households fell below 60 per cent of contemporary median equivalised income (i) before and (ii) after housing costs in 2007-08 and in each year since. [202925]

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Esther McVey: Estimates of the number and proportion of children, pensioners and households falling below 60% of contemporary median equivalised 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

The number and proportion of children, pensioners and households falling below 60% of contemporary median equivalised income (i) before and (ii) after housing costs in 2007-08 to 2011-12 are available in the tables provided:

Procurement

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of his Department's contracts were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (a) direct procurement spend and (b) indirect procurement spend in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013; and what the projected proportion is for (A) 2014, (B) 2015 and (C) 2016. [203717]

Mike Penning: Unfortunately, the information requested is not routinely collected by the Department and is therefore unavailable at this time.

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Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how of his Department’s contracts were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (a) direct procurement spend and (b) indirect procurement spend in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013; and what the projected number is for (A) 2014, (B) 2015 and (C) 2016. [203721]

Mike Penning: Unfortunately, the information requested is not routinely collected by the Department and is therefore unavailable at this time.

Schools: Asbestos

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to monitor the standards of asbestos management in schools (a) under and (b) outside of local authority control. [203583]

Mike Penning: The Health and Safety Executive continues to be a member of the Asbestos in Schools Steering Group, which aims to promote the effective management of asbestos in both local authority and non-local authority controlled schools. The steering group has representatives from the Joint Union Asbestos Committee, education trade unions, local authorities and independent schools.

In June 2014, HSE published the results of its latest inspection survey on the management of asbestos in schools covering those outside local authority control. This survey showed improved levels of awareness and a decrease in the level of enforcement action required in comparison with a survey of the same sector in 2010-11. HSE also completed a similar inspection exercise in 2010 on local authority controlled schools.

Social Security Benefits

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average time was taken between an application being made and benefit paid for (a) attendance allowance, (b) bereavement benefits, (c) carer's allowance, (d) disability living allowance, (e) employment and support allowance, (f) jobseeker's allowance, (g) maternity benefits, (h) housing benefit, (i) council tax benefit and (j) pension credit in (i) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years including the most recent period for which figures are available. [202987]

Mike Penning: The information regarding when a benefit is paid is not available as this can vary from each claim depending on circumstances, payment type and frequency of payment.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new claims were paid in April 2014 for (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) employment and support allowance, (c) income support, (d) housing benefit and (e) universal credit. [203728]

Esther McVey: Information on how many new claims were paid in April 2014 for (a) jobseeker's allowance (JSA), (b) employment and support allowance (ESA),

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(c)

income support (IS),

(d)

housing benefit (HB) and

(e)

universal credit (UC) is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Statistics on the number of JSA claimants who started a new claim in April 2014 can be found at:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/

Guidance for users can be found at:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Statistics on the number of ESA and IS claimants who started a new claim, by the number of previous claims on this benefit, up to and including November 2013 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool

Guidance for users is available at:

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

Statistics covering the period March 2014 to May 2014 are due to be published on 12 November 2014.

Statistics on the number of universal credit (UC) claimants who started a new claim up to and including March 2014 can be found at:

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

Statistics for April 2014 are due to be published on 16 July 2014.

State Retirement Pensions

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receive over-80 pensions; what estimate he has made of how many people are entitled to claim such pensions; and what steps he has taken to publicise such pensions to people who are entitled to them. [203423]

Steve Webb: The over-80 pension is also known as the Category D pension. The number of people in receipt of a Category D pension is published on the Department’s website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool

Guidance for users is available at:

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

A reliable estimate of how many people are entitled to claim this pension is not available.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) makes information available in various locations (for example, our website at www.gov.uk and leaflets available from our DWP Information Line on 0845 7313233) to ensure that people are aware of the benefits to which they may be entitled and how to claim them. In addition DWP's National Partnerships Team works with over 4,400 customer representative organisations, both nationally and locally, to provide a wide range of advice and support for pensioners.

Unemployment Benefits

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons his Department does not distinguish between those in paid and those in unpaid work when assessing their eligibility for out-of-work benefits; if he will revise his Department's policy in this area; and if he will make a statement. [203295]

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Esther McVey: There are a number of working-age benefits and each has slightly different rules. Working- age benefits are usually affected by earnings and, depending which benefit is in payment, the amount payable may be affected. If work is unpaid because it is voluntary work, this would, in most cases, not affect the benefit award. If work is unpaid and it is not reasonable for it to be unpaid, the income-related benefit rules allow an amount of notional earnings to be assumed.

Universal Credit

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide an estimate of how many people were in receipt of universal credit on 1 June 2014. [203169]

Esther McVey: The official universal credit statistics covering the period up to 31 May 2014 will be published on 13 August 2014.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the universal credit system will accept claims from those who are self-employed. [203552]

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

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

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

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

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 282W, on universal credit, how much his Department spent on IT development and implementation for universal credit in 2013-14; and how much it expects to spend on such development and implementation in 2014-15. [203724]

Esther McVey: The Department spent £186 million on IT, development and implementation for universal credit in 2013-14, against the previously forecast £401 million.

The forecast for 2014-15 is currently £316 million against the previous forecast of £317 million.

This forecast is subject to change due to further refinements of requirements and on-going commercial discussions. Plans continue to be developed to support rollout of UC within budget.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he plans to publish the revised impact assessment for universal credit. [203726]

Esther McVey: The Government published a detailed impact assessment in December 2012 to accompany the laying of the universal credit regulations that came into force in April 2013. There are no current plans to publish an update.

7 July 2014 : Column 115W

Valuation of Life and Health Inter-departmental Group

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what monetary thresholds were applied to the cost-per-quality adjusted life year quoted in the evidence submitted as part of the Health and Safety Executive's work with the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008; [203065]

(2) what measures of the value of life and health were included in the evidence submitted as part of the Health and Safety Executive's work with the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008. [203083]

Mike Penning: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 2 July 2014, Official Report, column 643W.

HSE does not apply cost-per-quality adjusted life year (QALY) thresholds. In the Regulatory Impact Assessment described in the evidence submitted by HSE to the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008, which is published in the Library, HSE used a value of £42,000 per QALY to estimate the benefits of the intervention. These were compared against the expected costs of the intervention in order to assess the potential net benefits to society.

Widowed Parent's Allowance

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants (a) received an overpayment of widowed parent's allowance and (b) were prosecuted for benefit fraud in respect of that allowance in each of the last five years. [203553]

Esther McVey: The following table represents the number of claimants in receipt of widowed parent’s allowance who received an overpayment and DWP recorded a prosecution outcome.

Work Capability Assessment

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a mandatory reconsideration of a work capability assessment is; and what steps the Government are taking to support employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants whose work capability assessments are being reconsidered, but who are unable to claim ESA during the reconsideration or claim jobseeker's allowance because they do not meet the entitlement criteria because they are too ill to seek work. [203404]

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Mike Penning: The Department is collecting information to understand how the introduction of mandatory reconsideration is operating, including completion timescales. However, these data are not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available at this time.

Departmental statisticians need to assure themselves of the quality of administrative data sources before releasing information as official statistics, and before the exact timing and format of statistics can be confirmed.

Although it is correct to say that ESA cannot be claimed during the mandatory reconsideration stage, it is not correct to say that jobseeker's allowance (JSA) cannot be claimed. These claimants have been found fit for work and the benefit for them is JSA. To be entitled to JSA, the conditions of entitlement, including the signing of a claimant commitment, must be satisfied. Where someone presents with health issues, the conditions are modified and the claimant commitment drafted accordingly—disability advisers support claimants in this position and provide specialist advice.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many decisions based on work capability assessments were overturned during the completion of the mandatory reconsideration period in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2012-13. [203624]

Mike Penning: The Department is collecting information to understand how the introduction of mandatory reconsideration (MR) is operating.

However, these data are not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available at this time.

Communities and Local Government

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department gives on the weight to be given to areas of outstanding natural beauty when calculating housing need for the purpose of drawing up local plans; and if he will make a statement. [203607]

Nick Boles: Local plans prepared by democratically accountable councils working with their local communities are based on objectively assessed housing needs. Areas of outstanding natural beauty have the highest status of protection in national planning policy in relation to landscape and scenic beauty, but they also contain living communities. Local authorities through their local plans are best placed to ensure communities in these areas are able to thrive alongside providing strong protection for these nationally important landscapes.

National planning policy sets out that local plans should meet objectively assessed needs, unless specific policies such as the protection of areas of outstanding natural beauty indicate development should be restricted. Our recently published planning guidance also addresses areas of outstanding natural beauty and can be found at

http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/natural-environment/landscape/

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Local authorities are also under a legal duty to cooperate in seeking to meet development requirements which cannot be wholly met within their own areas.

Betting Shops: Planning Permission

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects his Department to publish a consultation document on withdrawing permitted development rights for bookmakers; and if he will make a statement. [203326]

Nick Boles: We will consult in due course.

Care Act 2014

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the potential effect of the Care Act 2014 on local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [203281]

Brandon Lewis: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.

The Government produced an impact assessment and new burdens assessment which were published alongside the Care Act 2014.

We have worked collaboratively with a wide range of external partners, including representatives of local authorities, including the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services on the development of the Act and the accompanying draft regulations and guidance.

Homes and Communities Agency

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Homes and Communities Agency is required by its own objectives for the allocation of economic assets to consider (a) the highest financial bid only and (b) bids in conjunction with the degree of vision and strategic plans for the local economy when selecting a preferred bidder; and if he will make a statement with particular reference to the future of Hythe Marine Park in New Forest East. [203175]

Kris Hopkins: In keeping with Government policy, the Homes and Community Agency seeks to dispose of its assets to meet the objectives and targets as set out in its corporate plan but also to support local economic growth for local communities.

In regard to Hythe Marine Park, the procurement process is still underway and bids are commercially sensitive. The site has been advertised on an open and competitive basis. Information about the bidder's vision for the site was requested by way of background.

Housing: Construction

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing starts there were in 2013-14; and what recent forecast he has made of the likely number of housing starts in 2014-15. [203693]

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Kris Hopkins: Thanks to this Government's long-term economic plan, housing starts in England are at their highest since 2007 and new orders in residential construction have risen to their highest level since 2007.

According to the NHBC, new home registrations rose by 30% in 2013 in England, the highest since 2007; and are up 60% in London, the highest for over two decades; this is in contrast to Wales which has a Labour Administration, where new home registrations are falling.

More detailed statistics on house building starts can be found on my Department’s website, in live table 208:

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

My Department does not publish forecasts or targets for overall house building.

I am aware there have been recent media reports which have given a misleading impression on starts in 2014-15. I would note the following in response.

We anticipate in 2014-15 that housing completions will continue to rise as will private sector housing starts. Our planning reforms are also helping increase housing supply by supporting conversions to housing from previous uses.

We are conscious that there is a potential risk of a hiatus between the completion of our 2011-15 Affordable Housing Programme, which is on course to deliver 170,000 new affordable homes, and our 2015-18 Affordable Housing Programme, which will deliver a further 165,000 new affordable homes (the fastest rate of affordable house building for 20 years).

Hence, we are reviewing what practical steps can be taken to prevent this, including bringing forward the affordable housing programme and accelerating starts on sites in other Government programmes. This common sense forward planning will help further support the new homes that our country needs.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many house purchases have been funded through the Help to Buy scheme in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK. [203332]

Kris Hopkins: This Government are committed to supporting people’s aspirations to own their own home. The number of families buying a home with the support of the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme, as of 31 May in the Ribble Valley borough council is 21; in Lancashire it is 512; and across England it is 22,831. The Department’s official statistics on sales, broken down by local authority and postcode sector for England are available at:

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-monthly-statistics

The Department does not hold information on schemes operated by the other devolved Administrations.

The Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee scheme is managed by HM Treasury and the data are available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-to-buy-mortgage-guarantee-scheme-quarterly-statistics-october-2013-to-march-2014

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Parish Councils

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the accountability of parish councils and their administration of burial plots. [202990]

Brandon Lewis: There has been no such recent assessment of the accountability of parish councils and their administration of burial plots. The underlying statutory duties for local (burial) authorities are outlined in the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977. The associated guidance is overseen by the Ministry for Justice and is available at:

www.justice.govuk/downloads/burials-and-coroners/burial-ground-managers.pdf

Pay

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations collect subscriptions through the employers' payroll service in his Department and its agencies. [203100]

Brandon Lewis: The following organisations collect subscriptions through the Department's payroll service:

Civil Service Club, SPARTA (Civil Service Sports and Recreation Association), Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, Civil Service Benevolent Fund, Civil Service Sports Council, Minerva Sport and Social, PCS Union, First Division Association, Prospect.

Additionally, the following organisations collect subscriptions through the Planning Inspectorate and QEII's payroll service.

QEII: Charity for Civil Servants, PCS Union.

The Planning Inspectorate: SPARTA, NAW Welfare Fund, Civil Service Benevolent Fund, Civil Service Sports Council, PCS Union, Prospect.

Currently, the Department offers a check off system where union subscriptions can be deducted from an individual's pay and transferred to the appropriate trade union. The Department believes it is no longer appropriate for public funds or resources to be used in this way. We will therefore seek to end these arrangements and have strongly encouraged executive agencies to also pursue this objective.

Policy

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what explicit monetary value his Department assigns to the value of preventing a fatality calculation during the process of policy appraisal and evaluation. [203069]

Brandon Lewis: When carrying out an appraisal my Department follows the principles set out in the HM Treasury's “Green Book: Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government”. The Green Book includes guidance on how to value the prevention of fatalities and injuries. One of the approaches in the Green Book used by my Department is the Department for Transport's valuation of a fatality. The latest monetary value is publicly available on its website.

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Valuation of Life and Health Inter-departmental Group

Mr O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures of the value of life and health were included in the evidence submitted as part of his Department's work with the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008. [203082]

Brandon Lewis: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 30 June 2014, Official Report, columns 412-13W.

Treasury

Air Passenger Duty

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislative proposals to lower air passenger duty. [203541]

Nicky Morgan: Budget 2014 announced the reform of air passenger duty with the abolition of bands C and D from 1 April 2015. This will eliminate the two highest rates of air passenger duty charged on flights to countries over 4,000 miles from Britain, cutting tax for millions of passengers travelling to China, India, Brazil and many other emerging markets. This will also mean that flights to South Asia and the Caribbean will pay tax at the lower band B rate.

Consumers: Protection

Mr Doran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Durkin v. DSG Retail Limited and another, and its effect on existing consumer law. [202977]

Andrea Leadsom: The Government note the judgment in which the Supreme Court upheld an individual’s right to rescind a contract of sale and a related credit agreement. The Government believe that existing consumer credit law adequately protects individuals in this regard.

Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax was raised by HM Treasury in Northern Ireland in the last full financial year. [202564]

Mr Gauke: The most recent available estimate of corporation tax receipts in respect of Northern Ireland relates to financial year 2012-13. This estimate was published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in ‘A Disaggregation of HMRC Tax Receipts between England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland’. A link to the publication is provided as follows:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285765/disagg-info.pdf

For 2012-13 the estimated portion of onshore UK corporation tax receipts relating to Northern Ireland was £476 million. Estimates of offshore corporation tax receipts relating to Northern Ireland are available as

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produced by two methods: a geographic basis and a population-based apportionment. The estimates for 2012-13 are nil and £137 million respectively.

Development Aid

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Official Development Assistance was spent by each Government Department in 2009-10 and in each year since (a) in cash terms, (b) at current prices and (c) as a proportion of Gross National Income. [203236]

Danny Alexander: Information on the amount of Official Development Assistance spent by each Government Department since 2009-10 is available publicly at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about/statistics

Dover Priory Station

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 9 April 2014, Official Report, column 225W, on Revenue and Customs, for what reasons HM Revenue and Customs has not made an assessment of the economic viability of the land on the western perimeter of the Priory Court site, in relation to the requirement of Network Rail for new parking facilities for Dover Priory railway station. [203494]

Mr Gauke: As explained in my previous reply, which was answered on 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 394W, HM Revenue and Customs occupies its site adjacent to Dover Priory Station under a PFI contract. Commercial discussions are a matter for Mapeley, as land owner and other parties. HMRC may consider any reasonable proposals.

Financial Services: Taxation

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what modelling (a) his Department and (b) the Office for Budget Responsibility has made of the financial effect of a tax levied on financial transactions. [203149]

Mr Gauke: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 11 March 2013, Official Report, column 38W.

Gold: Prices

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 29W, on gold: prices, and to the Financial Conduct Authority's decision to fine Barclays Bank for gold fix manipulation, (1) if he will make an assessment of the effect of (a) US regulatory authorities' interventions in the gold market and (b) such interventions on gold market-related securities in ISAs; [202775]

(2) with reference to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 29W, on gold: prices, and the academic draft report of February 2014, by Professor Rosa Abrantes-Metz, Adviser to the EU and International Organisation of Securities Commission on Financial Benchmarks, entitled Gold Price Fix, and her reports of systemic manipulation of the twice daily gold fix over

7 July 2014 : Column 122W

several years, (2) if he will make an assessment of the effect of

(a)

US regulatory authorities' interventions in the gold market and

(b)

such interventions on gold market-related securities in ISAs. [202836]

Andrea Leadsom: The Government monitor all aspects of the gold market. Although no specific assessment of US regulatory interventions has been made, the Government are committed to taking action, whenever necessary, to ensure the efficient functioning of these essential markets. In order to raise standards of conduct in the financial system the Government have launched a joint review by the Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority into the way wholesale financial markets operate, including commodity markets.

Income Tax

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) the UK, (b) the Thames Valley and (c) Windsor constituency no longer pay income tax due to changes in the level of personal allowance introduced since 2010. [202981]

Mr Gauke: By April this year this Government's increases in the personal allowance (for those born after 5 April 1948) are estimated to have taken over 3 million individuals out of the income tax system altogether. 384,000 of these individuals live in the south-east region, which includes the Thames Valley and the parliamentary constituency of Windsor.

These estimates are based on the 2011-12 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2014-15 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.

HM Treasury does not publish this information at constituency level.

Individual Savings Accounts

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend treatment of ISAs in respect of spouse-to-spouse transfers after death of either person to bring such transactions into line with other spouse-to-spouse transactions. [203168]

Mr Gauke: ISAs are a personal tax relief: they are non-transferable accounts and the tax advantages they provide end upon the death of the account holder.

As with other personal tax allowances and reliefs, the individual nature of ISAs reflects the general principle of individual taxation.

The Government keep all areas of the tax system under review.

Tax Avoidance: British Overseas Territories

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in reducing levels of tax avoidance in the UK's Overseas Territories. [202916]

Mr Gauke: The UK Government are at the forefront of the global response to international aggressive tax planning and cross-border evasion, driving the international tax,

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transparency and trade agenda forward under the UK’s G8 presidency in 2013, and fully backing the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project.

Under the Prime Minister’s leadership of the G8, the UK has led a global leap forward in international tax transparency, meaning there are fewer places to hide. We are imposing tough new sanctions for those who do not come forward under HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) offshore disclosure facilities. There will be serious consequences for those who continue to believe they can hide wealth offshore, when later on this year HMRC will consult on a new strict liability criminal offence that could mean jail for those who do not declare taxable offshore income. HMRC will also consult on tougher civil sanctions. In addition, last year the Government entered into a series of Intergovernmental Agreements with the Overseas Territories which will ensure that from September 2016 HMRC will receive details of UK residents who have bank accounts and other investments in the Overseas Territories.

HMRC co-operates with tax authorities in other countries, in areas such as exchange of information and recovery of tax. Following the commitments made at the G8, 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. In addition to signing agreements with the UK for the automatic exchange of tax information, they have also agreed to be early adopters of the new global standard for automatic exchange of tax information, committing to an ambitious timetable of implementation as members of a group of 44 countries and jurisdictions.

Ukraine

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken in response to EU Council Regulation 692/2014 to (a) identify goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol and exclude them from entry into the UK and (b) ensure no individual or business based in the UK provides, directly or indirectly, financing, financial assistance or insurance or reinsurance related to the import of such goods from Crimea or Sevastopol. [202740]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has set up customs risk profiles to target goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol in response to EU Council Regulation 692/2014. The profiles are targeting Crimean postcodes. The risk profiles are being monitored and will be adjusted as circumstances require.

As with all sanctions introduced by the EU, they have direct effect in the UK and apply directly to UK persons and companies. The Government will take steps to ensure these measures are effectively implemented and enforced.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department approved the Universal Credit Strategic Outline Business Case. [203121]

Nicky Morgan: Universal credit will provide the right incentives for people to work, target support at those who need it most, reduce fraud and error, and streamline

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the administration of the welfare system. Up to 300,000 more people will be in work.

The Treasury has approved funding for the universal credit programme in 2013-14 and 2014-15, in line with the ministerial announcement (5 December 2013, Official Report, column 65WS)—link to WMS:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131205/wmstext/131205m0001.htm#column_65ws

The roll-out of universal credit continues in a progressive approach, with the live service expanding to couples and the north-west of England and then to families. The Government continue to roll out the service in a controlled manner in order to assess how claimants are responding, and to inform development of the enhanced digital solution.

Welfare Tax Credits

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what average value of tax credits were paid to claimants who were (a) out of work, (b) self-employed and (c) employed in each of the last 10 years. [203325]

Nicky Morgan: The following table is based on finalised tax credits administrative data for each financial year. The latest data available are for 2012-13.

The increase in average tax credit awards in 2012-13 can largely be explained by the removal of the ‘Second Income Threshold’ in April 2012. This policy removed a number of higher income households from the tax credit population. As higher income households generally have lower tax credit awards, the effect of removing these households increases the average award.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims were paid in April 2014 for (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit. [203727]

Nicky Morgan: Data relating to the volume of working tax credit and child tax credit awards are published bi-annually and can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/305891/cwtc-apr14.pdf

There would be a disproportionate cost attached to providing the information for the specific month in question.

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Working Tax Credits: Self-employed

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people in Warrington North constituency were self-employed and in receipt of working tax credit in each year since 2010-11; [203276]

(2) how many self-employed people in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North constituency were in receipt of each type of tax credit in each year from 2008. [201711]

Nicky Morgan: The following table is based on finalised tax credits administrative data for each financial year. The latest data available are for 2012-13.

In general, there is and has been a long-term trend of growth in the number of self-employed people.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Apprentices

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprentices there are in his Department. [203019]

Jo Swinson: BIS currently employs 58 apprentices. A further 10 apprentices will be appointed under the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship scheme in September 2014.

Arts

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department provides any guidance specifically for the creative industries. [203542]

Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport work with industry to support growth in the thriving UK creative industries, including through the Creative Industries Council. On 2 July 2014, industry published the Creative Industries Strategy, available at

www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk

which the Government have welcomed.

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Recent publications of relevance to the sector include: details of £16 million funding from the Employer Ownership of Skills pilot to boost skills in the sector; the UKTI Creative Industries International Strategy, developed with industry, to increase exports and inward investment; the Technology Strategy Board’s strategy for innovation in the sector from 2013 to 2016; information for creators and intellectual property rights owners from the Intellectual Property Office; also two statistical publications from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: “Creative Industries Economic Estimates” and “Creative Industries: Focus on Employment”.

Business: Registration

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of online business registration on registration rates; and if he will make a statement. [202986]

Michael Fallon: There is no register covering all businesses in the UK. The Registrar of Companies registers a subset of businesses and provides online registration for those businesses that register as companies or limited liability partnerships. HMRC registers sole traders for tax purposes.

Online incorporation via software filing agents was introduced in July 2001, followed in April 2010 by the launch of the Citizen Incorporation Service via Companies House Webfiling. The number of companies on the register has almost doubled, from 1.66 million at the end of March 2001 to 3.25 million at March 2014. In the financial year 2013-14, 98% of all new companies were incorporated electronically.

Companies House has carried out several studies to identify the main factors contributing to the increasing trend for company incorporations. This is attributed to a number of combined factors, such as the benefits of limited liability, changes to tax legislation and developments in the wider UK economy. There is no indication that the electronic enablement of company registration in itself has acted as a direct driver for the increase in new company registration rates, as just one of the methods the Government have used to help reduce the burden on business and the costs of running a company. This in turn has helped to make the UK one of the best places to set up and run a company.

Electronic services have also enabled Companies House to absorb the significant additional workload resulting from the growing register, make organisational efficiency savings and pass these efficiencies on to customers in the form of lower fees. For incorporation, the UK charges some of the lowest fees in the world.

Comet Group

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects the report from the Insolvency Service into the collapse of Comet to be published. [202955]

Jo Swinson: The Insolvency Service's fact-finding inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the insolvency of Comet Group Ltd is being conducted under section 447 of the Companies Act 2006. Publication of the findings of such investigations is prohibited by law

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although when an inquiry results in the winding up of the company, or the prosecution or disqualification of its directors, this is publicised.

Disabled Students' Allowances

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the statement of 7 April 2014, Official Report, columns 1-2WS, on higher education (student support), what new requirements will be put on higher education institutions; and what steps he is taking to ensure those institutions are prepared to fulfil these requirements. [203353]

Mr Willetts: Higher education institutions have had specific duties to provide reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act since 2010.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is in regular contact with representatives of higher education institutions as part of the preparation of the new guidance on disabled students allowances, which will be available in the autumn.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding available through the disabled student's allowance was spent on non-medical help in the last year. [203586]

Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and paid disabled students’ allowance is published annually by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education England’. The latest statistics are available at the following link:

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

A further breakdown by type of disabled students’ allowance has been provided for the academic year 2012/13. The effective date is 30 November 2013. These figures are therefore provisional and do not include students who were awarded DSA after November 2013.

Equivalent figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from November 2014.

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Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many current students in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Cumbria and (d) South Lakeland have been awarded disabled students allowance. [203608]

Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and paid Disabled Students’ Allowance is published annually by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education England’. The latest statistics are available at the following link:

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

A further breakdown for England, Cumbria and South Lakeland has been provided in the table for the academic year 2012/13. The effective date is that of the November 2013 Awards Statistical First Release. These figures are therefore provisional and do not include students who were awarded DSA after November 2013.

Equivalent figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from November 2014.

Information on Scottish domiciled students awarded and paid Disabled Students’ Allowance is published by the Student Award Agency for Scotland. A comparable figure for the UK is unavailable.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of current students who have been awarded disabled students' allowance (DSA) who would fail to be awarded DSA under the proposed revised eligibility guidelines. [203609]

Mr Willetts: Disabled students will continue to receive support through a combination of disabled students' allowances (DSAs) and reasonable adjustments made by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Each student's needs are unique. Some will receive more support through reasonable adjustments than previously experienced. Written guidance will be available.

It is not possible to make an accurate estimate of how many prospective students will no longer be eligible for DSAs as many students receive more than one type of support.

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Current DSA recipients and disabled students applying for DSAs in 2014/15 will not be affected by these changes in 2015/16.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing, maintaining and updating a register of providers of disabled students' allowances (DSA) study needs assessments and DSA assistive technology service providers; and who will fund the introduction and maintenance of that register. [203625]

Mr Willetts: The Disabled Students’ Allowances Quality Assurance Group already holds a register of suppliers. These arrangements are now being formalised.

No Government funding is provided for these arrangements.

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 649W, on disabled students’ allowances, if he will publish a list of all stakeholders being consulted on the Equality Analysis and Disabled Students’ Allowances Guidance for 2015-16. [203667]

Mr Willetts: We have and continue to actively engage with a wide range of stakeholders following the laying of a written ministerial statement on disabled students’ allowances on 7 April 2014, Official Report, columns 1-2WS. A list of those who have submitted information or evidence for the Equality Analysis and Disabled Students’ Allowances Guidance for 2015-16 will be published as part of this document.

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to

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conclude his Department's consultation on the proposed changes to the disabled students' allowance; and when he expects to publish the Equality Analysis and Disabled Students' Allowances Guidance for 2015-16. [203719]

Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is actively engaged in discussions with stakeholders to inform the DSA Guidance 2015/16 and the Equality Analysis, and this will continue over the summer. Both documents will be published in the autumn.

Disabled Students' Allowances: Lewisham

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) the London borough of Lewisham and (b) Lewisham East constituency are in receipt of disabled student's allowance. [203720]

Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and paid disabled students' allowance is published annually by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release “Student Support for Higher Education England”. The latest statistics are available at the following link:

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

A further breakdown for the London borough of Lewisham and Lewisham East constituency has been provided in the table for the academic year 2012/13. The effective date is that of the November 2013 Awards Statistical First Release. The figures are therefore provisional and do not include students who were awarded DSA after November 2013.

Equivalent figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from November 2014.

Disabled Students' Allowances: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, (b) Middlesbrough, (c) Stockton North, (d) Stockton South, (e) Hartlepool, (f) Redcar constituency and (g) the North East received disabled students' allowance in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14. [203732]

Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and paid disabled students’ allowance is published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release, “Student Support for Higher Education England”. The latest statistics are available at the following link:

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

A further breakdown for the requested constituencies, local authorities and North East region has been provided in the table for academic years 2011/12 and 2012/13.

The effective date is that used for the November 2013 Awards Statistical First Release. Hence, the figures for 2012/13 are classified as provisional and do not include students who were awarded DSA after November 2013.

Equivalent figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from November 2014.

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7 July 2014 : Column 132W

Government Office for Science

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) women and (b) men are employed in the Government Office for Science. [203053]

Jo Swinson: As at 30 June 2014, the Government Office for Science employed 95 staff in total. Of those, 39 were women and 56 were men.

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications there were to (a) the university of York and (b) university of York St John in 2008-09 and in each year since then. [202886]

Mr Willetts: The latest information is shown in the following table. UCAS have not released any data on applications to individual institutions for the 2014 applications cycle, but the latest figures for total applicants to all UK institutions (published on 29 May 2014) show that they have risen by 4%, compared with the same point in 2013.

National Careers Service

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff are currently employed in the National Careers Service; and how many staff he expects to be employed after the new contract for that service is in place. [203480]

Matthew Hancock: As of 1 January 2014, the staff cohort for the National Careers Service was 3,740 people. These figures may vary during the course of the year. Future staff numbers will be decided by the prime contractors of the National Careers Service in line with their contractual responsibilities.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what quality criteria will be included in contracts for provision of the National Careers Service; and how performance against those criteria will be monitored. [203481]

Matthew Hancock: National Careers Service Prime Contractors are required to comply with robust quality standards. All Prime Contractors must hold and retain the matrix Standard; comply with the Ofsted Common Inspection Framework for Further Education and Skills; participate in any research to assess, measure and improve the quality of the National Careers Service; and produce an evidence-based self-assessment review each year. They will also need to provide evidence of their partnership activity and their role in brokering relationships between employers and schools and colleges.

Pay

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the Government's policy is on whether holiday pay may be calculated without reference to bonus and overtime payment; and if he will make a statement. [203544]

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Jo Swinson: The Government guidance on this issue states that a week's holiday pay equals how much a worker receives for a week's work, excluding non-guaranteed overtime payments in most cases.

We are aware of relevant court cases, such as Neat v. Freightliner, which will be heard by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in late July.

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department plans to intervene in the Neal v. Freightliner proceedings in the Employment Appeal Tribunal in July. [203545]

Jo Swinson: I can confirm that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is planning to intervene in these proceedings in late July.

Prisons: Higher Education

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have completed university degrees inside prison in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost to the public purse was of that education. [202785]

Matthew Hancock: Most prisoners who study higher education (HE) in custody do so through the Open University (OU). The following table shows the number of prisoners in England who have completed OU degrees while in prison from academic year 2003/04. Prior to September 2012, the costs of prisoners’ tuition were met from public funds in an arrangement that broadly mirrored the grant arrangements for other part-time HE students. The OU’s additional costs for delivering in custody are met through a grant from the Department. We do not have information on the public funding for these specific learners. From September 2012, prisoners have been required to take out, and then repay, tuition fee loans in the same way as other learners.

Number of prisoners completing Open University degrees in prisons from 2003/04:

Shipbuilding: Portsmouth

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions the Minister for Portsmouth has had with BAE Systems about the sale of the shipyard in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [203482]

7 July 2014 : Column 134W

Michael Fallon: The decision to close the shipyard at Portsmouth and focus shipbuilding activity at the Clyde was a commercial decision made by BAE Systems.

A prospectus for the site was issued on 10 March. I am working with the Ministry of Defence in the search for a commercial venture to occupy the BAE site.

I am confident that Portsmouth has a strong maritime future. £13 million of regional growth funding has been awarded to the Solent LEP to support the defence and maritime sector in the Solent and ensure a sustainable future for the advanced manufacturing skills in the area.

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions the Minister for Portsmouth has had with BAE Systems on the potential implication for Portsmouth of a yes vote in the referendum on Scottish independence. [203507]

Michael Fallon: The Government are not, and will not be, making contingency plans for the possibility of an independent Scottish state before the referendum is concluded. We are clear that any break-up of the United Kingdom would be bad for Scotland and bad for the UK as a whole. Therefore I have not discussed the potential implications with BAE.

Street Trading

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to (a) amend or repeal the Pedlars Acts 1871 and 1881 and (b) amend Schedule 4 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 covering the street-trading regime of England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [203563]

Jo Swinson: The original street-trading and pedlary consultation was issued in November 2012 and covered the repeal of the Pedlars Acts 1871 and 1881 and other, incidental changes to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 to ensure compliance with the EU Services Directive 2006/123/EC. The consultation had been extended in order for the Government to engage further with the UK’s pedlar community and closed in April 2013. We hope to issue a response by the end of the summer.

Students: Disability

Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will provide additional financial support to disabled students following the removal of disabled students' allowance. [202860]

Mr Willetts: Disabled students’ allowance (DSA) has not been removed.

The maximum amounts for DSA were announced in March 2014 and are being maintained at current levels for 2015/16.

Students: Loans

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how often his Department calculates the RAB charge on student loans. [203052]

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Mr Willetts: The RAB charge on student loans is updated when the Office for Budget Responsibility updates its macroeconomic forecasts, which normally happens two or three times a year. Another update happens annually, when the Student Loans Company provides the Department with updated loans data.

Trade Unions

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons he decided against change following his review into his Department's check-off system for employees' trade union subscriptions. [202857]

Jo Swinson: I have not reviewed, and have no plans to review, this Department's check-off arrangements.

I have not reviewed these arrangements, as I believe that trade unions have an important role to play in creating a positive employment relations climate from which all organisations can benefit. I also believe that the check-off system does not create a distinguishable burden on the administration of the HR function in this Department.

Vocational Guidance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contractual requirements to provide face-to-face advice will be in the contracts of providers of the National Careers Guidance; and what the current levels of provision are. [203479]

Matthew Hancock: 12 regional National Careers Service providers will be contractually obliged to deliver an area-based service that will provide careers advice to adults through digital and social media platforms, on the telephone and face to face from 1 October 2014. The contractors must ensure that customers are aware of the ways they can access the service. Face-to-face careers advice is available for customers who request it, those who need intensive direct support or those who are unable to access digital and telephone services.

The National Careers Service delivered the following during the 2013-14 financial year:

664,948 new adult customers who accessed face-to-face advice;

371,778 telephone advice sessions for adults;

52,150 telephone advice sessions, webchat, e-mails and texts for young people;

15,710,908 website visits;

25,871 mobile web home page views.

Wind Power

Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward plans to enable the Green Investment Bank to purchase equity in existing offshore projects to enable similar investment in onshore wind turbine construction; and if he will make a statement. [202950]

Michael Fallon: The role of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) is to help finance green infrastructure projects. The terms of its state aid approval do not allow it to invest in specific supply chain companies or

7 July 2014 : Column 136W

activities such as turbine manufacturing. GIB has already taken equity stakes in a number of operating offshore wind farms.

Woolworths

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 464W, on insolvency, how much the Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service paid in relation to the collapse of Woolworths; and how much of that amount was paid in respect of protective awards. [203335]

Jo Swinson: The Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service has paid out a total of £59,207,942.40 to the former employees of Woolworths, and of this, £18,188,224.54 was paid in respect of protective awards.

International Development

AIDS: Conferences

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who will represent her Department at the upcoming International Aids Conference. [202984]

Lynne Featherstone: Her Majesty’s Government will be represented at the conference. We do not routinely confirm attendance in advance.

Burma

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which community-based women's organisations in Burma receive funding from her Department to assist victims of sexual violence by the Burmese army. [202920]

Mr Duncan: DFID is providing £500,000 through the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen the network and capacity of agencies working on gender-based violence in Rakhine and Kachin those areas.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects her Department is supporting in promoting free media in Burma. [203124]

Mr Duncan: DFID provides a global grant to BBC Media Action which includes work in Burma. In Burma, this has supported capacity-building with the state broadcaster, training of local journalists, and the launch of new programmes featuring opposition voices and the views of ordinary people.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to achieve universal healthcare in Burma. [203126]

Mr Duncan: Along with other donors, DFID funds the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund. This fund is delivering improved reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services across seven states and regions,

7 July 2014 : Column 137W

as well as funding gaps in the national programmes to control HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The fund also invests in improved health systems, including the supply of drugs and commodities, human resources, and health information systems.

Developing Countries: Education

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many children received schooling as a direct result of UK aid in (a) sub-Saharan Africa and (b) South Asia in the latest period for which figures are available. [202969]

Lynne Featherstone: Up until September 2013, UK Aid has supported over 6.4 million children in primary and lower secondary school, of which 3.1 million were girls, through our bilateral programmes. Of these, 4.2 million were in sub-Saharan Africa and 2.1 million children were in South Asia. These figures are the latest available, and are reported in the DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13.

Multilateral Trade Organisation

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many boards of multilateral organisations representatives from her Department sit; and how many meetings of each board such representatives of has not attended in the last 12 months. [202983]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID currently sits on the board of 28 multilateral organisations to which it gives core funding, sometimes representing the UK alone and sometimes also representing a constituency (group of donor members). DFID either attended, or was represented by a member of their constituency at, all board meetings in the last 12 months.

Pay

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations collect subscriptions through the employers' payroll service in her Department and its non-departmental public body. [203108]

Mr Duncan: There are currently four organisations which collect subscriptions through DFID's payroll service:

Civil Service Club

Civil Service Sports Council

Public and Commercial Services Union

EKODA Club (social club)