Trident
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the cost to the public purse of the removal of Trident from Scotland. [205406]
Mr Brazier: The UK Government have no plans to move the strategic nuclear deterrent from Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, and have not considered options for moving the deterrent. Any alternative solution would come at huge cost to the taxpayer.
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual cost to the public purse is of retaining and basing the nuclear deterrent at Faslane and Coulport. [205407]
Mr Dunne: The cost of retaining the nuclear deterrent at Faslane and Coulport cannot be separately identified from expenditure incurred for multiple activities at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.
Trident Missiles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department will spend on the D-5 missile life extension programme in each of the next five years. [206044]
Mr Dunne: Forecast and planned expenditure on the D5 missile life extension programme for the current and next financial years (FY) are as follows:
FY 2014-15-£27.1 million (Forecast)
FY 2015-16-£35.0 million (Planned)
Spending plans for 2016-17 and beyond have not yet been agreed and will be set as part of the Government's spending review process. Therefore, I am withholding details of the proposed spending beyond 2015-16 as to release this information would be likely to impact upon the formulation of Government policy.
Veterans
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward legislative proposals to support former armed services' personnel to readjust to civilian life by providing (a) low-cost mortgages, (b) low-interest loans to start a business, (c) payment of tuition fees and living expenses for university or vocational educational and (d) health care bespoke to individual needs. [199323]
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Anna Soubry: There are no plans to introduce such legislation. As Lord Ashcroft highlighted in his recent review of transition arrangements, the measures we already have in place ensure that the vast majority of service leavers make a successful transition to civilian life. Among many others, these measures include:
resettlement and career assistance from the Ministry of Defence funded Career Transition Partnership;
funding for nationally recognised qualifications through Enhanced Learning Credits and;
a range of schemes to help veterans and their families secure appropriate accommodation, detailed in the answer I gave on 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 442-43W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie).
Health care provided by the national health service is already bespoke to individual needs, and reflects the aspirations of the armed forces covenant.
Warships: Construction
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on where naval vessels should be constructed after 2014. [206162]
Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence procures naval vessels in accordance with EU procurement regulations. The procurement of complex warships and submarines is covered by an exemption to these regulations, Article 346 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows any EU member state to take measures to protect its essential security interests. We will give full regard to our national security interests beyond 2014, using exemptions under Article 346 as appropriate.
House of Commons Commission
Clerk of the House
Mr Simon Burns: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the names are of the candidates who have been short-listed for consideration for the position of Clerk of the House and Chief Executive; and what the country of residence of each such candidate is. [206209]
John Thurso: Three candidates are currently shortlisted. It is not the Commission's practice to disclose confidential personal information, including names of applicants for positions.
International Development
Africa
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to reduce the cost of sending remittances to Africa. [205940]
Justine Greening: DFID is supporting the development of payments infrastructure, with a focus on digitisation to reduce the cost of sending remittances to developing countries, including in Africa.
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DFID is also working through the Action Group on Cross Border Remittances to prevent a reduction in competition in UK remittance markets, which could increase sending costs. Information on the Action Group can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances
Burma
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received of an increase in death rates in camps for the Rohingya following the expulsion of MSF and other agencies from Rakhine State, Burma. [206293]
Lynne Featherstone: There have been a number of deaths in Rohingya camps since March. We have not received any reports of an increase in the rate during this period but the situation remains of urgent concern. The Ministry of Health and NGOs have been providing some primary health care in the IDP camps, but there continue to be barriers to access, particularly to hospital- level care for Rohingya, and this remains a key concern for us. We continue to advocate with all levels of Government on this issue.
Developing Countries: Education
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will support proposals to amend the goal on education to provide free, equitable and inclusive quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all in the Sustainable Development Goals. [206179]
Justine Greening: The UK supports a stand-alone education goal in the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all.
The final goal and targets in the post-2015 development framework will be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.
Developing Countries: Sustainable Development
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to ensure that particular attention to the most marginalised and people in vulnerable situations is specifically referenced in the language of the targets and goals in the Sustainable Development Goals. [206178]
Justine Greening: The UK, through our Troika, have made statements in the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals on the importance of monitoring progress for marginalised groups across the targets and “leaving no one behind” as an overarching principle for the post-2015 framework.
The final goals and targets in the post-2015 development framework will be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.
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Green Climate Fund
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) when the Government plan to announce the UK's contribution to the Green Climate Fund; and whether that contribution will be, proportionately, in accord with the funding being sought by the Fund for its initial resource mobilisation; [206291]
(2) if she will ensure that the UK's financial contribution to the Green Climate Fund is announced at the Climate Summit in September 2014. [206110]
Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government consider all resource mobilisations in terms of impact and value for money for the British taxpayer. Any announcements are timed to encourage international donors to step up to the plate.
Land
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much land her Department has released for the purpose of building new homes since May 2010. [205482]
Lynne Featherstone: DFID has not released any land for the purpose of building new homes since May 2010.
Mass Media: Subscriptions
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what subscriptions to (a) magazines and (b) television channels her Department funds. [205344]
Lynne Featherstone: DFID’s communications team subscribes to the following magazines:
The Economist: £136 per annum
The Spectator: £129 per annum
The New Statesman: £92 per annum
The New Scientist: £149 per annum
Private Eye: £28 per annum
Marketing Magazine: £155 per annum
PR Week: £99.50 per annum
PR Week Global: £119.50 per annum
A figure for magazine subscriptions across the entire Department cannot be compiled from our accounting records without incurring disproportionate cost.
Television channels are paid for via the Parliamentary feed. DFID pays £6,728.90 each year for maintenance of the Parliamentary TV system and £13,500 a year for rental of the telecomms link from 22 Whitehall to the Palace of Westminster.
Middle East
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received on projects in Gaza funded by (a) her Department and (b) the EU which have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli military hardware in July 2014; and what representations she has made to the Israeli Government on this matter. [205493]
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Lynne Featherstone: Assessments are still under way as to the extent of any damage to UK or EU-funded projects.
Overseas Aid: Fraud
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times her Department has referred cases of suspected bribery, fraud or money laundering concerning UK aid money to (a) the Serious Fraud Office and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service since 2009-10. [206338]
Justine Greening: It is not the policy of this Department to comment on Serious Fraud Office or Crown Prosecution Service matters.
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will place in the Library any correspondence her Department has received from the Serious Fraud Office on what steps it is taking to investigate reports referred to it by her Department that UK aid may have been channelled via CDC Group and Energy Capital Partners into companies linked to James Ibori; and if she will make a statement. [206339]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Solicitor-General on 15 July 2014, Official Report, column 592W.
Pay
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials employed by her Department, of each grade, have remained at that grade since 2010 but received a pay rise; and how much of a rise each such person at each such grade has received. [205461]
Lynne Featherstone: The number of DFID staff who have remained in the same grade since 2010 but have received a pay rise is set out in the following table:
| Grade | Number of staff |
The Government announced a pay freeze in 2010, which meant that all pay scales for DFID were frozen for two years (2011 and 2012) except for those earning less than the full-time equivalent of £21,000. In 2013 and 2014 increases to pay scales were restricted to an average 1% cost of living increase.
All staff below the SCS within DFID have a contractual right to pay progression. Throughout the period from 2010 those staff not at the top of their pay range received an annual incremental increase.
21 July 2014 : Column 901W
Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public body (i) have let and (ii) plan to let that are worth (A) between £1 million and £3 million and (B) over £3 million since 2010; how much her Department has spent on monitoring each such contract; and how many officials in her Department monitor each contract. [205373]
Justine Greening: Under this Government’s transparency programme, contracts and future contract pipeline information is published on Contracts Finder, which is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
The cost and number of officials required to monitor each contract undertaken by my Department is specific to each individual contract.
Remittances
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government have taken to meet the commitment made by the G20 heads of state in the final declaration of the Cannes Summit in November 2011 to reduce the average cost of transferring remittances to 5% by 2014; and what assessment she made of the likelihood of the UK meeting this commitment. [206031]
Justine Greening: The UK is contributing to the achievement of the 5% target by supporting the development of payments infrastructure, with a focus on digitisation to reduce transaction costs.
We also support piloting and scaling up mobile banking through a Technology Programme for Branchless Banking, which is co-funded with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Master Card Foundation and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP). As of December 2013, the Programme has helped an estimated 31 million poor people globally to access financial services.
Training
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many away days her Department has held for officials in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date; and what the cost was of each such event. [205296]
Lynne Featherstone: Away days for Department for International Development (DFID) staff are overwhelmingly undertaken on DFID or other Government Department premises where there is little or no cost involved.
Information on the number of DFID officials attending away days and the costs incurred is not held centrally and precise information is not readily available.
21 July 2014 : Column 902W
Scotland
Billing
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments have since been recovered in each of the last two financial years. [205978]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has made no duplicate supplier payments since 2010.
Buildings
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on refurbishing (a) gymnasium and leisure facilities, (b) cafeteria and (c) interior decoration in (i) his Department and (ii) buildings owned by his Department in (A) 2013 and (B) 2014 to date. [205360]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not own any buildings and the buildings it occupies do not have gymnasiums, leisure facilities or cafeterias. The cost of interior decoration in these buildings was £8,453 in 2012-13 and £22,939.72 in 2013-14.
Land
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much land his Department has released for the purpose of building new homes since May 2010. [205777]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not own any land and has not done so since its creation in 1999.
Mass Media: Subscriptions
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what subscriptions to (a) magazines and (b) television channels his Department funds. [205346]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office funds subscriptions to the following periodicals: The Scottish Farmer, The Economist, and Civil Service World. The Scotland Office does not pay any subscriptions to TV channels.
Pay
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials employed by his Department, of each grade, have remained at that grade since 2010 but received a pay rise; and how much of a rise each such person at each such grade has received. [205465]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Public Sector bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, which remain the employers. Staff terms and conditions of service, including pay awards and payroll administration, is a matter for the parent employers. The office does not hold information in the form requested.
21 July 2014 : Column 903W
Procurement
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much and what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on activities which were contracted out in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14; and how much and what proportion of his Department's budget he expects to be contracted out in 2014-15. [205225]
David Mundell: Since its creation in July 1999, the Scotland Office has contracted out work in cleaning, building repairs and maintenance and security guarding. Calculating how much and what proportion of the Office's budget was spent on these activities in each year between 2009-10 and 2014-15 could be done only by incurring disproportionate cost.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department paid to (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14. [205858]
David Mundell: As part of my Department’s transparency programme, any spend over £25,000 is available on the Department’s website. Since January 2011, all contracts over £10,000 in value are published on Contracts Finder:
http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk/
Training
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many awaydays his Department has held for officials in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date; and what the cost was of each such event. [205298]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has held no awaydays in 2013 or 2014 to date.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on what (a) media training and (b) social media training for (i) him and (ii) Ministers in his Department since May 2010. [205314]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not spent anything on (a) media training and (b) social media training for (i) the Secretary of State and (ii) other Ministers in the Department since May 2010.
Work and Pensions
Alcoholic Drinks
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy is on alcohol consumption on the premises (a) in general and (b) during parties in his Private Office. [205334]
Steve Webb:
During normal working hours staff must not consume alcohol on departmental premises. However, there is no prohibition of alcohol and occasionally Ministers and the Permanent Secretary host events for staff in recognition of particular achievements. Alcohol
21 July 2014 : Column 904W
may be provided at such events and will normally be paid for by the relevant Minister or the Permanent Secretary.
Billing
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments have since been recovered in each of the last two financial years. [205982]
Steve Webb: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Disability Living Allowance
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of disability living allowance (DLA) have failed to make a claim for personal independence payment within the 28-day claim period notice after receiving a letter from his Department in each month since October 2013; and how many such claimants also failed to register a claim during the subsequent 28-day extension period during which their DLA payments were suspended. [205675]
Mr Harper: The information you have requested is not available.
Employment and Support Allowance
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of initiating payment of employment and support allowance (ESA) at the assessment rate; what the annual cost is of maintaining an existing claim for ESA; and what the cost is of closing a claim for ESA. [205882]
Mr Harper: The information is tabled as follows:
| £ | ||
| Operating cost | Unit cost | |
The cost of initiating payment of employment and support allowance (ESA) at the assessment rate is provided in ESA claims. We have provided the annual costs for 2013-14 and the unit costs. The unit cost is the average cost of one ESA claim through the process.
The annual cost of maintaining an existing claim for ESA would be provided in ESA changes. We have provided the annual cost for 2013-14 and the unit costs. The unit cost is the average cost of one ESA change being made.
The cost of closing an ESA claim is included in the ESA change costs and cannot be extracted separately.
Employment Schemes: Young People
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Youth Contract wage incentive payments made since April 2012 have related to work activity of (a) over 30 hours' duration and (b) between 16 to 29 hours' duration per week. [206168]
21 July 2014 : Column 905W
Esther McVey: The information is not available.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people for whom Youth Contract wage incentives have been paid since April 2012 have been (a) male, (b) female, (c) disabled and (d) Black and minority ethnic. [206170]
Esther McVey: The information is not available.
Flexible Support Fund
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseekers were supported through the Flexible Support Fund in 2013; and what proportion of such were (a) men, (b) under 25 years old and (c) over 50 years old. [206169]
Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and there would be a disproportionate cost to collate this information.
Housing Benefit: Greater London
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much in housing benefit has been paid to private sector landlords in London in each year since 2010. [206254]
Steve Webb: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Housing benefit expenditure in the private rented sector in Greater London | |||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
| Notes: 1. Benefit expenditure is available for financial years only. 2. The last period for which a full year of expenditure is available is 2012-13. Figures for 2013-14 will be published later in the year. 3. Figures at 2014-15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Budget, and published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/299805/GDP_Deflators_Qtrly_National_Accounts_March_2014_update.xls 4. Expenditure data shown here for 2012-13 may differ slightly from published expenditure information due to more up-to-date local authority data received after the data had been published. 5. Prior to April 2011, a tenant in the private sector claiming housing benefit subject to local housing allowance (LHA) restrictions could receive up to £15 excess if their rent was below the applicable LHA rate for the given area and property size entitlement. This entitlement was removed from April 2011 for new claims to housing benefit. Existing HB claimants in receipt of the excess had this entitlement removed on the anniversary of their claim after April 2011. The expenditure figures shown above include payments relating to the £15 excess which would have been paid to claimants rather than landlords. We are unable to reliably isolate these amounts in the data. Source: Local authority statistical data and subsidy returns. | |||
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure on housing benefit in London was in each year since 2010. [206255]
Steve Webb: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Total housing benefit expenditure in Greater London | |||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
21 July 2014 : Column 906W
| Notes: 1. Benefit expenditure is available for financial years only. 2. The last period for which a full year of expenditure is available is 2012-13. Figures for 2013-14 will be published later in the year. 3. Figures at 2014-15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Budget, and published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/299805/GDP_Deflators_Qtrly_National_Accounts_March_2014_update.xls 4. Expenditure data shown here for 2012-13 may differ slightly from published expenditure information due to more up-to-date local authority data received after the data had been published. Source: Local authority subsidy returns. | |||
Jobcentre Plus
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus workclub schemes are in operation; and how many such clubs were established in each year since 2010. [206171]
Esther McVey: The information is not available.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for jobseeker’s allowance made by (a) men and (b) women in the first quarter of 2014 were made within six months of a previous claim ending. [204266]
Esther McVey [holding answer 10 July 2014]: 451,207 men and 174,733 women have claimed jobseeker’s allowance between 1 January and 31 March 2014 where they had ended a jobseeker’s claim in the previous six months.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of processing a new claim for jobseekers’ allowance; what the cost is of a jobseekers' allowance interview; and what the annual cost is of maintaining an existing claim for jobseekers’ allowance. [205883]
Esther McVey: The information is as follows:
| Unit cost (£) | |
DWP does not carry information on the annual cost of maintaining an existing claim.
Pay
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials employed by his Department, of each grade, have remained at that grade since 2010 but received a pay rise; and how much of a rise each such person at each such grade has received. [205469]
Steve Webb: To provide this information would incur disproportionate costs.
21 July 2014 : Column 907W
For 2012 and 2013, because of the nature of the awards applied to delegated grades, staff would have received a 1% increase on base pay whether they remained in grade or were promoted during the year subject to standard eligibility criteria.
DWP does not have contractual progression. All our employees are subject to the pay freeze and pay caps in place since 2010. In May 2010 the Government announced a two-year pay freeze for civil servants earning over £21,000. The pay freeze applied to this Department in 2010 and 2011.
For staff earning under £21,000, for both 2010 and 2011 DWP awarded staff a flat rate increase by grade of between £400 and £540. Additionally during 2010 the AA band minimum was increased by between £890 and £1,060 (depending on location), which led to a slightly higher increase for some staff. Following Cabinet Office rules, a small number who earned just over £21,000 received smaller payments, using a taper system, to ensure that they were not ‘leapfrogged’ by peers slightly lower down the pay scale.
In 2012 and 2013 DWP awarded a 1% increase to the vast majority of our staff across all delegated grades. DWP will again be paying the majority of our employees a 1% increase in 2014.
For SCS in DWP the pay freeze was in place for three years from 2010 to 2012. In 2013 DWP paid around 22% of its SCS cadre increases within an overall 1% cap and with a Cabinet Office limit on individual awards of 9%. The majority of our SCS will not have received a pay award between 2010 and 2013.
Figures for the 2014 SCS and delegated pay awards will not be available until they have been processed at the end of this month.
Notes:
1. Because of the numbers involved we are unable to provide information tracking every individual’s pay rise over the period within time and cost perimeters.
2. DWP currently employs 92,510 people and we are not able to provide details for each of these individuals. However, as DWP has applied a simple pay award over each of the years required I am able to summarise our position.
3. The PQ asks for information on pay rises exclusive of changes in grade (most usually promotion). By providing information on pay awards, we will be excluding a small number of pay rises which are due to other factors such as a move to a location which attracts a higher salary (DWP has four locational pay zones). It also excludes salary increases as a result of a change in contractual hours.
4. The 2014 pay award will be paid in July salaries. We will not have details of final figures until this has been processed.
5. A small number of individuals are not eligible to receive the pay award e.g. because they are undergoing formal poor performance action in a particular year or are on a salary above the appropriate pay scale maximum.
Personal Independence Payment
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of personal independence payments have received payments in arrears following a suspension totalling (a) £0-1,000, (b) £1,000-£2,000, (c) £2,000-£3,000, (d) £3,000-£4,000 and (e) more than £4,000 in each month since October 2013. [205674]
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Mr Harper: The information you have requested is not held by the Department.
Procurement
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department paid to (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14. [205861]
Steve Webb: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| £ | ||||
| Supplier | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
Training
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on what (a) media training and (b) social media training for (i) him and (ii) Ministers in his Department since May 2010. [205318]
Steve Webb: I refer to the reply given on 3 February 2014, Official Report, column 109W, to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant). There has been no expenditure on social media training for any Ministers in the Department.
Unemployed People: Mental Health
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what current programmes and pilots his Department has in place to improve the mental health of unemployed people; and what the results have been of such programmes and pilots. [205570]
Mr Harper: Many benefit claimants with mental health problems will be referred to, or have access to, a range of support including the Work Programme or specialist disability employment programmes such as Work Choice and Access to Work.
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The Work Programme Prime and specialist providers’ industry-led expert group led action to build organisational and workforce capability to recognise and address mental health needs in an employment context.
This expert group designed an employment adviser toolkit Working for Wellbeing to help Work Programme employment advisers spot when mental wellbeing support can help a jobseeker achieve their employment goal, and have worked with providers to share best practice in working with specialist mental health organisations.
7,000 claimants with mental health or behavioural disorders listed as their primary health condition have achieved job outcomes through the Work Programme.
Work Choice is a specialist pan-disability employment programme that provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual.
Since the start of the 2011-12 financial year (and up to 31 March 2014), around 21 per cent of Work Choice customers achieving job outcomes through Work Choice have had a mental health problem recorded as their primary disability. The trend over these 3 years shows that the numbers being supported are increasing each year.
The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service was established in December 2011 and is delivered by Remploy Employment Services.
It can offer support to individuals with mental health problems who are absent from work or finding work difficult. The service supports those experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues that are affecting their work.
In the last year, 92% of people who have completed a programme of support with the MHSS are still sustaining work after 26 weeks. Employer engagement is a key element of the service.
This year the Government are also taking forward a number of feasibility pilots to explore how to improve employment and health outcomes for people with common mental health problems. These are based on the recommendations made by RAND Europe in their report Psychological Wellbeing and Work: Improving Service Provision and Outcomes, which was published in January. Early findings will be available next year.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a pilot project to investigate the potential to improve the employability of unemployed people through mindfulness interventions. [205571]
Esther McVey: We currently have no plans to introduce a pilot project to investigate the impact of mindfulness interventions on the employment outcomes of unemployed people. However, Jobcentre Plus districts already have the flexibility to secure support to meet the needs of claimants in their local area using the Flexible Support Fund—this could include mindfulness interventions.
This year the Government are taking forward a number of feasibility pilots to explore how to improve employment and health outcomes for people with common mental health problems. These are based on the recommendations made by RAND Europe in their report “Psychological
21 July 2014 : Column 910W
Wellbeing and Work: Improving Service Provision and Outcomes”, which was published in January. Early findings will be available next year.
Unemployed People: Mental Illness
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people out of work suffer from (a) mental health disorder and (b) depression; and what proportion of them have been treated with (i) anti-depressants, (ii) talking therapies and (iii) mindfulness. [205845]
Mr Harper: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold information on the proportion of people out of work with a mental health disorder or depression, nor the proportion treated with anti-depressants, talking therapies and/or mindfulness.
However, 11% of out-of-work adults report having “Depression, bad nerves or anxiety” or “Mental illness, phobia, panics and other nervous disorders”. This is against a reported 3% of those in work (Annual Population Survey, April 2013 – March 2014, GB residents aged 16+).
Unemployment: Older People
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reasons for trends in long-term unemployment among people over 50. [206172]
Esther McVey: The number of people aged 50-64 in work has risen by over 300,000 in the last year. This is likely to reflect the recovery in the economy together with the effect of welfare reform and the equalisation of state pension age. There are nearly 150,000 fewer people aged 50-64 without a job than a year ago. Some of this has been reflected in lower economic inactivity, as more people enter or remain in the labour force, but unemployment and long-term unemployment have also fallen on the year.
On 13 June 2014, the DWP published Fuller Working Lives-A Framework for Action
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-working-lives-a-framework-for-action
which explains how working longer can benefit individuals, businesses, society and the economy. It sets out a number of new actions to help people have fuller working lives. A Business Champion for older workers has also been appointed, tasked with making the case for older workers within the business community and challenging outdated perceptions.
Universal Credit
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information is required by his Department to allow the payment of universal credit into a credit union account; and if he will make a statement. [205380]
Esther McVey: Universal credit can currently be paid into a credit union current account and claimants would need to provide an individual account number and sort code. We plan to be in a position to make UC payments into any type of credit union account at a future date.
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Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to allow for the payment of universal credit to those without a bank or building society account; and if he will make a statement. [205382]
Esther McVey: For those without a bank or building society, the Department can pay universal credit into a credit union current account, Post Office card account or by Simple Payment.
A Simple Payment is a cash transfer service, which has been designed to pay those people who DWP cannot pay into any type of account.
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to allow people who do not have access to a computer or the internet to claim universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [205383]
Mr Harper: Support is available through our own jobcentre network, where we are introducing 6,000 additional web access devices to improve digital access by autumn. Claimants can be given access to the internet through these devices to make a claim and support will be given where necessary if they are not familiar with digital services.
DWP already works in partnership with local authorities, which can also provide digital access and digital support for claimants through existing outlets.
DWP also provides a telephony service to support those unable to use the digital channel.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claiming universal credit since April 2013 have been referred to the Work programme. [205696]
Esther McVey: The information requested is not currently available.
The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on universal credit (UC) in September 2013, which can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics
As outlined in the strategy, officials are currently quality assuring data for UC. Therefore, it is not yet possible to give a definitive list of what statistics will be provided in the future. These statistics, however, will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
The latest official experimental statistics on UC can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics
Work Capability Assessment: Lancashire
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in West Lancashire constituency have waited more than nine months to receive a work capability assessment interview in the last three years. [206120]
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Mr Harper: This information is not reported to us by Atos.
Work Programme: Ayr
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people from Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency have secured employment through the Work Programme in each of the last 12 months. [205404]
Esther McVey: Information on job starts from the Work Programme is not available.
The available information on Job Outcomes is shown in the following table.
| Number of Work Programme Job Outcomes in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Parliamentary Constituency for each of the last 12 months: April 2013 – March 2014 | |
| Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Parliamentary Constituency | |
Attorney-General
Alcoholic Drinks
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General what the Law Officers' Departments' policy is on alcohol consumption on the premises (a) in general and (b) during parties in his Private Office. [205320]
The Solicitor-General: There is no prohibition of alcohol in the Law Officers’ Departments. This includes ministerial and official Private Offices.
Animal Welfare: Prosecutions
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions the Crown Prosecution Service has carried out for (a) dog-fighting and (b) badger persecution in each of the last five financial years. [205066]
The Solicitor-General: Prosecutions for dog-fighting and badger persecution are conducted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Protection of Badgers Act 1992 respectively. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number or prosecutions for ‘dog-fighting’ conducted under the Animal Welfare Act. To obtain this information would require a manual file examination at disproportionate cost.
The number of offences charged under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 is shown in the following table.
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21 July 2014 : Column 914W
These are offences which reached a first hearing in the magistrates court and the substantive charge when the case was finalised may have been different. It does preclude the possibility that other offences relating to badgers may have been charged under other legislation.
Children: Abuse
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many local authorities have adopted the new Crown Prosecution Service model disclosure protocol for cases of child abuse. [205498]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not centrally record the number of local authorities that have adopted the national disclosure Protocol. However, inquiries of CPS Areas indicate that 82 local authorities have signed a local protocol to date, which is the principal method for implementation of the national protocol.
Court Orders
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many wasted cost orders were made (a) in favour and (b) against the Crown Prosecution Service in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) each of the previous three financial years. [205183]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of wasted cost orders made in favour of, or against, the prosecution. To obtain this information would require a manual file examination incurring a disproportionate cost.
CPS Direct
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many and what proportion of charging decisions made by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2013-14 and each of the previous five financial years were made by CPS Direct. [205067]
The Solicitor-General: The number and proportion of charging decisions made by CPS Direct in 2013-14 and each of the previous five financial years are as follows:
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | |
|
Proportion of finalised pre-charge decisions made by CPS Direct (%) |
Up to the end of 2012-13, CPS Direct was a purely out-of-hours service (though assisting the daytime area-based service during part of 2012-13). Since April 2013, CPS Direct has been a full 24/7 service and has also been piloting digital as well as telephone referral of cases.
Criminal Proceedings
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General in what proportion of criminal cases of each type of offence charging decisions were made by the police in each of the last five years. [205181]
The Solicitor-General: The proportion of charging decisions made by the police for each of the last five years are as follows:
| Percentage | |||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | |
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| 1 In previous years ‘threats to kill’ offences were included in the Homicide category and were therefore charged by the police in anticipated guilty plea cases. Despite the change, some such cases may continue to be recorded in this way. | |||||
Fraud
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions in 2013-14 the Serious Fraud Office either referred or recommended that a complainant refer a case of alleged fraud, bribery or money-laundering by a UK company to (a) another police force, (b) another UK regulator, (c) an agency in the US and (d) an agency in an overseas jurisdiction other than the US. [205180]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) receives a large number of direct complaints each year and in appropriate circumstances the SFO will recommend that the complainants refer the matter to another agency.
In 2013-14, the SFO referred 2,945 complainants to Action Fraud or to the police. The SFO does not record how many of these complaints relate to UK companies only.
The table shows the number of formal referrals made by the SFO during 2013-14 to police forces, regulators and to agencies in the US and in other jurisdictions. The SFO does not record whether referrals relate to UK companies only.
| Police | UK regulator | US agency | Overseas agency | |
Land
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Attorney-General how much land the Law Officers' Departments have released for the purpose of building new homes since May 2010. [205471]
The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers’ Departments have not released any land for this purpose since 2010. The Crown Prosecution Service is the only Department which actually owns any property and its estate is very small.
Mass Media: Subscriptions
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General what subscriptions to (a) magazines and (b) television channels the Law Officers' Departments fund. [205336]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General's Department has a contract with the Parliamentary Television Service. The other Law Officers' Departments do not have any television subscriptions.
A table listing the online and print magazines subscribed to by the Law Officer's Departments has been deposited
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in the Library of the House. HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate does not have any magazine subscriptions.
Prosecutions
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of Crown Prosecution Service cases in the magistrates courts were prosecuted by (a) Crown prosecutors and (b) paralegals in each of the last five years. [205188]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number or proportion of individual prosecutions conducted by Crown prosecutors or Associate prosecutors (paralegals) in magistrates courts. To obtain these details would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.
Prostitution: Prosecutions
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General in how many Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions of prostitution offences in 2013-14 the accused was an (a) alleged prostitute, (b) alleged pimp or brothel-keeper and (c) individual accused of seeking or using the services of a prostitute. [205178]
The Solicitor-General: In 2013-14, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records indicate that there were 55 charges for the offence of keeping a brothel, contrary to sections 33-36 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956, which reached a first hearing in the magistrates court. This does not indicate the number of individuals prosecuted as a defendant may be charged with more than one offence.
The CPS has no record of any prosecutions in 2013-14 under section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as amended by section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, which enables individuals accused of seeking or using the services of a prostitute to be prosecuted.
To obtain further details of the number of cases in which defendants were alleged to be prostitutes, pimps or brothel keepers, would require a manual review of individual case files, which could be undertaken only at a disproportionate cost.
Sick Leave
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what the average number of sick days per staff member was at the (a) Crown Prosecution Service and (b) Serious Fraud Office in 2013-14 and each of the five preceding years. [205133]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table:
| Number | ||||||
| Department | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
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Training
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Attorney-General how many awaydays the Law Officers' Departments have held for officials in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date; and what the cost was of each such event. [205288]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General’s Office held an awayday in each of 2013 and 2014, but at zero cost.
The Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol) Board held an all-day off-site business meeting in June 2014. Some TSol teams have similarly held off-site business meetings, details of which are not held centrally.
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has not held any awaydays during this period.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) held an awayday for its senior management team on 26-27 November 2013. The SFO has not held any other awaydays for staff in 2013 and 2014 to date.
The Crown Prosecution Service does not centrally record the number of awaydays which its staff may have attended and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Wales
Alcoholic Drinks
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his Department's policy is on alcohol consumption on the premises (a) in general and (b) during parties in his Private Office. [205333]
Stephen Crabb: There is no prohibition of alcohol in my Department. This includes ministerial and official Private Offices.
Correspondence
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the annual cost to his Department of (a) stationery and (b) postage incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement. [206156]
Stephen Crabb: The stationery and postage costs incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members are not separately identifiable from general office stationery and postage costs.
Pay
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials employed by his Department, of each grade, have remained at that grade since 2010 but received a pay rise; and how much of a rise each such person at each such grade has received. [205468]
Stephen Crabb: This information could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
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Procurement
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department paid to (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14. [205860]
Stephen Crabb: As part of my Department’s transparency programme, any spend over £500 is available on the Department’s website. Since January 2011, all contracts over £10,000 in value are published on Contracts Finder:
http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk/
Education
Vocational Education: Employers
17. Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she has taken to involve employers in devising vocational education; and if she will make a statement. [904964]
Nick Boles: Employers now have a vital role to play in designing and endorsing qualifications. From this September, ‘Employer recognition’ is required if a qualification is to count in school or college performance tables.
Revised Funding Formula: Schools
20. David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what her proposals are for the adoption of a revised funding formula for schools. [904967]
Mr Laws: We remain committed to the introduction of a national funding formula after the next spending review, when we can give certainty to schools about how the formula will affect them over a number of years. In the meantime, our allocation of an extra £390 million to the least fairly-funded local authorities in the country will make a real difference to those local authorities, such as Warrington, that gain from the proposals.
According to our indicative figures, Warrington will gain an additional £500,000 in 2015-16.
Attainment Gap
24. Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress her Department has made on closing the attainment gap between pupils receiving free school meals and others; and if she will make a statement. [904972]
Mr Laws: The gap between free school meals (FSM) pupils and others achieving Level 4 or above in key stage 2 reading and mathematics has narrowed from 19.3 to 16.2 percentage points between 2011 and 2013. The gap in FSM pupils and others achieving at least five A*-C grade GCSEs including English and mathematics has narrowed from 27.4 to 26.7 percentage points over the same period.
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The most recent Ofsted assessment is that school leaders are spending the pupil premium more effectively than at any time since the funding was introduced in 2011. Of 151 schools in the assessment, the attainment gap between free school meal pupils and their peers was closing, sometimes quite quickly, in all 86 schools judged by Ofsted to be good or outstanding. Gaps are also closing, albeit more slowly, in two thirds of the 50 sampled schools rated ‘requires improvement’.
Academies
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many academy brokers there are; and how much her Department has spent on academy brokers in the last financial year. [206216]
Mr Timpson: There are currently 34 academy brokers. The Department for Education spent £3,031,794.39 on academy brokers in 2013-14.
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what checks the Education Funding Agency makes on the quality of auditors and others taking professional fees for services provided to academies. [206234]
Mr Timpson: As companies and charitable trusts, academy trusts are required to appoint independent auditors to report on their financial statements. It is for the academy trust to manage the contract for their services.
Auditors are qualified accountants and regulated by their professional institutes. The institutes undertake a programme of quality assurance visits to ensure firms are operating in accordance with expected professional standards. The outcomes of these reviews are publicly available.
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) supplements the various institute regulatory regimes with:
reviews of academy trusts’ audited financial statements, the associated audit reports on these and auditor management letters. The EFA follows up significant issues with individual trusts and their auditors;
regular attendance at sector training events and delivery of online presentations/webinars for auditors on the key issues arising from reviews, to help ensure they are aware of the requirements expected of them and key risk areas; and
responding to auditor queries received through the academy questions mailbox.
Other professional services provided to academy trusts will also be regulated by their relevant institute body, e.g. the Law Society.
Academies and Free Schools
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what guidance her Department has issued to free schools on the role of teaching assistants and school support staff; [205573]
(2) what guidance her Department has issued to academies on the role of teaching assistants and school support staff. [205574]
21 July 2014 : Column 920W
Mr Timpson: The Government believe that free schools and academies should have the freedom to organise themselves without unnecessary guidance from the Department for Education. This includes allowing head teachers to use their professional judgment to recruit and develop support staff in a way that best meets the needs of the school and learners.
Academies: Land
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 75W, on academies: land, what (a) amount of public investment and degree of enhancement, (b) amount of private investment and degree of enhancement, (c) length of time the land has been in public use and (d) value of land at the date of determination would trigger a determination in order to protect the public investment in land where it ceases to be used by an academy. [206202]
Mr Timpson: All disposals of publicly funded land by an academy would be judged on their individual merits and the Department for Education places no absolute thresholds in such cases. The Secretary of State for Education would expect to balance the considerations listed against the circumstances under which the land in question is being disposed, and the future plans for it following disposal.
Guidance on academy land transfers is published online at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment _data/file/254887/land_transfer_advice_april_2013.pdf
Alcoholic Drinks
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what her Department's policy is on alcohol consumption on the premises (a) in general and (b) during parties in his Private Office. [205323]
Mr Timpson: The Department for Education’s conduct policy gives clear guidance on standards of behaviour expected from staff.
It applies to all employees regardless of their team, office or position in the Department.
Buildings
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much has been spent on refurbishing (a) gymnasium and leisure facilities, (b) cafeteria and (c) interior decoration in (i) her Department and (ii) buildings owned by her Department in (A) 2013 and (B) 2014 to date. [205355]
Mr Timpson: The Department for Education has not spent any money on refurbishing gymnasium and leisure facilities, cafeterias and interior decoration during 2013 and 2014 to date.
Between 2006 and 2010, the previous Government spent £14.2 million refurbishing Sanctuary Buildings.
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Business: Education
Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the potential value of the Careers Lab programme and the recommendations of its recent report, Inspiring the Next Generation, to her Department’s skills policy. [205923]
Mr Timpson: We are creating a better skills system that is led by employers with more relevant, respected qualifications and an emphasis on young people acquiring the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. This approach is reflected in the Government’s policy on careers guidance, which centres on schools and colleges building stronger links with employers to inspire and motivate young people about the world of work.
More employers are getting involved by offering coaching, mentoring, work tasters and work experience to ensure that pupils can access careers advice from people with experience of business. Careers Lab is an example of this employer-led approach.
In the report, ‘Inspiring the next generation’, the recommendations for Government focus on the importance of holding schools to account for the destinations of students and the need to set quality standards to help schools judge which career initiatives are worthwhile. The Government have communicated their expectations to schools on both of these areas. New statutory guidance and departmental advice on careers guidance and inspiration, effective from September, provides a framework for schools and paints a clear picture of what high quality careers guidance looks like. This incorporates information about the quality assurance of any external organisations that schools plan to work with.
The guidance is clear that schools will now be held to account for the outcomes for their students through destination measures. Ofsted will take greater account of the quality of careers guidance and of students’ destinations in school inspections when judging the effectiveness of a school’s leadership and management. Data on post-16 education destinations are already published in Performance Tables. We intend to publish full key stage 4 and key stage 5 destinations data in performance tables once we are content that the data are robust enough.
Citizenship: Education
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will take steps to ensure that schools teach pupils the importance of participating within the democratic process. [205920]
Mr Timpson: Citizenship education helps young people to prepare to play a full part in society, informed by a sound understanding of what it means to be a responsible citizen. In citizenship, pupils learn about democracy, Government and how laws are made and upheld. Teaching should equip pupils to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, to debate, and to make reasoned arguments.
To help support teachers engage pupils in learning about the democratic process, the Cabinet Office has produced the Rock Enrol! lesson framework, which is published online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rock-enrol-engaging-young-people-in-democracy
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Since its creation, the Cabinet Office has worked to promote its use in schools, local authorities and by youth organisations.
Correspondence
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will estimate the annual cost to her Department of (a) stationery and (b) postage incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members; and if she will make a statement. [206145]
Mr Timpson: Information is not available in the form requested. The report published by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (13 May 2014, Official Report, column 17WS) shows that Department for Education Ministers received 16,898 letters from parliamentarians in the 2013 calendar year. We do not keep records of the form in which replies to such letters are sent. As explained by the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare in the reply given to the hon. Member on 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 151W, most correspondence from hon. Members continues to be received as letters and is replied to in the same format. Ministers do, however, reply by e-mail when they consider it appropriate to do so.
Creationism and Evolution
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 555W, on creationism, what mechanisms her Department has put in place to ensure that the Government's position on creationism and evolution is supported by learning establishments in receipt of funding through the scheme to provide 15 hours per week of free nursery provision; and if she will make a statement. [203123]
Mr Gyimah: The decision to fund a provider for early education places is based on the inspection judgment that they receive from Ofsted, or an Ofsted-approved inspectorate. Inspectors will consider whether adults challenge children to think and find out more by encouraging them to speculate and test ideas. Where an Ofsted inspector identifies any concerns, they must notify Ofsted’s compliance, investigation and enforcement team, who will consider notifying the appropriate agencies.
The teaching of creationism and evolution in nurseries was identified by respondents as an issue in the Government’s recent consultation on child minder agencies and the role of local authorities in early education and child care. The Government are considering these responses.
Departmental Responsibilities
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the responsibilities will be of the Minister of State in her Department, the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. [206249]
Mr Timpson: The full list of ministerial responsibilities will be published on www.gov.uk in due course.
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Education
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many 16 to 19-year-olds who have not achieved English and mathematics to level 2 are not continuing to study these subjects. [206214]
Mr Timpson: In 2012/13, 28% (481,600) of 16 to 18-year-olds had not achieved Level 2 English by the end of the previous academic year, and of those 53% (254,100) were not continuing to study the subject at any level.
In 2012/13, 30% (518,300) of 16 to 18-year-olds had not achieved Level 2 mathematics by the end of the previous academic year, and of those 57% (295,500) were not continuing to study the subject at any level.
This is why this Government have introduced a condition of funding to ensure that all 16 to 19-year-olds who have not secured a good GCSE pass in English or maths have the opportunity to achieve these subjects by 19.
2012/13 is the latest year that we have participation data linked to prior attainment.
Employment Schemes: Young People
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what target she has set for the number of 16 to 17-year-olds to (a) enrol on the Youth Contract programme, (b) be re-engaged into a positive outcome following the Youth Contract programme and (c) be retained in that positive outcome for five out of six months over the course of the Youth Contract programme. [206128]
Mr Timpson: For the Education Funding Agency (EFA)-managed strand of the Youth Contract programme for 16 and 17-year-olds, payments are made on a ‘payment by results’ basis, which has three outcome-related payments.
In announcing the programme, the Government committed £126 million over three years to provide capacity to support up to 55,000 young people who are aged 16 or 17, not in education, employment or training (NEET) and who have no GCSEs at grades A*-C. As a result of efficiency savings made during the procurement for delivery of the programme, in January 2013, the eligibility for the programme was extended to provide capacity for up to an additional 15,500 young people aged 16 or 17 who are NEET and: who have up to one GCSE A*-C or; who are care leavers/young people in care or; who are young offenders released from custody or serving community sentences.
Delivery data for the programme for the period September 2012 to the end of March 2014 were published on 26 June 2014 and published online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-contract-delivery-data
These show contractors delivered 18,570 enrolments, 9,949 re-engagements and 3,445 sustained engagements. The contracted profile for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2016 shows: 21,500 participant enrolments; 23,000 participant re-engagements into positive outcomes of education, training or employment with training; and 23,500 participants to sustain in a positive outcome of education, training or employment with training for five out of six months.
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Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much has been paid to each provider of the Youth Contract for 16 to 17-year-olds since September 2012. [206180]
Mr Timpson: The following table shows the amounts that have been paid since September 2012 by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to the contractors delivering the EFA-managed element of the Youth Contract programme for 16 and 17-year-olds.
This information relates only to the EFA-managed element of the Youth Contract for 16 and 17-year-olds. Funding for the Core Cities element of the programme, which is being delivered in Liverpool, Newcastle and Gateshead, and Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield, is devolved to the relevant local authorities.
| Prime contractor | Total amount paid since September 2012 (£) |
| 1 To 31 July 2013 | |
Free Schools
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many free schools have been approved by her Department which do not have identified sites; and in which local authority area each such school wishes to operate. [206167]
Mr Timpson: There are currently 174 free schools open, with applications approved for a further 156 schools that are seeking to open in 2014/15 and beyond. Of these 330 schools, 4% do not currently have a permanent site identified. None of these schools are planning to open in September 2014.
A full list of approved applications, showing the local authority, is published online at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-successful-applications-and-open-schools-2014
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2014, Official Report, column 636W, on free schools, what assessment she has made of the feasibility of changes to the way personal information is recorded in free school applications to reduce the cost of redaction of that information; and if she will make a statement. [206239]
Mr Timpson: The Department for Education keeps the format of free school application forms under review. In doing so, the most important consideration is to ensure that applicants provide information in a way that allows officials to make the best possible judgment about the quality and suitability of the application.
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Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of applications her Department has received for free schools in districts experiencing a high or severe need for extra primary school places in the present academic year. [206385]
Mr Timpson: As reported in the National Audit Office review of free schools, 70% of free schools have opened in areas where there was a need for additional school places.
Based on data provided by local authorities in May 2013, nine authorities were projected to have high or severe basic need for more primary school places in the 2013/14 academic year. Between May 2010 and May 2014, the Department for Education received a total of 34 applications to open primary free schools in these areas. This represents 8% of all primary free school applications received over the same period.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish a list of all free schools that are planned to open in September 2014 that still have places available before they reach their planned admission number; and how many places at each such school are currently available. [206386]
Mr Timpson: Information about the number of children on roll in free schools will be collected during the January school census and published in due course.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which free school projects pre-approved to open in September 2014 have since been (a) cancelled or withdrawn and (b) delayed; and what the pre-opening expenditure was for each such project. [206387]
Mr Timpson: Since 2011, 174 new free schools have opened across the country and around a further 80 are on course to open in September 2014. While free school proposers will have a preferred date for opening their school, the Department for Education does not approve projects to open in any specific year.
The projects aiming to open in September 2014 or beyond that have been withdrawn are:
1. Inspirar Academy
2. Marco Polo Academy
3. Oasis Community School Walthamstow
4. On Track Chiltern
5. Phoenix Free School of Oldham
6. The Advance School
7. Transforming Lives for Good
No project was specifically approved to open in September 2014.
Once the costs are finalised, the Department publishes the pre-opening expenditure for each free school project on the departmental website.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the size is of the (a) external and (b) internal play area on the (i) temporary and (ii) permanent site of each free school that is (A) open and (B) planning to open in September 2014. [206388]
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Mr Timpson: The Department for Education does not collect this information and it could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
The Department ensures that every free school has access to sufficient play and sports space either on- or off-site.
Haberdashers' Aske's Federation Trust
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) the Haberdashers' Aske's Federation Trust and (b) that Trust's auditors on possible fraud within the trust; [206165]
(2) if she will place in the Library a copy of the service level agreement between the Haberdashers' Aske's Federation Trust and the schools in which it operates. [206166]
Mr Timpson: The trust reported to the Education Funding Agency (EFA) that a theft had occurred. The trust undertook a full independent review, and the EFA monitored their response. The Department for Education’s most recent discussion with the trust has been to confirm progress with the recovery of funds and the police investigation.
The Department has not had recent discussions with the trust’s auditors. The EFA reviewed the most recent audited accounts in early 2014.
The Department does not hold a copy of the service level agreement between the Federation Trust and its schools.