Iraq

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Regular reservists and (b) Army Reservists were called up to support Operation Telic in each year between 2002-03 and 2011-12. [208249]

Mr Brazier: The number of Reservists mobilised in support of Operation Telic is not held in the format requested, it is held by Operation.

The numbers are provided in the table.

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10 Sep 2014 : Column 618W

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 3 July 2014, Official Report, column 725W, on nuclear weapons and of 10 July 2014, Official Report, column 358W, on nuclear weapons, if he will publish the titles of reports requested for the longest most recent period of time that will not incur disproportionate cost. [206421]

Mr Dunne: Responsibility for the transportation of warheads was transferred to the Warship Support Agency (now part of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)) from the RAF in 2002. Titles of reports that relate to the risks of the transport of nuclear warheads that are held by DE&S are shown below. To conduct a search of the archived files held by the RAF could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

Threat Vulnerability Assessment/Peer Review dated 14 April 2014.

Review of security arrangements across Nuclear Weapon Lifecycle Phases (LCP) 1-3, dated 18 July 2012.

(Project Armoured Nuclear Transporter) Truck Cargo Heavy Duty Mk3 Transport Operational Safety Case (OSC) Issue 2 dated October 2011.

Nuclear Weapons Security—Op DANSK Final Report dated 29 April 2010.

The Future Role of the Ministry of Defence Police (known as The Woolley Report) 3 September 2009.

Transport and Base Security Study dated 8 May 2006.

Operational Safety Case for the Transport of Nuclear Weapons, Issue 2 dated January 2005.

Director Nuclear Movements and Nuclear Accident Response Group Safety Statement for the Modification of the Nuclear Weapon Convoy task to Continuous Running including running in the hours of darkness dated 16 December 2004.

Review of Nuclear Weapon Road Convoy Security Arrangements, by Brig J H Thomas dated 19 February 2003.

Movements by Sea of Nuclear Weapons dated 17 December 1996.

Management Services Organisation Study No. 774 Nuclear Road Convoys, dated October 1993.

A number of reports have been identified that relate to the effects of the use of a UK nuclear weapon, where the titles could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. This information is, however, being withheld to safeguard national security, because its release would prejudice the defence of the UK, and because it relates to the formulation of Government policy.

Public Records: Northern Ireland

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what current assessment he has made of the relevance of unreleased historical documents relating to Northern Ireland held at Swadlincote to the work of the Historical Enquiries Team in investigating cases from the past; and whether he plans to release these records to the National Archive under the Public Records Act 1958. [207980]

Mr Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 October 2013, Official Report, column 483W.

Warships

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the standard length was of deployment for service personnel aboard (a) frigates and (b) destroyers in 2012; and what the standard length of such deployments is at present. [208441]

Anna Soubry: In 2012, the average length of deployment for both destroyers and frigates was seven months. Currently, deployments are between seven and seven and a half months.

From early 2015, the Royal Navy will introduce nine-month deployments for those destroyers and frigates undertaking patrol tasks in the South Atlantic and the Gulf. The move to longer deployments will mean fewer generation cycles; fewer deployments in the longer term; less disruption, and a better ability for individuals and families to plan. A package of additional benefits will be in place for personnel: two weeks' pre-deployment leave; two weeks' leave at the mid point of their deployment, and four or five weeks' leave on their return, depending on which main leave period this falls in. It is planned that other deployments will remain between seven and seven and a half months.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Arms Trade: Exports

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the net benefit to UK defence exports as a result of the recent Farnborough Airshow. [206008]

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Matthew Hancock: Farnborough is an important showcase for the UK Defence sector. The Department does not make estimates of defence exports arising as a result of the Farnborough Airshow, but recent figures released show that defence exports grew by 11% in 2013 to £9.8 billion. Previous exhibitions such as Farnborough 2012 are likely to have contributed to these figures.

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what end-of-use monitoring is in place to ensure that UK weapons supplied to Saudi Arabia are used for the purposes specified. [207361]

Matthew Hancock: The UK's priority in arms export licensing is to ensure that all applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria prior to granting a licence. This includes assessing the risk of diversion to undesirable end use or undesirable end users.

After the export has been granted, the Export Control Organisation also has the power to suspend and revoke licences if necessary, if the situation in the end-use destination changes.

In terms of end-use monitoring, Foreign Office posts overseas have a standing requirement to monitor developments in human rights and conflicts in their respective countries or regions and to report back if there are any developments that might affect licensing policy. In addition the Government use open source material such as NGO reports to make their assessments.

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which organisations are the main occupants of his Department's properties at (a) Cannon House, Birmingham, (b) the NTI Building, Birmingham, (c) Queensway House, Billingham, (d) Stella House, Newcastle and (e) Westfield House, London; and what the value is of the total rent collected from all occupants in each of those buildings per year. [208022]

Jo Swinson: The main tenant at Cannon House in Birmingham is the Insolvency Service (an Executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) who pays rent to the landlord for space within the building. No income is derived from any occupation of this building.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) no longer occupy any space within the NTI Building in Birmingham. The estates team for BIS are actively marketing the vacant space in the NTI building, Birmingham and are in discussion with an interested party.

BIS are not the leaseholders for Queensway House in Billingham. The space is leased from Stockton-On-Tees borough council. Therefore, this Department does not receive rent for this space, they pay for their occupation in this location.

BIS no longer occupy any space within Stella House, Newcastle or Westfield House, London.

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Business: Loans

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many firms have received assistance under the Direct Lending Scheme to date. [206025]

Matthew Hancock: There has been significant interest in UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) Direct Lending Facility (DLF) since its enhancements were announced in the Budget. Since it was relaunched on 30 June 2014, the pipeline of potential export contracts has developed and now involves 28 UK-based exporters of varying size and export experience. As it stands, the pipeline has 35 potential export contracts that range from £3 million to over £350 million. Most importantly, the DLF pipeline is growing.

Defence Equipment: Exhibitions

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether companies which have been previously ejected from the DSEI arms fair for selling equipment which could be used for torture are permitted to exhibit at future similar events in London. [206108]

Matthew Hancock: DSEI is a commercial exhibition run by Clarion Events. The decision whether to allow a company to exhibit is a matter for Clarion Events in compliance with UK law and export control regulation.

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce energy costs in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [208333]

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is committed to reducing energy usage in order to realise cost savings and achieve the Greening Government Commitments (GGC) target of 25% carbon reduction by 2014/15.

The Department has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce the estate’s energy consumption:

(a) Estate rationalisation has maximised space utilisation and improved the usability and capacity of core buildings. In central London, the Department has achieved significant energy savings by reducing from eight buildings to one. This has resulted in an estimated £10.7 million in property savings per annum for the period 2012-21 including significantly reduced energy costs.

(b) A partial building shutdown is observed over each Christmas break at 1 Victoria street. Staff are located in a discrete area of the HQ building between Christmas and new year, to minimise heating and lighting energy consumption.

(c) The Department operates a temperature ‘deadband’ where no heating or cooling operates. The ‘deadband’ stops conflict between heating and cooling systems while maintaining a comfortable working environment.

(d) The Department’s arm’s length bodies are also fully committed to reducing energy consumption and associated costs. At Companies House, a biomass boiler has been installed. The 500 kW wood pellet boiler has replaced 2.4 MW gas boilers and now provides 88% of heating to the building and this technology will save £30,000 annually.

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EU External Trade

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what his policy is on the investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement; [206910]

(2) what representations he has received from his counterpart in (a) South Africa, (b) Ecuador, (c) India and (d) Indonesia on the investor state dispute mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; [206909]

(3) what assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumers of the inclusion of an investor state dispute settlement mechanism in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement; [206911]

(4) if he will give a formal response to the report published by LSE Enterprise entitled, Costs and Benefits of an EU-US Investment Protection treaty; [206923]

(5) what assessment he has made of the rigorousness of the US judicial system towards business; and under what circumstances he would support a dispute settlement mechanism being included in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations. [206924]

Matthew Hancock: The purpose of an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in an investment protection agreement is to provide an independent process for foreign investors to seek compensation where they believe they have suffered a loss as a result of action by the host state which breaches the provisions of the treaty. ISDS provisions can help to create a positive investment climate and promote growth. As such, ISDS will not have a direct impact on consumers, who will benefit from other elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and who have separate routes for seeking redress. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. While a number of UK businesses have used ISDS to seek compensation, there has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into investment protection agreements and the ISDS mechanism, reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The ISDS provisions in TTIP are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy. Balanced investment protection provisions in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

I am not aware of having received any representations from South Africa, Ecuador, India and Indonesia on investor state dispute settlement in the TTIP negotiations.

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will take steps to ensure that DG Trade in the European Commission meets more public interest groups from the UK to discuss the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; [206917]

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(2) if he will take steps to ensure that DG Trade in the European Commission meets more environmental interest groups from the UK to discuss the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; [206918]

(3) if he will take steps to ensure that DG Trade in the European Commission meets more trades unions from the UK to discuss the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations. [206919]

Matthew Hancock: The European Commission has been extensively consulting and reporting back as negotiations progress on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), for example through the establishment of their own expert advisory group, an open door policy for meetings with interested parties, and stakeholder events open to all interest groups during each round of negotiations. The Trade Commissioner and his senior officials have also contributed extensively to engagement in the UK, by providing evidence to the House of Lords during their enquiry into TTIP and by speaking at meetings and events organised both by the Government and stakeholders. We support their approach, and are happy to continue to encourage them to consult extensively.

EU External Trade: USA

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether cross-border use of personal data is being discussed as part of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations. [206920]

Matthew Hancock: The EU and the USA are exploring cross-border data flows in the context of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), given their importance to international commerce, in particular in services. The European Commission has publicly stated that existing EU rules regarding personal data protection are not on the table.

Exports: Israel

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) standard individual export licenses and (b) open individual export licences permitting exports to Israel were suspended between 8 July and 31 August 2014. [207395]

Matthew Hancock: No such export licences were suspended in this period of time.

Higher Education: Radicalism

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Education in the Welsh Government on tackling extremism and radicalisation in UK universities; and if he will convene a meeting with his counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss this matter. [208390]

Greg Clark: Given my recent appointment to the position of Minister for Universities I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with the Minister for Education in the Welsh Government but intend to do so at the earliest convenience.

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In the meantime the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills continues to work closely with the Welsh Government and other partners in Wales, including through a 'Preventing Extremism' regional co-ordinator who supports universities and colleges throughout Wales to help them prevent radicalisation and tackle extremism.

Intellectual Property

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Government plans to respond to the report from the Law Commission entitled Patents, Trade Marks and Design Rights: Groundless Threats, published in April 2014. [208207]

Nick Boles: The Government have welcomed the publication of the Law Commission's report. We will be giving a full response to the recommendations in the report when detailed analysis has been completed. We expect this to be in the coming months.

Royal Mail

Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) meetings and (b) discussions on the privatisation of Royal Mail took place between (i) Ministers, (ii) officials, (iii) the Financial Adviser to HM Government, (iv) the banking syndicate working on the privatisation and (v) priority investors (A) ahead of and (B) since the privatisation of Royal Mail. [206368]

Matthew Hancock: There were no meetings between Ministers or Officials and investors in the lead up to the IPO. Regular meetings and discussions took place between Ministers and Officials, and between Officials and Advisers and Glocos ahead of the IPO. Since then, officials have met with members of the banking syndicate and investors in relation to Select Committee hearings.

Tax Avoidance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether UK Export Finance monitors the use of booking centres as part of its anti-money laundering policy. [206423]

Matthew Hancock: UK Export Finance does not monitor the use of booking centres as such, but undertakes anti-money laundering due diligence on the export transactions it is asked to support which includes, and is not limited to, requiring written assurances in relation to money laundering from the institution, normally a bank, from which the UKEF-supported export credit loan is booked and disbursed.

Trade Fairs: Farnborough

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the net benefit to the UK export sector as a result of the recent Farnborough Airshow. [206009][Official Report, 29 October 2014, Vol. 587, c. 3-4MC.]

Matthew Hancock: There has been significant interest in UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) Direct Lending Facility (DLF) since its enhancements were announced in the Budget. Since it was relaunched on 30 June 2014, the pipeline of potential export contracts has developed

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and now involves 28 UK-based exporters of varying size and export experience. As it stands, the pipeline has 35 potential export contracts that range from £3 million to over £350 million. Most importantly, the DLF pipeline is growing.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Israel

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the engines used in the Israeli Defence Forces unmanned aerial vehicles have been developed or enhanced with the assistance of UK technology or components. [207381]

Matthew Hancock: We have identified one licence for components for unmanned air vehicles for the Israeli Defence Forces, dating back to 1999.

Scotland

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce energy costs in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [208347]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office keeps all costs under rigorous review. The Office has taken a number of steps to reduce energy costs including (a) ensuring central heating is switched off whenever possible, (b) conducting campaigns to raise awareness in staff of the need to reduce energy costs, and (c) when routine repairs and maintenance are being undertaken using the opportunities to modify existing equipment or install more energy-efficient ones, and to reduce heat loss.

Pay

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) highest and (b) lowest full-time equivalent salary paid by his Department was in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [208291]

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff join on a secondment type basis from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and Ministry of Justice, which remain the employers. As such there are variations in pay costs within the administration grades. The information requested is shown as follows:

(v) 2014-15

Not all bodies have set their pay levels for 2014-15 so full-time equivalent salary information cannot be provided.

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Written Questions

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of named day written questions were answered by his Department within the prescribed period in the (a) 2012-13 session, (b) 2013-14 session and (c) 2014-15 session to date. [208431]

David Mundell: The information requested is shown as follows:

(a) 2012-13 session: 80% of named day questions were answered on the nominated day;

(b) 2013-14 session: 75% of named day questions were answered on the nominated day;

(c) 2014-15 to date: 63% of named day questions have been answered on the nominated day.

Departmental performance information, for ordinary and named day parliamentary questions, is collated by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons and submitted to the Procedure Committee. This is published on a sessional basis by the committee, and includes evidence regarding departmental performance. The monitoring report relating to the 2012-13 session was published on 13 February 2014 as HC1046. The report covering statistics relating to performance during the 2013-14 session will be published very shortly by the Procedure Committee.

Women and Equalities

Pay

Mr Thomas: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities what the (a) highest and (b) lowest full-time equivalent salary paid by the Government Equalities Office was in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15; and if she will make a statement. [208284]

Jo Swinson: Due to a machinery of government change in September 2012, the Government Equalities Office became part of the Department for Culture Media and Sport. DCMS was responsible for the remuneration of GEO employees from June 2013. The table therefore shows the lowest and highest full-time equivalent salaries paid to GEO employees in the financial years 2013-14 (as at 31/03/14) and 2014-15 (as at 01/09/14). The highest salary is shown in bands of £5,000, in-line with the Department’s annual disclosure of senior salaries through its annual accounts and reports.

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Health

Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2014, Official Report, column 231W, on abortion, when he expects the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to update its guidance on the possible consequences of abortion. [208437]

Jane Ellison: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has no immediate plans to update the guideline ‘The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion’ but will take account of any new and significant changes which warrant an update.

Cancer: Drugs

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he authorised the recent increase in the Cancer Drug Fund annual budget; and whether (a) the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group and the Direct Commissioned Service Committee and (b) the Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group were consulted before that decision was taken. [208020]

George Freeman: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, agreed that the size of the Cancer Drugs Fund would be increased to £280 million in both 2014-15 and 2015-16.

We are advised by NHS England that the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group, the Direct Commissioned Service Committee and the Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group were not specifically consulted before this decision was taken.

Food: Crime

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made towards the establishment of a Food Crime Unit. [208405]

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises that it has already made progress in establishing the new Food Crime Unit. Existing teams that deal with food incidents, fraud and intelligence have been reorganised to form the core of the new Unit and recruitment is underway for a small number of additional permanent and seconded staff to support this. The Food Crime Unit will be operational, with the first phase incorporating a well-developed intelligence capability, by the end of 2014.

General Practitioners

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on named GPs for NHS patients under the age of 75. [207968]

Dr Poulter: From April 2014 it became a contractual requirement for general practitioners (GPs) that people aged 75 and over should have a named GP responsible for their care.

Patients under the age of 75 with complex care needs are included in the Proactive Care Programme and will also have a named GP, regardless of age.

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The Government are exploring how the core principles of proactive, personalised and joined-up out of hospital care can best be extended beyond the people with the most complex care needs.

Health Services

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the next step is in the commissioning of a specialised service after a positive recommendation by the Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group (PSSAG); whether services recommended for commissioning by PSSAG in September 2014 will be funded from April 2015; when the PSSAG recommendations on the application for a specialised service for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency will be published; and if he will make a statement. [208035]

Jane Ellison: The Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group (PSSAG) is a Department of Health expert committee which provides advice to Ministers on which services should be prescribed in regulations for national commissioning by the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England).

PSSAG makes recommendations to Ministers, who are obliged under section 3B of the National Health Service Act 2006 to take appropriate advice and to consult with NHS England before making regulations to prescribe particular services as specialised services for NHS England commissioning. Decisions on the timing of any changes to commissioning responsibilities will take account of advice from PSSAG and any consultation response from NHS England.

Where a service is prescribed for national commissioning, NHS England becomes responsible for making decisions on the commissioning of that service, including funding of specific interventions as part of that service. We understand from NHS England that where it becomes the responsible commissioner for a service, it considers the funding priority of the service through its Clinical Priorities Advisory Group.

We understand the Alpha 1 Alliance has worked with NHS England and the Specialised Respiratory Clinical Reference Group to develop a proposal for the national commissioning of services for patients with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, which will be put to PSSAG for consideration at its next meeting on 30 September. A report containing PSSAG’s recommendations will be published once Ministers have made decisions on any associated changes.

Medicine: Education

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will institute an awards scheme to recognise best practice among doctors who deliver training to medical students. [208322]

Dr Poulter: There are currently no plans to institute an awards scheme to recognise best practice among doctors who deliver training to medical students. However, the General Medical Council has established a phased process for implementing arrangements for recognising trainers in medical training. All trainers in four specific roles will be fully recognised by 31 July 2016.

The arrangements relate to:

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named educational supervisors in postgraduate training;

named clinical supervisors in postgraduate training;

lead coordinators of undergraduate training at each local education provider; and

doctors responsible for overseeing students’ educational progress for each medical school.

Mesothelioma

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions his Department has had with the insurance industry on the allocation of monies for research into the elimination of mesothelioma. [207987]

George Freeman: In April this year, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Earl Howe) convened a high-level meeting between the Association of British Insurers and the British Lung Foundation (BLF) to discuss how insurers can remain engaged in support for mesothelioma research following earlier donated funding. Departmental officials attended this meeting. Discussions between the BLF and insurers are ongoing. The Department has no direct role in these discussions but is monitoring progress.

Any further funding made available by insurers for mesothelioma research will be in addition to existing sources of public funding. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has highlighted to the research community that it wants to encourage research applications in mesothelioma. Further details of this are available on the NIHR website at:

www.themedcalls.nihr.ac.uk/mesothelioma

Motor Vehicles: Smoking

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on the banning of smoking in cars and other vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [207988]

Jane Ellison: We want to protect children from the harms associated with second-hand smoke and the Government will proceed with the introduction of regulations to end smoking in private vehicles carrying children in England.

The consultation, ‘Smoking in private vehicles carrying children—consultation on proposed regulations to be made under the Children and Families Act 2014’, closed on 27 August 2014. We are now considering all responses carefully and will make a decision on the content of the regulations. A summary report will be published in due course.

NHS: Nurseries

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information his Department holds on the number of NHS trusts that provide nursery facilities for staff and patients; [208187]

(2) what information his Department holds on the number of nurseries run by NHS trusts that (a) have closed since 2010 and (b) plan to close in the next three years. [208188]

Dr Poulter: The information requested is not collected centrally.

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NHS: Pay

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require NHS trusts to benchmark executive pay increases against salaries at similarly performing NHS trusts. [208403]

Dr Poulter: The Government have been clear that senior staff must set an example of pay restraint. The latest independent report on executive pay in the national health service from Incomes Data Services shows that for the third year running median salary increases for non-medical executive directors in the NHS were zero.

The policy of this and previous Governments is to allow NHS foundation trusts freedom to set their own rates of pay for their executive directors, based on the assessment of their independent remuneration committees of what is necessary to recruit, retain and motivate these staff. NHS trusts, as organisations seeking to achieve foundation trust status, are subject to oversight of their performance by the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA). This includes scrutiny of their executive pay. The TDA has obtained information from all NHS trusts on the numbers of staff paid more than £100,000 per annum and the pay of staff in five executive positions also over £100,000. They have used this information to benchmark the data against comparable organisations. NHS trusts are advised by TDA to bring salaries which are outside the normal range, in line with this range when filling any future vacancies.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues on whether pay increases at NHS trusts should be linked to the performance of hospitals at those trusts. [208404]

Dr Poulter: The pay of all staff in NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts on medical and dental or Agenda for Change terms and conditions is determined by national contracts. The government decided that all staff this year and next should receive at least 1% additional pay through annual incremental pay progression or through a non-consolidated addition. The award of any additional pay for staff on Agenda for Change terms is subject to staff meeting locally agreed performance standards which may be linked to organisational performance. The government and NHS Employers are negotiating with the British Medical Association with the aim of linking pay more effectively to performance in the contracts of medical staff. NHS trusts and foundation trusts have freedom to set their own rates of pay for their executive directors on the advice of their independent remuneration committees and their pay may include a performance-related element. However, the latest independent survey of NHS Boardroom pay from Incomes Data Services indicates that few NHS trusts or foundation trusts award performance-related bonuses to their executive staff.

Nurses

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Royal College of Nursing on ensuring that nurses trained in the UK are able to obtain nursing posts at UK hospitals. [208400]

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Dr Poulter: The Department works in partnership with NHS England and Health Education England (HEE) to ensure that all nurses trained in the United Kingdom and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council are able to find employment at a UK hospital, should they wish to. However, some nurses will wish to work in primary, community or social care roles and some may seek employment with charities or the independent sector.

HEE is responsible for the number of training places for nurses and to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between supply and demand of staff in terms of numbers, and skills to meet the need of employers to deliver excellent clinical outcomes together with high quality compassionate care. HEE is working with partner organisations including NHS England, who are responsible for the creation of available posts, taking into account the service demand and staff turnover.

The Royal College of Nursing is an important stakeholder representing nurses, but is not responsible for training and employing nurses.

Patients: Death

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died in hospital in England from diseases contracted overseas since January 2011. [208114]

Jane Ellison: It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested as these data are not available.

Pay

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) highest and (b) lowest full-time equivalent salary paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its public bodies was in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12, (C) 2012-13, (D) 2013-14 and (E) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [208285]

Dr Poulter: In line with data protection legislation, the salary information in both the tables attached is provided as salary ranges, in order to avoid disclosing personal information.

For the core Department the information requested is presented as basic salary ranges in the following table:

The Department does not hold centrally the information requested in respect of its arm’s length bodies (ALBs). The basic salary range information, provided to the Department by these organisations, is presented in the following table.

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Pets: Disease Control

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to inform the public of the risk of contracting diseases from household pets. [208109]

Jane Ellison: Infections that can be passed from animals to people are known as zoonoses. However transmission of zoonotic infections from domestic pets to humans is rare and the risk of contracting diseases from domestic pets is low, even in groups with increased susceptibility to infection such as immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Risks can be reduced further by adopting simple measures such as good hygiene practices, and for pregnant women avoiding contact with cat litter trays. General information on zoonotic infections acquired from pets and advice on reducing the risk is provided on the NHS Choices website:

www.nhs.uk/livewell/allergies/pages/pet-hygiene.aspx

Public Health England (PHE) is the agency which monitors zoonotic infections in people. PHE assesses the risk of zoonoses, identifies groups where there may be increased risk and produces appropriate advice and information on specific zoonoses. This is available to the public and is accessible through the PHE website:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/zoonotic-diseases-zoonoses-guidance-data-and-analysis

Written Questions

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of named day written questions were answered by his Department within the prescribed period in the (a) 2012-13 session, (b) 2013-14 session and (c) 2014-15 session to date. [208426]

Dr Poulter: Departmental performance information, for ordinary and named day Parliamentary Questions, is collated by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons and submitted to the Procedure Committee. This is published on a sessional basis by the committee, and includes evidence regarding departmental performance. The monitoring report relating to the 2012-13 session was published on 13 February 2014 as HC1046. The report covering statistics relating to performance during the 2013-14 session will be published very shortly by the Procedure Committee.

In the 2014-15 session, as of 5 September, the Department has received 463 named day questions and answered 460 on the date named for answer or 99% on deadline.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Islamic State

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the sources of supply to Islamic State militants of their weapons and training; and if he will make a statement. [208183]

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Mr Ellwood: We remain deeply concerned about the ability of terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria to acquire weapons and commit atrocities.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has obtained its weaponry from a variety of sources, including by capturing them from Iraqi and Syrian security forces. Many of ISIL's supply needs are financed by its sale of oil and by money stolen during its advances in recent months.

We have emphasised the need to intensify efforts to stem the flow of weapons and fighters to extremist groups, including ISIL. Hundreds of foreigners are fighting with ISIL, gaining combat experience and potentially forging connections with other extremists. As part of its strategy to combat ISIL, the UK led work on UN Security Council Resolution 2170, adopted on 15 August 2014, which condemns ISIL, Al Nusra Front (ANF) and other terrorist groups listed under Al Qaida sanctions. The resolution urges members to take measures to choke off recruitment and to target the growing phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters and ISIL's sources of finance.

Pay

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) highest and (b) lowest full-time equivalent salary paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its public bodies was in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12, (C) 2012-13, (D) 2013-14 and (E) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [208283]

Mr Ellwood: Foreign Office salaries are determined by a range of factors including grade of the person, performance and length of time in employment.

Details of our salary ranges can be found through the Data.gov.uk website on the FCO staff and salary data pages, and details of our highest paid staff can be found in the FCO Annual accounts in the Remuneration section on page 63 in the 2013-14 accounts. All FCO staff who earn more than £150,000 are also published by Cabinet Office on the Gov.uk "high earners” pages.

Russia

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Russian diplomats are serving with so-called diplomatic immunity in the Russian embassy in London; and if he will make a statement. [208186]

James Duddridge: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has records of 143 diplomats posted to the embassy of the Russian Federation in London. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, the Government grant immunity to diplomats posted to the embassy of the Russian Federation according to their status.

Ukraine: Russia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on a link between pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine and the Russian government. [208105]

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Mr Lidington: The Russian Government have been linked with the crisis in Ukraine since its beginning, when some Russian servicemen were given state medals for their role in the illegal annexation of Crimea in spite of initial denials by Russia that they had been involved.

On 28 August the Prime Minister expressed his concern by further mounting evidence of Russian troop involvement in Ukraine. This followed the release of satellite imagery taken by NATO on 21 and 23 August which showed Russian self-propelled artillery units inside Ukraine in the vicinity of the Luhansk province. Brigadier-General Nico Tak, Head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) crisis management centre, said that NATO had also detected large quantities of advanced weapons, including air defence systems, artillery, tanks and armoured personnel carriers being transferred to separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.

On 28 August the British ambassador to the UN made a statement which detailed evidence he had received further demonstrating the extent of Russian involvement in Ukraine. The separatist arsenal included up to 100 Main Battle Tanks; 80 Armoured Personnel Carriers; 100 MANPADs; 500 Anti-Tank weapons; and over 100 artillery pieces. Almost all of these were supplied directly by Russia since the conflict started.

On 15 August a convoy of 23 armoured personnel carriers crossed into Ukraine close to where the Russian humanitarian convoy was awaiting customs clearance. The following day a further convoy of 84 military vehicles crossed the border.

On 7 August, 50 vehicles, including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and BM-21 GRAD Multiple Rocket Launchers crossed from Russia into Ukraine at the Chervonopartisansk border crossing.

On 25 August, 10 Russian paratroopers belonging to the 331st Regiment of the 98th Svirsk Airborne Division were captured near the village of Dzerkaln—20 km inside Ukrainian territory. Satellite imagery confirmed the deployment of Russian armoured vehicles supported by artillery south of Donetsk close to this location. On 28 August another Russian soldier, Petr Khokhlov, serving with the 9th Motor Rifle Brigade, was captured and detained in Luhansk.

In light of this evidence, it is not credible for Russia and pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk to claim that these serving members of the Russian armed forces were in Ukraine ‘by accident’ or ‘on holiday’.

Russia can no longer pretend that it is not a direct party to this conflict, indeed this conflict would no longer exist without direct Russian military involvement in support of the separatists. The Prime Minister has called for such activity to cease immediately and has warned of further sanctions if Russia’s behaviour continues.

Written Questions

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of named day written questions were answered by his Department within the prescribed period in the (a) 2012-13 session, (b) 2013-14 session and (c) 2014-15 session to date. [208425]

Mr Lidington: In 2012-13 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) received 572 named day questions, of which 570 (99.7%) were answered on time.

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In 2013-14 the FCO received 721 named day questions, of which 713 (98.9%) were answered on time. As at 5 September 2014, 195 named day questions had been tabled with dates for answer on or before 5 September, of which 185 (94.8%) had been answered on time.

International Development

China

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to encourage clothing retailers to interrogate their supply chains in China to assess the working conditions of people working in that country. [208392]

Mr Swayne: The UK Government work with business to provide guidance for companies to meet their obligations to respect human rights throughout their operations. Recent changes to the Companies Act have strengthened requirements for company reporting to include these issues.

DFID has developed a package of activities—including engagement with clothing retailers—to address unsafe working conditions in the garment sector in Bangladesh, following the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, which will have wider benefits. In terms of UK companies engaging with HMG on working conditions, DFID does not have a bilateral programme with China.

Palestinians

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the financial contribution to humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza is spent on the purchase of goods and services from Israel. [208048]

Mr Swayne: DFID works with trusted and established international partners like the World Food Programme and the UN Relief and Works Agency to deliver our development and humanitarian objectives in Gaza. Our partners make every effort to procure relief items locally in Gaza or the West Bank. However, the priority is and must remain to do all we can to get aid to the people who need it most in a timely fashion.

Sudan

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of humanitarian conditions in eastern Sudan. [208191]

Lynne Featherstone: The UK remains extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in eastern Sudan. The needs assessment carried out to inform the 2014 UN response showed that health and nutrition indicators were above emergency thresholds in many locations and access to services was extremely poor. A UK-funded UNICEF national nutrition survey revealed large numbers of children were suffering from acute malnutrition, especially in Kassala and Red Sea State. These findings have been incorporated into the recently revised Humanitarian Strategic Response Plan for 2014, which is used for determining where donor resources are allocated.

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The UN’s Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) plays an important role in funding the humanitarian response in Sudan using the Strategic Response Plan as a guide. In 2014 the UK contributed £17 million to the CHF. We are also investing in longer term programmes to build the resilience of communities and improve access to water and sanitation in eastern Sudan.

Ukraine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the level of UK aid in Ukraine since January 2014. [208106]

Justine Greening: The UK Government have provided £3.4 million in aid to Ukraine since January 2014 and a further £11.49 million has been allocated for this financial year.

Communities and Local Government

Affordable Housing: Rural Areas

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of affordable homes delivered through section 106 agreements on sites of fewer than 10 homes in rural areas in each of the last five years. [208162]

Brandon Lewis: There are no national statistics available indicating the proportion of affordable homes delivered through section 106 agreements on sites of fewer than 10 homes in rural areas in each of the last five years.

The Government's public consultation on proposed changes to national policy on section 106 planning obligations agreements closed on 4 May 2014. Interested parties were invited to submit evidence on potential local impacts of the proposed measures, both in terms of developer contributions to infrastructure and affordable housing, and on unblocking stalled sites and increasing the pace and scale of small site development. Unrealistic section 106 agreements result in no housing development, no regeneration and no community benefits. Over 300 responses were received and the Government are now carefully considering the evidence submitted before announcing the outcomes of the consultation.

Business Plans

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how frequently the information on the current status of actions in his Department's business plan shown on www.transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan/2 is updated; and when that information was most recently updated. [207861]

Kris Hopkins: Updates on actions are submitted to the Cabinet Office each month for inclusion on the Number 10 website. The last update was submitted in August 2014.

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EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the UK has lost EU infraction proceedings since May 2010 which relate to matters that fall within his Department's responsibility. [206651]

Kris Hopkins: The Department has never lost an EU infraction case.

Voluntary Work: Religion

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what activities were undertaken by participants in his Department's ‘A Year in Service’ scheme in 2012. [208023]

Stephen Williams: ‘A Year of Service’ was the joint initiative of nine faith communities, facilitated by my Department with the Mitzvah Day Charitable Trust. It aimed to celebrate volunteering among people of faith, support integration through cross faith social action connected to faith festivals, and showcase the ongoing volunteering in faith communities. Its inspiration was the dedicated service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in her Jubilee year, along with the imperative to serve found in the writings and beliefs of each faith community.

It is one of a number of integration projects that my Department is funding to bring people together from different backgrounds and help build stronger communities in partnership with voluntary organisations, businesses and local residents.

During 2012, nearly 200 multi-faith projects were supported. I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the end of project report. The ongoing ‘Together in Service’ programme builds on its success.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what activities are undertaken by participants in his Department's ‘Together in Service’ scheme. [208024]

Stephen Williams: ‘Together in Service’ is a £200,000 grant programme that aims to celebrate the practical contribution that faith communities make to society through volunteering, and to motivate and inspire new multi-faith social action projects. It builds on the success of the ‘A Year of Service’ programme held during 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

It is one of a number of integration projects that my Department is funding to bring people together from different backgrounds and help build stronger communities in partnership with voluntary organisations, businesses and local residents.

Detail for each of the projects awarded funding through the ‘Together in Service’ scheme can be found here:

http://www.togetherinservice.net/funding/projects

Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress his Department has made on the Broadband Delivery UK programme; and if he will make a statement. [208407]

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Mr Vaizey: The Government’s superfast broadband programme has made available superfast broadband to over 1 million premises and, with roll-out out progressing rapidly at 40,000 premises passed per week, the programme is on target to extend superfast coverage to 90% of premises by early 2016 and to 95% by December 2017.

Transport

Driving Offences

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that foreign drivers are subject to the same penalties as British drivers upon failure to produce relevant CPC documentation. [207991]

Claire Perry: All professional drivers of lorries, buses and coaches from EU member states are required to produce the relevant CPC documentation when requested by enforcement officers. I can confirm that non-UK drivers from EU member states are subject to the same penalties as their British counterparts should they fail to do so.

M1

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the roadworks on the M1 motorway north of junction 28 to be completed and the stretch of the M1 between that junction and the M18 to be totally devoid of roadworks. [207811]

Mr Hayes: The M1 Junction 28-31 smart motorway scheme will be fully open to traffic in autumn 2015.

Pedestrian Crossings

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Transport Research Laboratory review of pedestrian walking speeds and time needed to cross the road; and whether he plans to update the current guidance on pedestrian crossings in response. [208314]

Mr Goodwill: The Department notes the recommendation that the relevant guidance on this subject should be updated.

The Department expects to bring the successor to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, which will include all pedestrian crossing types, into force in 2015 and, once that is complete, will consider the need to update existing guidance.

Road Signs and Markings

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 942W, on road signs and markings, when he expects to publish his Department's review of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions. [208326]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport expects to bring the successor to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (as amended) into force in March 2015.

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Education

Children in Care

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to her Department’s report on improving permanence for looked-after children, published in September 2013, what assessment she has made of the evidence from case studies cited on page 40 of that report that local authorities can make significant financial savings through effective support for a child returning home from care; and if she will take full account of that evidence in her forthcoming response to the consultation on looked-after children. [208352]

Mr Timpson: In 2013, the Department for Education consulted on a range of proposals to improve permanence for looked-after children. The Department will take into account a range of evidence, including the financial case for improved practice in local authorities, to deciding how best to proceed and will publish a formal response later this year. The Government have also commissioned the National Children’s Bureau and the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough university to deliver an action research project. The project is working with front-line practitioners and families to support improved practice in returning children home, and includes a focus on developing cost-effective services that help support children to return home successfully from care.

Schools: Radicalism

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government Minister for Education on tackling extremism and radicalisation in schools; and whether she has any plans for a meeting with her counterparts in the devolved Administrations to discuss tackling extremism and radicalisation. [208164]

Mr Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Nicky Morgan), has not discussed extremism and radicalisation with the Minister for Education in the Welsh Government. Officials from the Department for Education have, however, met their counterparts in the Welsh Government to discuss matters of common interest relating to extremism and will continue to do so as necessary.

Special Educational Needs

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what guidance her Department issues to schools on what action to take when a student with special educational needs is physically attacked by other pupils on school property; [208192]

(2) what records are (a) maintained schools and (b) independent schools required to keep of instances where students have verbally abused a student with special educational needs. [208159]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education has not issued specific guidance for schools on what action to take when a student with special educational needs (SEN) is physically attacked by other pupils. Schools have a duty to safeguard all children, particularly those

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in need of additional support, which includes pupils with SEN. An attack may constitute a criminal offence and our anti-bullying advice to schools is clear that staff should seek assistance from the police if they feel an offence has been committed. In April 2014, the Department issued guidance which sets out what schools and colleges must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18.

The Government have made tackling all forms of bullying and harassment in schools a priority. It is never acceptable for any child to be bullied, victimised or harmed in any way. We have issued guidance for maintained and independent schools on preventing and tackling all forms of bullying.²

In February and March, we issued updated advice on tough but permissible sanctions to manage poor behaviour, which includes bullying;³ issued a leaflet about bullying which outlines in one place schools’ responsibilities to support bullied children;⁴ and issued case studies on how good schools manage bullying.⁵

Schools are not required by law to collect information on the number of students with SEN who have been verbally abused. However, all schools are required by law, to have a behaviour policy with measures to address all forms of bullying. Schools have the freedom to develop their own approaches for monitoring bullying; for some, this may involve recording and monitoring specific incidents, while others prefer to survey pupils anonymously. Whatever method schools use, maintained schools are held to account by Ofsted for how well they deal with pupil behaviour and safety, which includes scrutiny of records and analysis of bullying, including disability-related bullying. Independent schools are held to account by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for their effectiveness in promoting good behaviour and guarding against harassment and bullying, including unacceptable behaviour, taking due account of any related difficulty or disability.

In addition, we are providing £4 million of funding over two years from spring 2013 to four organisations—Beatbullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the Anti-bullying Alliance (ABA) with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB)—to develop effective initiatives that prevent and tackle all forms of bullying. The ABA/NCB project also trains schools to prevent and tackle bullying of students with a special educational need or disability. It has published a guide to cyber-bullying for SEN young people, which contains advice for schools on developing effective anti-bullying practice and we link to this report in our departmental advice on bullying.

¹ Available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education

² Available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying

³ Available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-and-discipline-in-schools

⁴ Available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying

⁵ Available at:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/managing-behaviour-and-bullying-in-schools-case-studies

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Home Department

Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the proposed reform of apprenticeships; what effect those discussions will have on her Department's projects and the work of their supply chain; and whether officials in her Department sit on programme boards managing the reform. [208212]

Karen Bradley: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office website, which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-meetings-with-external-organisations-jul-sep-2013

The Home Office does not currently have officials sitting on programme boards managing the reform of apprenticeships.

Energy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce energy costs in her Department; and if she will make a statement. [208343]

Karen Bradley: The 2013-14 Home Office Annual Report and Accounts (ARAc) details the work undertaken by the Department to reduce energy costs. Excluding the Department’s arm’s length bodies, direct energy costs reduced from £8,050,707 at 2009-10 prices to £6,231,669 at 2013-14 prices. The Report can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321446/ARA_web_enabled_18_June.pdf

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new EU directives and regulations have been transposed into UK law by her Department since May 2010. [207262]

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has transposed three directives since May 2010. In addition, five EU Regulations for which the Home Office is responsible have come into force in the same period. Regulations have direct effect and do not require transposition.

Written Questions

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of named day written questions were answered by her Department within the prescribed period in the (a) 2012-13 session, (b) 2013-14 session and (c) 2014-15 session to date. [208427]

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Karen Bradley: Departmental performance information, for ordinary and named day parliamentary questions, is collated by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons and submitted to the Procedure Committee. This is published on a sessional basis by the Committee and includes evidence regarding departmental performance. The monitoring report relating to the 2012-13 session was published on 13 February 2014 as HC1046. The report covering statistics relating to performance during the 2013-14 Session will be published very shortly by the Procedure Committee.

Cabinet Office

Youth Services Provision

9. Ian Mearns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to maintain the level of youth services provision. [905304]

Mr Newmark: We are working to offer practical support to the youth sector at a time when local authorities continue to make difficult decisions on how to deliver services. This support focuses on promoting delivery models for innovative services, including mutuals, and better measurement of the impact of youth services on the lives of young people.

National Citizen Service

10. Caroline Nokes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the summer 2014 National Citizen Service programmes. [905305]

Mr Newmark: The National Citizen Service has grown significantly this summer, with the programme seeing its 100,000th participant.

Social Action and Volunteering

11. Rehman Chishti: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent steps the Government have taken to promote social action and volunteering. [905306]

Mr Newmark: Social action, including volunteering, is changing lives. This Government—through the Centre for Social Action—are proud to be supporting projects that put social action into practice.

The Cabinet Office and Nesta recently hosted the ‘People Helping People’ conference to promote the important opportunities social action presents.

Civil Servants: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent jobs with the Civil Service or Government agencies there were in Yorkshire in May 2010; and how many such jobs there are now. [905301]

Mr Maude: On 31 March 2010, there were 38,000 full-time equivalent Civil Servants employed in the Yorkshire and the Humber region. The latest available statistics for 2013 show that this number reduced to 31,590 as at 31 March 2013.

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To help deal with the deficit which this Government inherited in 2010, the Government have reduced the size of the Civil Service by 17% since the 2010 General Election. It is now at its smallest since the Second World War, representing a significant increase in efficiency and productivity. This reduction helped save taxpayers £2.4 billion last year alone, against a 2009/10 baseline.

NESTA

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many meetings he had with Nesta between 2010 and 2012. [208580]

Mr Maude: As part of my Department’s transparency programme, details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on the Cabinet Office website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications

Voluntary Work: Young People

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have participated in National Citizen Service schemes in (a) England and (b) North Swindon in each year since 2010. [208518]

Mr Newmark: The National Citizen Service has been run in England since 2011. In the first year of pilots 8,434 took part and in the second 25,377. In 2013’s session there were 39,994 participants.

The 2014 NCS programme is ongoing and the number of participants will be reported as part of an independent evaluation following the conclusion of the programme.

Details of participation rates have been held at local authority level since 2012. In Wiltshire there were 69 participants in 2012 and 174 in 2013’s session.

Energy and Climate Change

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of fuel poor households under the low-income high costs definition in (a) Wales and (b) Scotland; [208328]

(2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of fuel poor households under the low-income high costs definition in (a) Wales and (b) Scotland with an energy performance certificate rating of (i) A, (ii) B, (iii) C, (iv) D, (v) E, (vi) F and (vii) G. [208327]

Amber Rudd: Fuel poverty is a devolved matter. The 2014 fuel poverty statistics include a discussion of fuel poverty in the United Kingdom. They are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/319280/Fuel_Poverty_Report_Final.pdf

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Natural Gas

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK economy of the supply of gas from Russia to Europe being cut off. [207362]

Matthew Hancock: The direct risk to the UK’s own energy supply is low as we currently source less than 1% of our gas from Russia and have a well-functioning gas market able to access a diverse range of supplies from domestic producers, Norway, LNG and storage, as well as the continent. There would, nevertheless, be potential indirect impacts if Europe as a whole stopped receiving Russian gas. With the system operator (National Grid) we have assessed, and continue to assess, the impacts of the complete cessation of the gas supply from Russia to Europe on the UK and will include the latest analysis as part of the annual DECC/Ofgem Statutory Security of Supply Report.

The impact on the UK economy would depend on the length and type of disruption. As many external bodies have noted, the impact on prices would depend upon the length of disruption, the costs of LNG imports and storage levels in the EU.

DECC commissioned a 2011 report from Oxford Economics looking at the effect of fossil fuel price shocks on the UK economy. DECC uses this report to inform its general understanding of the impacts of gas price shocks. This paper can be found on the HMG website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fossil-fuel-price-shocks-and-a-low-carbon-economy

Wind Power

Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what studies his Department has made of the effects on the life expectancy and reliability of wind generators of using combined cycle generating turbines to provide balancing capacity. [207568]

Matthew Hancock: We do not expect the use of combined cycle generating turbines to have any impact on the life expectancy or reliability of wind turbines.

This Government believe that balancing capacity is best achieved by pursuing a balanced energy policy, comprising a mix of renewables, nuclear, and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, to ensure that we are not over-reliant upon any one technology.

Written Questions

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of named day written questions were answered by his Department within the prescribed period in the (a) 2012-13 session, (b) 2013-14 session and (c) 2014-15 session to date. [208423]

Amber Rudd: The information requested is in the following table:

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Northern Ireland

Administrative Scheme for the "On the Runs" Independent Review

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the report of the Hallett Review, how in the absence of the lost records a beneficiary of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy prior to 1997 is able to demonstrate the grant of the exercise of the Royal Prerogative; and if she will make a statement. [206670]

Mrs Villiers: The Hallett Review drew attention to issues regarding record-keeping about the RPM, which the Northern Ireland Office is addressing. The Hallett Review did not deal with the exercise of the RPM prior to 1997 but only touches upon it in passing. During the pre-1998 period the use of RPM was relatively common: it was not recorded centrally and records are likely to have been destroyed in accordance with proper protocols. Where the RPM was used prior to 1997 to remit (i.e. shorten) the sentences of individuals who had already been convicted of offences, their release from custody can, on occasion, provide some evidence of the exercise of the RPM. In addition, there may in some cases be contemporaneous correspondence which provides evidence of the exercise of the RPM.

Children: Abuse

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will take steps to ensure Kincora Boys Home, formerly in Belfast, is included within the over-arching inquiry into the sexual abuse of children commissioned by the Home Office; and if she will make a statement. [207795]

Mrs Villiers: The inquiry panel of experts, announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 7 July 2014, is currently being set up. It will review whether public bodies and other non-state institutions have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.

My right hon. Friend informed the House on 5 September 2014 that it will be chaired by Fiona Woolf. Its terms of reference are yet to be determined but the Home Secretary will consider carefully any representations made concerning those.

The inquiry will co-operate fully with devolved Administrations, and in Wales it will consider some non-devolved matters relating to institutions there such as policing. As these equivalent issues are devolved to the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive it will be a matter for those Administrations to consider how they should be addressed.

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The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) has given an assurance that the Home Office will talk to the devolved Administrations and work with them in respect of this Inquiry.

Domestic Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2014, Official Report, columns 462-63W, on domestic visits, what domestic visits she has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was. [208445]

Mrs Villiers: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what her most recent assessment is of the adequacy of the budget provision for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [208393]

Mrs Villiers: Like all UK Government Departments, the Northern Ireland Office faces a significant reduction in its budget in the 2015-16 financial year. That is why my Department requested an impact statement of all of its arm’s length bodies on the measures that might be taken by them to meet a proportionate share of the necessary reduction. No final decisions have been made in respect of the Commission’s budget, but we are currently working with it in light of its impact statement.

Parades: Belfast

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence she has had with the Parades Commission on summer parades in North Belfast since 11 July 2014. [207973]

Mrs Villiers: In the period since 11 July 2014, I have had a meeting with the chair of the Parades Commission and a telephone conversation with other commission members. These conversations formed part of a wider range of discussions and meetings I have had with political parties and other key parading stakeholders on whether to establish a new initiative to look at parading issues in North Belfast.

In discussion, I was keen to reassure members of the commission that in considering any such proposal, a key guiding principle would be my determination that it must not undermine the role or remit of the commission as the responsible, lawful authority. I have had no written correspondence with the commission since 11 July this year.

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will undertake a review of the condition of the RUC George Cross Association memorial at the National Memorial in Staffordshire; and if she will take steps to ensure that resources are allocated for the upkeep and maintenance of that memorial. [208057]

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Mrs Villiers: I recently met the chair and members of the RUC George Cross Foundation, when we discussed the issue of the RUC memorial. Responsibility for this issue rests with the Department of Justice and I have undertaken to raise the matter with the Justice Minster in the near future.

Church Commissioners

Church of England: Land

Helen Goodman: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have set criteria excluding some bidders from the purchase of its land currently for sale near Bishop Auckland. [R] [208259]

Sir Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners are operating an open and transparent marketing and bidding process for the property for sale near Bishop Auckland.

The Church Commissioners’ bidding process leaves no room for undue influence by any interested party. The Church Commissioners have not set criteria that would exclude any party from submitting offers, and all offers will be considered without prejudice or preference.

As a registered charity, the Church Commissioners are under a legal duty to demonstrate that they have maximised the proceeds of sale of their assets to fund the wider mission and ministry of the Church of England, particularly in areas of need.

Helen Goodman: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reasons land owned by the Church near Bishop Auckland is for sale. [R] [208260]

Sir Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners own areas of land across England, including four rural estates in the north-east. As with other land and property owners, we review these holdings from time to time, based on a variety of commercial and other factors. Following a review, the Commissioners took the decision to offer a number of farms in the Bishop Auckland area on the open market. They continue to own other land and estates in County Durham.

Helen Goodman: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reasons the land for sale at Binchester has been divided into two lots. [208262]

Sir Tony Baldry: The estate is being offered as a whole or in 10 separate lots. Lot 5 is a working farm and part of the farm includes largely unexcavated parts of the Binchester Roman Fort. The excavated part of the Fort, and the other unexcavated area, form part of Lot 6. The lotting takes account of a number of factors, including practical boundaries and issues on the ground. For instance, if all of the unexcavated areas had been included in Lot 6, Binchester Hall Farmhouse and yard would be severed from the rest of the farm holding.

Helen Goodman: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken to ensure continued public access to Binchester Roman Fort. [208263]

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Sir Tony Baldry: Binchester Roman Fort is a scheduled ancient monument. It is a criminal offence to disturb a scheduled ancient monument by carrying out works without Scheduled Monument Consent, or causing reckless or deliberate damage to the monument. To offer best protection, public access to the excavated parts of the Fort is managed and controlled in accordance with a Deed of Guardianship with Durham County Council. This means that, as Guardians, Durham County Council must allow access to the site, but are able to do so in such a way as protects and preserves the site for the future. The property will be sold subject to this Deed of Guardianship.