04 March 2015

Transcription

04 March 2015

Daily Report
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
This report shows written answers and statements provided on 4 March 2015 and the
information is correct at the time of publication (06:30 P.M., 04 March 2015). For the
latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written
statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/
CONTENTS
ANSWERS
4
Fire Services: Medals
11
ATTORNEY GENERAL
4
Housing: Construction
12
4
Local Government Finance:
Croydon
12
Property Development:
Portsmouth
13
Rural Areas: West Midlands
13
Staff
14
Training
15
Trials
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND
SKILLS
Agriculture: Apprentices
4
4
Business: Sustainable
Development
4
Carers: Pay
5
Digital Technology: EU Action
5
Electronic Government
6
Fairtrade Initiative
7
Foreign Companies
7
CABINET OFFICE
8
Conditions of Employment:
Wales
8
Epilepsy
8
Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint
9
Pay
9
Public Sector: Procurement
9
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
10
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
15
Arts: Mental Health
15
Automation
16
Broadband: Rural Areas
16
BuzzFeed
16
Cinemas
16
Digital Technology: Dumfries
17
Policy
18
Public Libraries: WiFi
18
Sports: Females
19
Telecommunications
19
DEFENCE
19
10
Armed Forces: Information
Warfare
19
Employment Agencies
11
Armed Forces: Pay
20
Fire Services
11
Armed Forces: Sikhs
22
Affordable Housing: Greater
London
2
Daily Report
Joint Cyber Reserve
22
Nigeria
37
23
Taiwan
37
Animal Welfare: Curriculum
23
Ukraine
38
Children: Epilepsy
23
Culture: Education
24
Alliance Medical
38
Free Schools
24
Epilepsy
39
Radicalism
24
General Practitioners: Training
42
Schools: Fairtrade Initiative
25
Health Services: Veterans
42
Schools: Radicalism
25
Hospital Wards
42
Vocational Education
26
27
Human Papillomavirus:
Vaccination
44
Biofuels
27
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
46
Energy Supply
28
Musculoskeletal Disorders
47
Energy: Prices
28
NHS: Nurseries
47
Fuel Poverty
30
NHS: Private Sector
48
Fuel Poverty: Scotland
30
Obesity: Children
48
Ofgem
31
Perinatal Mortality
49
Wind Power
31
Pregnancy: Mental Health
Services
49
EDUCATION
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL
AFFAIRS
32
Agriculture
32
Climate Change
33
Dangerous Dogs Exemptions
Schemes (England and Wales)
Order 2015
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
OFFICE
33
34
Czech Republic
34
Embassies: Females
34
EU Reform
35
Falkland Islands
35
Members: Correspondence
36
Middle East
36
Niger
37
HEALTH
HOME OFFICE
Crime: Victims
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
38
50
50
51
Caribbean
51
Commonwealth
51
Democratic Republic of Congo
51
Developing Countries: Sugar
51
Developing Countries: Taxation
52
JUSTICE
53
Courts
53
Domestic Violence
53
Domestic Violence: Lancashire
54
Driving Under Influence
54
Prisoners: Kent
55
Daily Report
PRIME MINISTER
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE ON THE
ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Electoral Register: British
Nationals Abroad
TRANSPORT
3
55
55
WORK AND PENSIONS
64
Children: Maintenance
64
Jobcentre Plus
65
Jobseeker's Allowance: South
Yorkshire
65
55
Social Security Benefits
66
56
Social Security Benefits:
Disability
67
67
55
A1
56
Aircraft: Air Conditioning
57
Bus Services: Franchises
57
Social Security Benefits:
Terminal Illnesses
Overseas Visitors
57
Training
67
58
Work Programme
68
TREASURY
Air Passenger Duty: Northern
Ireland
58
Child Benefit
59
Employee Ownership
59
HSBC
59
Inheritance Tax
60
Minimum Wage
60
Renewable Energy: Tax
Allowances
61
Revenue and Customs: Preston
61
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
69
CABINET OFFICE
69
Indemnity for Returning Officers
and Acting Returning Officers
at UK Parliamentary elections
69
The Statistics Board (known as
the UK Statistics Authority):
General Report of the 2011
Census
71
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
The Queen Elizabeth II
Conference Centre
71
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service:
VAT
61
Small Businesses: Taxation
62
Sports: Taxation
62
Concessionary coal
72
Welfare Tax Credits
62
EU Energy Council, Brussels, 5
March
73
WALES
[Subject Heading to be
Assigned]
63
63
TREASURY
Infrastructure
Notes:
Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared.
Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally
tabled as an oral question and has since been unstarred.
71
72
74
74
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ANSWERS
ANSWERS
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Trials
Mr Dominic Raab:
[225766]
To ask the Attorney General, how many re-trials the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has
pursued for each type of offence in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of all
prosecutions brought by the CPS those re-trials represent.
Mr Robert Buckland:
The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of retrials that have been pursued. To identify the number of these would require a manual
exercise to review individual files which would incur a disproportionate cost.
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS
Agriculture: Apprentices
Sir Nicholas Soames:
[225772]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many agricultural
apprenticeships were taken up in financial years (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
Nick Boles:
Information on apprenticeship starts in the Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care
sector subject area is published in a supplementary table to a Statistical First Release
(SFR). Data is published on an academic year basis, rather than financial year:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401393/a
pprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls
Business: Sustainable Development
Joan Walley:
[225716]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will bring forward
legislative proposals to require companies and financial institutions to produce an annual
integrated sustainability report.
Jo Swinson:
The UK already requires quoted companies to report, where necessary for an
understanding of their business, on environmental matters. Companies are required to
report their policy, principle risks and outcomes.
In addition, UK will implement directive 2014/95/EU that requires reports to cover,
amongst other matters, environmental policy. This disclosure will include a discussion of
the company policy, including the due diligence measures implemented, the outcome
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ANSWERS
and the principle risks related to the environment related to the company’s operations,
business relationships, products and services.
Considering the requirements already in place and those necessary to implement the EU
Directive, we have no current plans to bring forward additional legislation proposals on
this issue.
Carers: Pay
Ian Paisley:
[225326]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will bring forward
proposals to ensure that all care workers receive at least the living wage for every hour that
they work.
Jo Swinson:
The Government encourages employers that choose to pay the Living Wage when it is
affordable and not at the expense of jobs. However decisions on what wages to set are
for employers and workers to agree as long as employers pay at least the national
minimum wage.
We are taking action to improve compliance with the national minimum wage in the
social care sector. We are working closely with the Department of Health, Communities
and Local Government and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to make workers more
aware of their rights and encourage them to call the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on
0800 917 2368 if they think they have been underpaid. HMRC respond to every
complaint, as well as undertaking targeted, risk-based enforcement action.
This Government is committed to improving living standards, particularly for the low
paid and the only way to achieve a sustainable increase in living standards is to focus on
economic growth, employment and cutting taxes for the low paid. This is exactly what
we are doing.
In addition to the NMW we are raising the personal allowance, allowing people to take
home more of what they earn. From April 2015 the average person will pay over £825
less in income tax than 2010 and over 3.4 million people will be taken out of income tax
altogether.
Digital Technology: EU Action
Mr Iain Wright:
[225810]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which (a) film, (b) television,
(c) music and (d) publishing companies his Department consulted on the contents of the
Government's policy paper, UK vision for EU's digital economy, before it was published.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
The Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the creative and
other interested sectors in developing the UK’s vision for the Digital Economy, including
representatives of film, television, music and publishing companies. The Government will
continue to engage with stakeholders on the digital single market agenda to promote a
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ANSWERS
single market which supports growth and enables businesses, creators and consumers to
enjoy the opportunities presented by the digital economy.
Mr Iain Wright:
[225812]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to UK vision
for the EU's digital economy, published in January 2015, what steps the Government is
taking to implement the recommendation that the European Commission should act to
ensure access to digital media content across EU borders; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
As set out in the UK’s vision for the Digital Economy, the Government believes that the
digital single market should make it easier for people to access and use content on fair
and reasonable terms across borders. The Government will be engaging with the
European Commission and stakeholders to promote targeted changes based on the best
available evidence. We must ensure we have a copyright framework that supports
economic growth, protects our creators, rewards creativity and responds to consumer
needs.
Electronic Government
Jason McCartney:
[225352]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to
raise consumers' awareness of their rights following poor service from fact-checking
websites for Government-provided services such as the EHIC card.
Jo Swinson:
As the focal point of delivery of all government-funded consumer advice and
information, the Citizens Advice Service is a one stop shop where consumers can find
advice about their rights from a team of consumer advice experts but if they feel they
have had poor service from a fact checking websites.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland can advise on consumers’ rights under the
Consumer Protection from unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs). These regulations set out
broad rules outlining when commercial practices are unfair. These fall into three main
categories:
•
Misleading practices, like false or deceptive information or descriptions, or being
misleading by leaving out important information.
•
Aggressive sales techniques that use harassment, coercion or undue influence.
•
Conduct below a level which may reasonable be expected towards consumers (honest
market practice/good faith).
Consumers can contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or use
the website: www.adviceguide.org.uk.
In addition, anyone wishing to report a copycat website can find information on
GOV.UK - Avoid and report Internet Scams and Phishing, which provides information for
common services affected including tax and passports.
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ANSWERS
As the member for Colne Valley was advised by my right honourable Friend the Minister
for the Cabinet Office on 26th February, the Government is working with search engine
providers and others such as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and National
Trading Standards Board ( NTSB ) to address the problems that can arise from misleading
/ copycat websites in relation to official government online services.
The Advertising Standards Associations (ASA) has responsibility for ensuring compliance
with the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing. Complaints
about misleading advertisements can be made through ASA’s website at:
www.asa.org.uk.
However, the best place to access official government services remains GOV.UK, the
single website for government. Action is taken against websites that pass themselves off
as Government sites, or claim to be acting on behalf of the Government when they are
not. Last year four search warrants were executed on properties in England. The
operation led to the arrest of five individuals and disrupted the operation of at least 25
copycat websites.
Fairtrade Initiative
Mr Ian Davidson:
[225703]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to
encourage retailers to stock more Fairtrade products and adopt Fairtrade principles.
Jo Swinson:
The power of Fairtrade, championed by some of Britain's best brands, is undeniable.
While it remains a commercial decision on whether or not to stock Fairtrade products
and adopt Fairtrade Principles, sales of Fairtrade products in the UK rose by 14% in
2013/14 to £1.78bn.
Policy on Fairtrade products rests with the Department for International Development
who have invested £18 million over six years in Fairtrade in order to help open up new
markets in harder to reach places and also to break down trade barriers faced by
women.
For our part, we are working with the British Retail Consortium to develop guidance
which sets out how retailers can apply appropriate due diligence and reporting in
respect of their supply chains to ensure that consideration is given to the manner in
which goods are brought to market.
Enabling the world's poorest people to get a fair price for what they produce helps end
poverty and also creates tomorrow's new markets for us to trade with.
Foreign Companies
Charlotte Leslie:
[225735]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what policies his
Department has in place to protect product standards in British companies when they are
taken over by foreign companies.
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ANSWERS
Jo Swinson:
The Takeover Code governs takeovers of UK public companies in order to provide an
orderly framework for the conduct of bids and to ensure that shareholders are treated
fairly and equally. However, the Code does not contain any rules about product
standards following a takeover. These would only be regulated by the Takeover Panel if
the bidder had made a specific commitment or intention statement on the matter
during the course of the offer.
CABINET OFFICE
Conditions of Employment: Wales
Susan Elan Jones:
[225532]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of
people in Wales working on zero hours contracts in February (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.
Susan Elan Jones:
[225533]
women in Wales working on zero hours contracts in February (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.
Susan Elan Jones:
[225534]
people in Clwyd South constituency working on zero hours contracts in February (a) 2014
and (b) 2015.
Susan Elan Jones:
[225632]
women who are on zero hours contracts.
Mr Rob Wilson:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I
have asked the Authority to reply.
Attachments:
1. ONS Letter to Member - Zero Hour Contracts [PQ 225532, 225533, 225534, 225632
ONS 72, 73, 74, 75.pdf]
Epilepsy
Liz Kendall:
[225700]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people (a) under and (b) over the age
of 18 died of epilepsy in (i) England and (ii) the UK in each of the last five years.
Mr Rob Wilson:
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Attachments:
1.
ONS Letter to Member - Death from Epilepsy [PQ 225700 ONS 76.pdf]
Shabana Mahmood:
[225449]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he took into account information in files
relating to HSBC and tax evasion when appointing Lord Green Trade Minister in January
2011.
Mr Francis Maude:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend
the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) during Prime Minister’s Questions to the Member
for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson) on 11 February 2015 to
PQ907575.
Pay
Helen Goodman:
[225794]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people earned an amount (a) in each
bracket of £1,000 between £42,000 and £55,000 and (b) in each bracket of £10,000 over
£55,000 in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr Rob Wilson:
Attachments:
1.
ONS Letter to Member - Earnings [PQ 225794 ONS 77.pdf]
Public Sector: Procurement
Mr David Anderson:
[225312]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will delay implementation of the Public
Contracts Regulations 2015 to ensure that appropriate guidance on trading companies
exemptions, reserved contracts provisions, Article 18.2, best price-quality ratio provisions and
the new light touch regime can be issued to contracting authorities in time for them to
update procurement procedures.
Mr David Anderson:
[225456]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of the
Public Contracts Regulations 2015 on the ability of contracting authorities to plan joint
health and social care commissioning.
Mr Francis Maude:
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 came into effect on 26 February. They will enable
authorities to run procurements that are faster, less costly and more effective.
During 2014, the Crown Commercial Service provided training on the new directives to
more than 4,000 procurement officials.
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ANSWERS
Further information, including guidance and training material can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/transposing-eu-procurement-directives
Sir Greg Knight:
[225591]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government is making in
implementating the EU Directive 2014/55/EU on invoicing in public sector procurement;
what steps he has taken to ensure that all Departments will be in a position to implement
the directive fully by autumn 2018; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Francis Maude:
The Government is committed to the introduction of electronic invoicing across the
public sector. The Small Business Enterprise and Employment Bill includes clauses that
will enable Ministers to make regulations on the acceptance of e-invoices by public
bodies.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Affordable Housing: Greater London
Mr Gareth Thomas:
[219687]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding
has been allocated for the building of affordable housing in London in each year from May
2010 to May 2019; and if he will make a statement.
Brandon Lewis:
[Holding answer 8 January 2015]: Government funding for affordable housing in
London is as follows:
2010-11: £1.1 billion (outturn), 2011-12: £712 million (outturn), 2012-13: £400 million
(budget), 2013-14: £392 million (budget); 2014-15: £516 million (budget).
However, this understates the total expenditure on affordable housing in this
Parliament. Across England, our affordable housing programme in 2011-15 is delivering
£19.5 billion of public and private investment in affordable housing; a quarter of the
housing is being provided in London.
Total expenditure on housing in the next Parliament will be a matter for the next
Spending Review. In that context, I cannot give a precise figure for how much funding
will be allocated from 2016-17 onwards: spending from 2016 to 2019 will ultimately be
a matter for the next Parliament.
We have put in train an affordable housing programme for London with £1.27 billion of
government funding across 2015-18. We have intentionally front-loaded this
programme, resulting in an indicative profile of funding of 2015-16: £745 million, 201617: £356 million, 2017-18: £169 million. Again, the grant funding understates the total
anticipated expenditure on affordable housing. We project that we can deliver a total of
275,000 new affordable homes across England in 2015-20, levering in £38 billion of
Daily Report
ANSWERS
public and private investment. London’s allocation has not been finalised, but again, it
will be a sizeable proportion to reflect its population share.
On 20 February 2015, the Government announced a package of proposals to boost
housing and regeneration in London. There will no doubt be further announcements
relating to housing investment in London in due course for the years ahead, which this
answer by definition cannot illustrate at this point in time.
Following the Localism Act, since April 2012, the Mayor of London has had oversight of
strategic housing, regeneration and economic development in London, and therefore,
this will also be influenced by the local policies taken forward by the Mayor.
Employment Agencies
Bill Esterson:
[222245]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many staff in his
Department were recruited through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since
2010-11.
Kris Hopkins:
In each of the years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, two staff were directly
recruited by the Department via an employment or recruitment agency. No staff have
been directly recruited to date in 2014-15.
These figures exclude public appointments and Cabinet Office recruitment. I would note
that my previous answer of 2 February 2015, Question 222078, on the number of
agencies used, included the recruitment of one public appointment in 2013-14.
My Department has reduced staffing costs from £218 million a year in 2009-10 to £95
million in 2013-14. There is and remains a need to replace staff from general turnover
and where we need specific technical skills. We are committed to open recruitment, so
we can obtain individual staff with the best expertise from the private sector, the
voluntary sector and other parts of the public sector.
Fire Services
Alistair Burt:
[225357]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many serving
firefighters have served in that capacity for over 40 years.
Penny Mordaunt:
This information is not held centrally.
Fire Services: Medals
Alistair Burt:
[225358]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his
Department has made in discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee and the
Cabinet Office on introducing a further medal or bar to the Long Service and Good Conduct
Medal for firefighters that far exceed 20 years' service.
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Alistair Burt:
ANSWERS
[225359]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many firefighters
have been awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in each of the last five years.
Penny Mordaunt:
The viability of awarding firefighters for service beyond the existing 20 years is currently
being investigated by my Department. There are processes which need to be followed
prior to discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee taking place but
officials are progressing the issue and will be in touch with the Committee in due
course.
The number of medals awarded to firefighters in each of the last five year are as follows:
2010 - 1,737 2011 - 1,465 2012 - 1,011 2013 - 1,246 2014 - 1,147
These figures do not include Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales
Housing: Construction
Mr Clive Betts:
[224643]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his
Department's press release Pickles cuts stealth taxes on new homes and boosts small
builders, published on 28 November 2014, if he will publish the business cases for each
element of the initiatives announced in that press release.
Brandon Lewis:
[Holding answer 25 February 2015]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on
12 February 2015, Questions 223173 and 223176. We announced in December that we
are setting aside £25 million of the Builders Finance Fund, specifically to provide loans to
schemes of between 5 – 14 units in size to better support smaller builders.
We published a revised prospectus in January which can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/builders-finance-fund-prospectus.
Local Government Finance: Croydon
Sir Richard Ottaway:
[224783]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much the
London Borough of Croydon received in total government grant in the last year; and if he
will make a statement.
Kris Hopkins:
In 2014-15, the London Borough of Croydon is forecast to receive £428 million in
government grants, excluding mandatory housing benefits, equivalent to £2,877 per
dwelling. Including mandatory housing benefits, the forecast is £693 million (source:
Revenue Account budget returns). The Greater London Authority also delivers services
(police, fire, transport, strategic housing and planning) in Croydon, and is forecast to
receive £4.5 billion in government grants in 2014-15, equivalent to £1,311 per dwelling.
Taken together, this is equivalent to £4,189 per dwelling in Croydon.
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ANSWERS
Leaving aside education spending which has changed due to the funding shift from local
authorities to academies directly, in 2014-15 Croydon’s net current expenditure
excluding education is forecast to be £546 million (source: Revenue Account budget
returns). This compares with £490 million in 2009-10 (source: Revenue Outturn returns).
This represents an 11 per cent increase in cash terms.
It has been brought to my attention that the Council has put up posters on councilowned billboards asserting: “Government is cutting its funding to you by £100 million
over the next three years”. This is factually incorrect, given no decisions have been made
on local government funding beyond 2015-16. Moreover, such polemical publicity is not
only potentially contrary to the provisions of the local government Publicity Code, but is
in itself a waste of money – the Council could be using its advertising space to sell
commercial advertising and generate revenue to support frontline services, rather than
peddle political messages.
Property Development: Portsmouth
Mr Mike Hancock:
[225353]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will investigate
options for helping Portsmouth City Council to purchase the land at the St James' Hospital
site in Milton.
Brandon Lewis:
The St James's Hospital site in Milton is owned by NHS Property Services and has been
identified as surplus. The Homes and Communities Agency are working with Portsmouth
City Council and NHS Property Services to identify options for the future of this site that
will deliver benefits to the local community.
Rural Areas: West Midlands
Ian Austin:
[224591]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his
Department is taking to protect (a) green belt and (b) open green spaces in (i) Dudley, (ii) the
Black Country and (iii) the West Midlands.
Brandon Lewis:
As pledged in the Collation Agreement, this Government has safeguarded national
Green Belt protection and increased protection of important green spaces.
We have abolished the Labour Government’s top-down Regional Strategies which
sought to delete the Green Belt in and around 30 towns and cities. I would note that
the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy Phase Two Revision Report of the Panel
published by the Government Office for the West Midlands in September 2009, was
pushing for a number of adverse changes to Green Belt protection – that no doubt
would have been implemented had the Labour Government not been ejected from
office in 2010. I also observe that the hon. Member was a DCLG Minister and the
‘Regional Minister for the West Midlands’ at the time of that Government-issued report.
We have also:
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ANSWERS
•
Introduced a new Local Green Space planning designation, which allows councils to
give added protection to valuable local green spaces;
•
Published the National Planning Policy Framework which re-affirms Green Belt
protection;
•
Given councils stronger powers to tackle ‘garden grabbing’, and stopped gardens
being classified as brownfield land;
•
Issued new waste planning policy which increases protection of the Green Belt;
•
Published planning guidance which re-affirms the importance of the Green Belt during
Local Plan preparation; and
•
Consulted on proposed changes to planning policy on traveller sites to further
increase Green Belt safeguards.
Staff
Pamela Nash:
[221225]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his
Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for
displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last five years.
Kris Hopkins:
[Holding answer 22 January 2015]: My Department has reduced staffing costs from
£218 million a year in 2009-10 to £95 million in 2013-14, an ongoing saving of £123
million a year.
There is and remains a need to replace staff from general turnover and where we need
specific technical skills. We are committed to open recruitment, so we can obtain
individual staff with the best expertise from the private sector, the voluntary sector and
other parts of the public sector.
The total sums spent on recruitment agencies are as follows:
2010-11
£27,787
2011-12
£13,201
2012-13
£9,974
2013-14
£16,946
2014-15
Zero
These figures exclude public appointments and Cabinet Office recruitment but are
inclusive of VAT.
We have not made any such outplacement agencies fees in the last five years.
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ANSWERS
This Government has taken a series of steps to save taxpayers' money and improve
overall quality of the training provision. My answer of 24 February 2015, Question
224508, outlined the spending in each full financial year from 2008-09 onwards.
Training
Chi Onwurah:
[224489]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his
Department's training budget was in each of the last three financial years.
Kris Hopkins:
This Government has taken a series of steps to save taxpayers' money and improve
overall quality of the training provision.
Civil Service Learning was established in April 2011 in response to a wide ranging review
of the delivery of training across the Civil Service. The new model is delivering better
value out of its investment in training, reducing duplication in procurement and making
greater use of the external market to provide the training which the Civil Service
requires.
Budgets were £670,000 in 2011-12, £991,000 in 2012-13 and £930,000 in 2013-14.
Outturn spending came in under budget, thanks to the efficiencies we have delivered.
This budget compares to outturn spending of £2.1 million in 2008-09 and £2.3 million
in 2009-10.
I would also observe that my Department has reduced total staffing costs from £218
million a year in 2009-10 to £95 million in 2013-14.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Arts: Mental Health
Chris Bryant:
[225623]
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 12
February 2015 to Question 223736, which arts programmes his Department and arms
length bodies fund that aim to reduce isolation.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
Government funding for the arts is distributed by Arts Council England (ACE). ACE fund
several organisations that aim to tackle the problem of loneliness by encouraging people
to participate in culture, including, We do in West Yorkshire; Royal Exchange in
Manchester; The Courtyard Centre for the Arts in Hereford; Meet me at the Albany in
south east London; and Creativity Works in north east Somerset.
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ANSWERS
Automation
Chris Bryant:
[225618]
February 2015 to Question 223018, if he will assess the potential effect of increasing
automation on (a) security, (b) inequality and (c) social cohesion.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
I have no plans to make an assessment of the impact of automation on security,
inequality or social cohesion.
Broadband: Rural Areas
Chris Bryant:
[225622]
February 2015 to Question 223688, when and in what format his Department provided
information to the National Audit Office; and if he will publish all such correspondence.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
Broadband Delivery UK provided the National Audit Office with extensive
documentation to inform their memorandum to the Public Accounts Committee. Some
of this is available on https://www.gov.uk/gosuperfast; data such as the maps and 7
digit post code data is available on the websites of the relevant local authorities and
devolved administrations. The financial data is commercially sensitive and cannot be
released. The NAO Memorandum is a fair summary of the material provided. It would be
disproportionate to review all the documents with a view to considering if further
material can be published.
BuzzFeed
Chris Bryant:
[225602]
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the costs were to his
Department of (a) direct payments to BuzzFeed and (b) staff time for native advertising on
BuzzFeed on (i) 29 January, (ii) 9 February and (iii) 13 February 2015; from which budget this
spending came from; and what account his Department took of IAB guidelines on native
advertising, when placing that advertising.
Mrs Helen Grant:
The Department has made no payments to Buzfeed and there was no cost to the
Department. A member of the communications team wrote the editorial as part of their
job. DCMS content on Buzzfeed is clearly marked as coming from the Department and
Buzzfeed clearly state it is not paid for advertising.
Cinemas
Chris Bryant:
[225659]
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the level of cinema
attendance was in each year since 2009-10; what forecast he has made of cinema
Daily Report
ANSWERS
attendance in each year to 2019-20; and what steps he is taking to support the cinema
industry in the UK.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
YEAR
CINEMA ADMISSIONS (MILLIONS)
2009
173.5
2010
169.2
2011
171.6
2012
172.5
2013
165.5
2014
157.5
Source: BFI Statistical Yearbook
There have been no forecasts made of cinema admissions, however the BFI is investing
£20 million over the five years up to 2017 to develop and grow audiences across the UK
and to encourage cinema-going through a range of programmes and initiatives. The BFI
is also investing £26 million in its film education programme targeted at 5-19 years olds
across the UK, in order to nurture the next generation of film lovers.
Digital Technology: Dumfries
Chris Bryant:
[225658]
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of
the implications for his policies of the conclusions in the publication Digital Participation in
Dumfries and Kirkcaldy published in February 2015.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
Along with the rest of Government, this Department will continue to work with the
Government Digital Service (GDS) to reduce digital exclusion by considering how digital
inclusion can be embedded into policy areas and ensuring that online services are
designed with digitally excluded users in mind.
The Digital Inclusion team at GDS has now built partnerships with more than 70 public,
private and third sector organisations. This includes the Carnegie Trust itself, who
published the report that the Hon. Member refers to in his question. The Trust is also
undertaking research that will provide a better understanding of who is digitally
excluded, and what interventions stand the best chance of making a real difference. This
will help target investment and energies where they are most needed.
The Government is also committed to achieving superfast broadband coverage of 95%
of UK premises by 2017. It is also looking at how to extend coverage to the final 5% in
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18
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ANSWERS
the hardest to reach areas beyond the current programme through an investment of
£10m in pilots to test a range of coverage solutions.
Policy
Chris Bryant:
[225620]
February 2015 to Question 223182, if he will assess the implications for his Department's
policies of participation by officials in his Department in the Cross-Government Behavioural
Insights Network.
Mrs Helen Grant:
The purpose of the network is to share practice to inform future policy making and this
is how membership is used by the DCMS.
Chris Bryant:
[225621]
February 2015 to Question 223180, what the most recent (a) arts, (b) sports and (c) tourism
initiatives were in which his Department used nudge policies.
Mrs Helen Grant:
Recent examples include the use of the Cultural Gifts Scheme and other philanthropic
measures to encourage cultural giving, This Girl Can to encourage women into sport
and the Visa Fee Refund scheme to encourage Chinese visitors to incentivise visitors to
explore areas outside London.
Public Libraries: WiFi
Chris Bryant:
[225656]
February 2015 to Question 223124 and the Answer of 14 January 2015 to Question
220293, if he will estimate the total cost to the public purse of providing WiFi in those 2,000
libraries which offer that facility; what funding options he is exploring for providing WiFi in
all public libraries; with which organisations he has discussed them contributing resources to
such provision; how many libraries have free WiFi provided through the Super Connected
Cities budget; and what the total cost is of that provision.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
The DCMS has not made any estimate of the total cost to the public purse of providing
WiFi in those 2,000 libraries which offer that facility since these have already been
resourced by the relevant authorities. Funding options considered included provisions by
government, private and public organisations as well as a combination of these. We
have discussed our aim to enable the provision of WiFi in public libraries with a wide
range of individuals and organisations including in the evidence gathering for the
Independent Library Report. Over 200 libraries in England were included in the free WiFi
for public buildings announcement in October 2014 though it is not possible to
disaggregate the costs for these.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Sports: Females
David Simpson:
[225397]
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is
taking to increase the participation of teenage girls in out-of-school sports clubs.
Mrs Helen Grant:
Sport England invests £49 million in Satellite Clubs which bring community sports clubs
into schools and colleges. There are over 4,000 clubs already up and running, of which
over 500 are girls-only. Sport England estimates that over 20,000 girls are now playing
sport in girls-only Satellite Clubs
Sportivate is a £56 million Sport England programme which gives 14-25 year olds (male
and female), who are not particularly sporty, access to six to eight weeks of free or
subsidised coaching in a range of sports. Over half a million young people have taken
part in Sportivate, of which over 40 per cent were girls. Over 80 per cent of these young
people successfully completed their coached sessions.
Telecommunications
Chris Bryant:
[225657]
February 2015 to Question 222967, whether he plans to publish his response to the Digital
Communications Infrastructure Strategy consultation before 10 May 2015.
Mr Edward Vaizey:
The consultation closed in October 2014. As stated in the update to the National
Infrastructure Plan published in December 2014 we intend to publish our response to
the consultation in 2015.
DEFENCE
Armed Forces: Information Warfare
Mr Kevan Jones:
[225426]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Reservists have been recruited to the
77th Brigade of the Army; and what target his Department has set for the proportion of that
Brigade to be made up of Reservists.
Mr Julian Brazier:
As the reorganisation of this formation is taking place, we do not yet have any figures
for recruitment but at 1 January 2015, there were 160 members of the Army Reserve
(Group A) in the Units that make up the 77th Brigade.
We intend to expand the number of Reservists to 235, some 53% of the total.
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ANSWERS
Armed Forces: Pay
Mr Kevan Jones:
[225421]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, at what rate Accelerated Incremental Progression
payments have been made in each year since 2010.
Mr Kevan Jones:
[225422]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what method his Department uses to calculate
money owed by members of the armed forces as a result of errors in Accelerated
Incremental Progression payments.
Mr Kevan Jones:
[225423]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provisions are in place to ensure that service
personnel receive adequate notice when they owe money because of errors in Accelerated
Incremental Progression payments.
Mr Kevan Jones:
[225424]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the armed forces have had
to repay money as a result of errors in Accelerated Incremental Progression payments in each
year since 2010.
Angus Robertson:
[225641]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel have been overpaid
after they applied for accelerated incremental progression payments; how much has been
overpaid; how much will have to be paid back by service personnel; what the average
amount to be repaid by a serviceman or woman is; and by what date such repayments must
be made.
Angus Robertson:
[225642]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential
merits of forgiving debt owed by service personnel who applied for accelerated incremental
progression.
Angus Robertson:
[225643]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department has given to
service personnel who have been overpaid because they applied for an accelerated
incremental progression; when the guidelines for who was eligible for such payments were
changed to invalidate the extra pay; how many people applied for such payments before the
guidance in Joint Service Publication 754 was changed; and who was responsible for
changing that guidance.
Anna Soubry:
Accelerated Incremental Progression (AIP) allows a Service person an immediate
progression in their pay level as a result of a work-related course or a qualification. Each
individual can qualify and claim for two AIPs during their career, at a point of their
choosing.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Our Service personnel do a difficult job and it is important they receive accurate pay for
the hard work they do. While the majority of awards are made correctly,
misinterpretation of the published qualifying criteria for AIP has resulted in some
individuals receiving an incorrect award. Unfortunately, payment errors occur
occasionally. We obviously regret such occurrences. It is right that we correct identified
errors and ask for repayment of monies wrongly received. Allowing individuals to keep
money that they are not entitled to would be unfair to both taxpayers and other Service
personnel who did not receive this payment. It would also be inconsistent with HM
Treasury instructions on the management of public money.
If an individual overpayment to a Service person is equal to or less than four days’ gross
pay then the full sum is recovered, without notification, from the next monthly salary
payment. For overpayments greater than four days’ gross pay, a notification is made on
the next available monthly payslip that a debt has been incurred. Recovery action is then
scheduled after two subsequent pay periods, and any overpayments recovered are made
at no more than four days’ gross pay per month.
Service personnel who wish to challenge the reason for any recovery of an overpayment
may submit a case through their Chain of Command to Defence Business Services. In
addition, processes are in place for Service personnel: to agree to pay back any
overpayment over a shorter period; to make a formal objection against recovery on
hardship or other grounds and; to argue that the debt be written off or repaid over a
longer period. All recoveries are postponed while casework or objections are being
considered.
Errors in the payment of AIP are dealt with in the same way as any other payment error the account is corrected and any overpayment recovered. The calculation of money
owed is simply the difference between what has been paid and what should have been
paid had the error not occurred. AIP does not occur at a particular rate or have a defined
cash value.
Courses and qualifications which are eligible for AIP payments are listed in Joint Service
Publication (JSP) 754 (Tri-Service Regulations for Pay and Charges), which is updated
biannually as required to meet Service manning requirements. The single Services are
responsible for decisions on which courses or qualifications should qualify for AIP
payments. It is not possible to quantify the number of people who may have erroneously
applied for AIP payments on the basis of the criteria relevant to any particular edition of
this JSP. Overpayments can occur for a number of reasons which do not necessarily arise
from changes to eligibility criteria set out in JSP 754, although erroneous claims for
courses which are no longer eligible can be a factor.
Information about the number of Service personnel who have repaid money as a result
of AIP payment errors since 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, our records indicate that 488 Army personnel who received erroneous AIP
payments have repaid or are making repayments and 423 Royal Navy personnel who
received an overpayment through the misapplication of Qualification Points have repaid
or are making repayments. Additionally, approximately 1,500 Royal Air Force (RAF)
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ANSWERS
personnel have been identified as having received erroneous AIP payments, which are
required to be repaid; this represents 15% of all RAF AIP payments made.
The total that has been overpaid and which is being paid back is in the region of £3.1
million. Each Service person or ex-Service person is required to repay the amount owed.
As described above, each case may be subject to challenges and objections. The average
amount to be repaid per person is in the region of £1,285 and the date by which
payment must be paid varies according to the specific circumstances of each case.
Armed Forces: Sikhs
Mr Kevan Jones:
[225425]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date his Department expects to receive
the recommendations of the Chief of the General Staff on whether the British Army should
form a Sikh regiment; and what criteria will be used to take a decision on that matter.
Mr Julian Brazier:
The Army is committed to recruiting from all sections of society. It is actively engaged
with Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic Groups, including the Sikh community, as well as
other groups which represent the demography of the UK and employs a range of
measures to maximise its talent and ensure that it better reflects the society from which
it recruits.
Proposals designed to achieve these goals are looked at in detail to establish their
feasibility and whether they can be incorporated into its overall engagement strategy.
We hope to have this work completed by the summer.
Of course, we are required to comply with current anti-discrimination legislation
whereby the Armed Forces must ensure that service is open to all, regardless of race or
religion. The only exception to this is service in the Brigade of Ghurkhas, where this is
permitted under the Race Relations Act (now subsumed by the Equalities Act).
Joint Cyber Reserve
Mr Kevan Jones:
[225462]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 10 December 2014 to
Questions 217147 and 217149, for what reasons providing the number of people recruited
to the Cyber Reserve may undermine national security.
Mr Julian Brazier:
We are significantly growing the number of dedicated Cyber experts in the Ministry of
Defence but, like other sensitive Defence capabilities, revealing details such as the
number of recruits would indicate capability to our adversaries - possibly helping them
to degrade or counter that capability. Recruiting is comfortably on track to deliver the
cyber reserve by April 2017.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
EDUCATION
Animal Welfare: Curriculum
Sir Greg Knight:
[225527]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will include animal welfare in the school
curriculum.
Mr Nick Gibb:
The new primary science curriculum, introduced from September 2014, focuses on the
essential scientific knowledge that young people need to be educated citizens and
provides opportunities for pupils to be taught about animal welfare.
It teaches primary pupils about the requirements for animals to survive, including
appropriate habitat, food, water and air. Subjects such as Citizenship and Personal,
Social, Health and Economic education also provide opportunities for pupils to learn
about animal welfare and teachers are free to decide what further activities they offer
on this topic.
Children: Epilepsy
David Simpson:
[225399]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether primary school staff receive compulsory
training on assisting students with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement.
Mr Edward Timpson:
All those training to be teachers must meet national standards. The standards require
teachers to have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with
medical conditions, to be able to adapt their teaching to the needs of all pupils, and to
have an understanding of the factors that can inhibit learning and how to overcome
them.
Statutory guidance specifies that any member of school staff providing support to a
pupil with medical needs must have received suitable training. Governing bodies of
maintained schools, proprietors of academies (excluding 16–19 academies) and
management committees of pupil referral units are required to have regard to this
guidance. It recommends that this training should be sufficient to ensure that staff are
competent and have confidence in their ability to support pupils with medical
conditions. The guidance advises that staff will need an understanding of the specific
medical conditions they are being asked to deal with, the implications of these
conditions and preventative measures.
Schools are also advised that policies in place to support pupils with medical conditions
should set out arrangements for whole-school awareness training so that all staff are
aware of the school’s policy for supporting pupils with medical conditions and their role
in its implementation.
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ANSWERS
The guidance can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medicalconditions--3
Culture: Education
Chris Bryant:
[225790]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release
of 26 January 2015, whether the funding announced to support children's cultural
education programmes is in addition to existing funding.
Mr Nick Gibb:
The Department for Education provided £15 million of funding for cultural education
programmes during 2012-2015. The press release of 26 January 2015 announced
cultural education funding of more than £4 million for 2015-2016. This represents
additional funding and takes funding for cultural education programmes for 2012-16 to
over £19 million.
Free Schools
Mr Ben Bradshaw:
[224823]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total (a) capital and (b) revenue
expenditure has been to date on free schools opened in districts which did not have a
forecast need for extra school places.
Mr Edward Timpson:
[Holding answer 25 February 2015]: Every free school has been opened in response to
either the need to provide extra school places, the need to provide parents with greater
choice or the need to provide more high quality school places. Almost three quarters of
free schools have opened in areas with a forecast need for more places and 94 per cent
of free schools approved since January 2014 plan to open in areas with a need for more
school places.
To date, the total (a) published capital costs of the schools that have opened in response
to parental demand or a need for high quality school places is around £50 million and
(b) the revenue expenditure for these schools is approximately £76 million.
Radicalism
Diana Johnson:
[225665]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps her Department has taken on
the implementation of the commitments made in and monitoring of outcomes following the
2011 Prevent Strategy.
Mr Edward Timpson:
The Prevent programme is a strand of CONTEST – the UK’s strategy for countering
extremism – aimed at stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism and
extremism. The Government publishes an annual report on CONTEST which describes
Daily Report
ANSWERS
recent developments in the terrorist threat to the UK and its interests, and the progress
made in our counter-terrorism work. This includes high-level information about the
contribution of different Government departments to the implementation of the Prevent
Strategy. The most recent report is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contest-annual-report-2013.
The Department for Education established a dedicated unit to lead work on the
commitments set out in the Prevent strategy. This work has focussed on putting in place
due diligence arrangements and strengthening regulatory frameworks to reduce the risk
of children and young people being exposed to extremist views and to increase their
resilience to extremism and radicalisation. The Secretary of State made a statement to
the House on 29 January on the progress the Department is making to implement the
recommendations contained in Peter Clarke’s report on Birmingham schools, and this
gives details of a number of steps the Department has taken to tackle extremism in
schools. The statement can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/update-on-birmingham-schools.
Schools: Fairtrade Initiative
Mr Ian Davidson:
[225704]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to raise awareness of
the Fairtrade movement in schools.
Mr Nick Gibb:
Awareness of the Fairtrade movement can be covered in Citizenship or as part of
Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. Schools are free to decide what
to include in their PSHE programmes and should tailor the content of PSHE lessons to
take account of the needs and interests of their pupils.
Schools: Radicalism
Diana Johnson:
[225666]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help
schools in Tower Hamlets tackle radicalisation.
Mr Edward Timpson:
Tower Hamlets is one of 30 Prevent priority areas, identified through a prioritisation
process which assesses information from police, local authorities and others. Each
priority area receives funding for a Prevent coordinator, and is supported by the Home
Office to develop delivery plans relating to Prevent objectives.
Local Prevent co-ordinators work with partners in their areas, including schools, for
example by training frontline staff in tackling extremism and identifying people at risk.
The local police also provide support.
The Department for Education also works with individual schools where concerns arise.
Following recent reports of pupils from Bethnal Green Academy travelling to Syria, the
Department is providing support to the school through the Regional Schools
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ANSWERS
Commissioner, in addition to the support being provided by the local authority and
police in particular.
Vocational Education
Nic Dakin:
[225792]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2015 to
Question 225258, how many 16 to 18 year olds studied for BTEC qualifications at each level
in (a) schools, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) further education colleges in each year from
2006-07 to 2011-12.
Nick Boles:
The number of 16 to 18 year olds entered for one or more BTEC qualifications between
2007/08 and 2011/12 is shown in the tables below, by level and institution type. The
analysis is based on data collected by the Department from examination awarding
organisations. Figures for 2006/07 are not readily available.
ENTRY LEVEL
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
Schools (state- 300
funded,
including
special schools)
300
300
500
600
Sixth Form
Colleges
100
100
100
200
200
FE Colleges
2,400
2,700
4,100
7,500
8,000
LEVEL 1
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
Schools (state- 1,000
funded,
including
special schools)
900
1,100
1,900
3,100
Sixth Form
Colleges
1,100
1,000
1,000
1,100
1,000
FE Colleges
12,900
14,900
19,500
29,100
30,900
LEVEL 2
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
14,700
16,000
17,200
16,900
funded,
including
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ANSWERS
LEVEL 2
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
Sixth Form
Colleges
5,500
6,000
6,600
8,900
7,600
FE Colleges
40,200
47,500
54,700
61,300
61,800
LEVEL 3
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
funded,
including
special schools)
13,300
20,300
31,100
41,700
Sixth Form
Colleges
7,400
9,900
12,400
17,100
20,700
FE Colleges
66,500
82,300
95,300
103,700
121,500
special schools)
Note that where a learner was entered for BTECs at more than one level, the highest
level has been shown in the table.
Biofuels
Dame Anne McGuire:
[225559]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment has been
made of the potential contribution of biomass to meeting the 2020 targets of the Climate
Change Act 2008; and if he will make a statement.
Amber Rudd:
Biomass is an important part of the UK’s energy mix, playing a central, transitional role
in decarbonising the electricity grid. Our support for biomass is part of our wider
ambition for a mix of renewable energy sources. Our 2012 Bioenergy Strategy analysis
indicated that sustainably-sourced bioenergy could contribute 8-11% to the UK’s total
primary energy demand by 2020.
Dame Anne McGuire:
[225629]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made
of the implications of his Department's report on the Life Cycle Impacts of Biomass Electricity
published in July 2014, for the life cycle assessment of the Renewable Energy Directive; and
if he will make a statement.
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ANSWERS
Amber Rudd:
The Department has recently tendered a research contract to assess the plausibility of
scenarios in the report with the highest potential net greenhouse gas emissions
occurring in the period to 2030 that result from increased demand from the UK biomass
electricity sector.
DECC is committed to supporting sustainably produced biomass, that delivers real
greenhouse gas savings, is cost effective, takes account of wider impacts across the
economy and manages possible risks such as to food security and biodiversity. The
Department is seeking to bring forward proposals for mandatory sustainability
requirements this year. The UK has been at the forefront of developing criteria to ensure
that biomass used in energy generation is sustainable and we will have some of the
toughest sustainability criteria in the world.
Energy Supply
Chris Ruane:
[224892]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of
the projected number of years of active energy production available through the use of (a)
nuclear power stations, (b) offshore wind turbines, (c) onshore wind turbines, (d) coalpowered power stations, (e) gas-powered power stations, (f) solar-powered farms, (g) tidal
power lagoons, (h) biomass stations and (i) anaerobic digesters.
Amber Rudd:
DECC’s most recently published figures for levelised costs contains information on the
operating duration of selected electricity generation for technologies. These are available
in the DECC Electricity Generation Costs (December 2013) report:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/
131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdf.
Energy: Prices
Caroline Flint:
[225148]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the contribution
of 14 January 2015, Official Report, column 904, on energy prices, what the evidential basis
is for the statement that switching rates have fallen because of the end of doorstep selling.
Amber Rudd:
New rules to tighten up doorstep sales practices were introduced in 2009 and
investigations into the doorstep selling practices of larger suppliers were launched by
Ofgem, with the larger suppliers’ voluntarily ceasing doorstep selling from 2011/ 2012.
The time series data DECC publishes on switching [1] shows a downward trend
following the cessation of doorstep sales.
[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energyswitching-statistics
Daily Report
Caroline Flint:
ANSWERS
[225149]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the contribution
by the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 14 January 2015, Official Report, column 932,
on energy prices, what the evidential basis is for the statement that customers would be
£100 a year worse off if prices had been frozen in October 2013.
Amber Rudd:
Using average annual consumption of 3,200kW/h per year for electricity and
13,500kW/h per year for gas, the annual cost of the cheapest deal on the market (in
London) was £913 on the 15 January 2015. DECC estimate that this is around £100
lower than the cheapest deal a year earlier.
Caroline Flint:
[225194]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate his Department
has made of the proportion of domestic customers who are on their supplier's standard
tariff.
Amber Rudd:
DECC estimate, from our Domestic Fuels Inquiry, that 71 per cent of gas customers and
73 per cent of electricity customers were on their supplier’s standard variable rate tariffs.
These percentages include those on standard variable rates who receive dual fuel or
online discounts. This survey does not cover most of the independent suppliers.
Caroline Flint:
[225195]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much funding has been
allocated to the power to switch campaign.
Amber Rudd:
Final spends are not yet available.
Caroline Flint:
[225196]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for how long the power to
switch campaign will run.
Amber Rudd:
The Campaign is running for a period of 5 weeks up till 21 March 2015.
Caroline Flint:
[225212]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 10
December 2014 to Question 214542, if he will place a copy of research referred to in that
Answer in the Library.
Amber Rudd:
Information about suppliers’ charges if an incoming customer wants to switch from a
prepayment meter to a credit meter and the approach to security deposits are available
from the individual company’s website or customer service team.
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Caroline Flint:
ANSWERS
[225356]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the average domestic (a)
electricity and (b) gas bill was in each quarter in (i) 2013, (ii) 2014 and (iii) in quarter 1, 2015.
Amber Rudd:
DECC publish energy bills on an annual basis. Bills for 2013 and provisional estimates of
bills in 2014 are published in Quarterly Energy Prices (QEP) available on the DECC web
site (table 2.2.1 for electricity and table 2.3.1 for gas). Energy price indices are published
monthly by the Office for National Statistics and republished by DECC within QEP, with
quarterly data available in table 2.1.3.
Fuel Poverty
Caroline Flint:
[225213]
December 2014 to Question 214565, whether his Department has made an estimate of the
proportion of households which meet the criteria of the Affordable Warmth Group which is
in fuel poverty.
Caroline Flint:
[225214]
December 2014 to Question 214565, whether his Department has made an estimate of the
proportion of fuel poor households which meets the criteria of the Affordable Warmth
Group.
Amber Rudd:
Eligibility criteria for ECO were adopted before the Low Income High Cost indicator,
now used for measuring fuel poverty, came into use.
Fuel Poverty: Scotland
Mr Charles Kennedy:
[225368]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many and what
proportion of people in the Scottish Highlands and Islands are classed as living in fuel
poverty; and if he will make a statement.
Amber Rudd:
Fuel poverty is largely devolved. For instance, Scotland has its own fuel poverty target
and fuel poverty indicator. In Scotland, fuel poverty is measured using the 10 per cent
definition.
Fuel poverty is measured at the household level rather than the individual level. Based on
the Scottish Housing Condition Survey Local Authority Analysis 2011-13, the estimated
number and proportion of households in fuel poverty in the Scottish Highlands and
Islands is shown in the table below.
Daily Report
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF FUEL POOR
Scottish Highlands and
Islands
ANSWERS
HOUSEHOLDS
PROPORTION OF FUEL POOR
HOUSEHOLDS (%)
101,500
46.7
Ofgem
Caroline Flint:
[225501]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many fines Ofgem has
imposed in each year since 2001; and what the value was of each such fine.
Amber Rudd:
[Holding answer 2 March 2015]: The attached table sets out information on fines
imposed by Ofgem using its enforcement powers since 2001. The table reflects cases
where final notifications of fines have been issued and so recent notices of intention to
issue penalties have not been counted.
Attachments:
1.
Caroline Flint:
Fines imposed by Ofgem since 2001 [Ofgem-imposed fines - Question 225501.docx]
[225502]
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many non-financial
penalties Ofgem has imposed in each year since 2001; and what each such penalty was.
Amber Rudd:
[Holding answer 2 March 2015]: For the first time, the Energy Act 2013 gave the Gas
and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) powers to issue non-financial penalties as part
of the remedial action package stemming from consumer redress orders, such as
variation or termination of contracts with affected consumers, for any breaches that
occur on or after 18th February 2014.
In addition, GEMA has issued three Provisional Orders (one in 2010 (First Utility with
respect to disconnections of customers in debt) one in 2011 (MA Energy –compliance
with Energy Codes) and one in 2014 (Economy Energy – complaints handling and
transfer blocking)). It has also accepted commitments on two occasions (once in 2005
(SP Manweb– delays in connections services) and once in 2012 (Electricity North West –
connection charges). In 2014, Ofgem agreed sets of targets to improve customer service
at Npower and Scottish Power. These cases are ongoing.
Wind Power
Dan Jarvis:
[225589]
February 2015 to Question 223251, what steps his Department is taking to increase the
number of households installing wind turbines.
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ANSWERS
Amber Rudd:
[Holding answer 3 March 2015]: The Feed-in-Tariff scheme (FITs) has been a
considerable success since its launch in April 2010, with over 650,000 installations –
more than 3.3GW of capacity – registered by the end of January 2015. Of these, 4,126
are small (below 15kW) wind turbines, with a total capacity of 32.9MW.
FITs offers relatively higher tariffs (2.4p higher than larger capacity bands from April
2015) at the smaller capacity (sub-15kW) required by households in order to facilitate
deployment at this scale. We have also introduced measures to encourage households
to take advantage of pooled resources by deploying at the community scale. These
come into effect from 1 April 2015.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agriculture
Sir Nicholas Soames:
[225768]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the annual
increase in total factor productivity in the agriculture sector was in each year since 1995.
George Eustice:
The table below shows the change in total factor productivity for UK agriculture each
year from 1995 to 2013. Over this 18 year period total factor productivity in the UK
increased by 15.8%. The effects of the poor weather in 2012 also impacted on the
2013 level of total factor productivity, as autumn planting for wheat and oilseed rape
were down and the lack of forage crops produced in 2012 led to increased volumes of
animal feed used in 2013. The estimate for 2014 is due to be published at the end of
April 2015.
Total factor productivity in the United Kingdom 1995 to 2013
YEAR
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
INDEX (1995=100)
1995
100.0
1996
98.8
-1.2%
1997
100.3
1.5%
1998
102.9
2.6%
1999
107.5
4.5%
2000
110.2
2.5%
2001
108.1
-1.9%
2002
114.7
6.1%
CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
Daily Report
ANSWERS
YEAR
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
INDEX (1995=100)
CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
2003
115.1
0.3%
2004
115.4
0.3%
2005
119.3
3.4%
2006
118.2
-0.9%
2007
116.1
-1.8%
2008
120.6
3.9%
2009
117.4
-2.7%
2010
117.1
-0.2%
2011
120.6
3.0%
2012
116.1
-3.8%
2013
115.8
-0.2%
Climate Change
Barry Gardiner:
[225579]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the
correspondence between the Committee on Climate Change and her Department on that
Committee's second Climate Change Risk Assessment from 6 May 2010 to date.
Dan Rogerson:
Defra regularly communicates with the Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) of the
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on a number of UK climate change adaptation
issues, including commissioning and advising on the development of the second Climate
Change Risk Assessment Evidence Report through the ASC-chaired CCRA Advisory
Group. The Evidence Report is due to be delivered to Government by July 2016. The
CCRA report itself will be presented to Parliament in January 2017. Details on the
Evidence Report are accessible on the CCC website.
Dangerous Dogs Exemptions Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015
Henry Smith:
[225448]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the
Dangerous Dogs Exemptions Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015 does not give full
effect to the court's ruling in R (Sandhin) v Isleworth Crown Court; and if she will make a
statement.
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ANSWERS
George Eustice:
Dangerous dogs law is concerned with protecting the safety of the public. The
Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015 reflects the
amendments made by section 107 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act
2014. The intention is to remedy the situation created by the High Court decision in R
(Sandhu) v Isleworth Crown Court [2012]. The 2015 Order returns the position on
ownership of four types of prohibited dogs broadly to where it was before that
judgment. The four types of dog are prohibited because they are of a type bred for
fighting. The 2015 Order requires a court, when considering whether to exempt a
prohibited dog, to take into account whether the intended keeper is a “fit and proper
person” and other matters such as suitability of accommodation.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 states that no person shall give away, sell, or exchange a
prohibited dog. The Sandhu judgment was seen as allowing keepership of exempted
prohibited dogs to be transferred to anyone else by the owner with no supervision by
the courts or by the Index of Exempted Dogs (which maintains a register of exempted
prohibited dogs and liaises with the police.) The 2015 Order prevents exempted
prohibited dogs from being transferred in such a way but allows change of keepership
where the existing owner has died or has become seriously ill.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Czech Republic
David Simpson:
[225403]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his
Department has had with the Czech government on the shooting of eight people in a
restaurant in Uherský Brod on 24 February 2015.
Mr David Lidington:
The British Embassy in Prague was in contact with the Czech police throughout this
incident and monitored the situation closely. No British citizens were involved in the
incident. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and friends of those who
lost their lives in this tragedy.
Embassies: Females
Toby Perkins:
[225509]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations
he has received on the abuse of women in foreign embassies in the UK.
James Duddridge:
We have no record of any representations having been received in recent years about
the abuse of women in foreign diplomatic missions in the UK. We are aware that a small
number of individual cases of alleged abuse of female domestic workers have been
investigated or are under investigation by the police.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) treats any allegation of criminal offences
committed by those with diplomatic immunity seriously. We work closely with
diplomatic missions in the UK, the police, the Home Office and NGOs to ensure an
appropriate response to all allegations. If an allegation of mistreatment or abuse requires
further investigation by the police, the FCO will request from the diplomatic mission
concerned, on behalf of the police, a waiver of the diplomat’s immunity. Failure to
provide a waiver may result in the FCO demanding the withdrawal of the diplomat.
EU Reform
Dr Matthew Offord:
[225414]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he
has made of the effect of the outcome of the Government's Balance of Competences
Review on his Department's policy on EU reforms.
Mr David Lidington:
The review of the Balance of Competences provides the most extensive analysis of the
impact of EU membership ever undertaken by the UK or any Member State. Across the
entire review, the reports draw on nearly 2,300 pieces of evidence. The reports provide a
wealth of evidence that supports the government’s aim to reform the EU to make it
more open, competitive, flexible and democratically accountable, with fair treatment of
countries inside and outside the eurozone for the benefit of everyone in Europe. This
includes the need for a broader and deeper Single Market, greater competitiveness and
flexibility, better (and less) regulation and more transparent and accountable institutions
and processes.
Falkland Islands
Angela Smith:
[225444]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his
Department has provided to the Falkland Islands government to tackle modern slavery on
foreign fishing vessels operating in Falkland Islands waters.
Mr Hugo Swire:
The licensing, legislation, regulations and management of the fishing industry on the
Falkland Islands is a devolved responsibility of the Falkland Islands Government.
The Falkland Islands Government maintains a rigorous fisheries licensing regime to
ensure all vessels operate to the highest possible standards and investigates all
allegations of abuse on fishing vessels within Falklands' waters.
The British Government is committed to tackling modern slavery wherever it exists in the
UK, and around the world.
Angela Smith:
[225445]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of the (a)
vessels and (b) companies which have been sold licences to fish in the Falkland Islands in
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ANSWERS
each of the last three years have been found guilty of criminal behaviour in other legal
jurisdictions.
Mr Hugo Swire:
The honourable Member should contact the Department for Natural Resources within
the Falkland Islands Government, who can supply her with this information.
Angela Smith:
[225497]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his
Department holds on the number of foreign nationals who have been reported as missing
from foreign-flagged fishing vessels in Falkland Islands waters in each of the last five years.
Mr Hugo Swire:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information. Such data is
collected and is held by the Falkland Islands Government who have devolved
responsibility for the Falkland Islands' fishing industry.
The honourable Member should contact the Department for Natural Resources within
the Falkland Islands Government who can supply her with this information.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman:
[225877]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he intends to
reply to the letter to him dated 19 January 2015 from the Right hon. Member for
Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr P. Metcalfe.
Mr David Lidington:
My right hon. Friend the member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond)
replied to the the Right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton's letter of 19 January
2015 with regard to Mr P. Metcalfe on 25 February.
Middle East
Roger Williams:
[225737]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on
the legality of Israeli actions in occupied Palestinian territory; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem, including our Consulate-General,
regularly meet with UN OCHA representatives, including the Head of OCHA in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), Ramesh Rajasingham, to discuss the impact of
the occupation in the OPTs (including topics ranging from settlements, settler violence,
demolitions, blockade on Gaza to movement and access restrictions, and others).
Mr Rajasingham has also briefed many of the visiting Ministers and Members of
Parliament from the UK on the impact of the occupation, including The Prime Minister,
my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) in February 2014, the
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Minister for Universities and Science, my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr
Willetts) in March 2014, myself in October 2014, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and
Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) in
November 2014 and the Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition (Mr Miliband) in
April 2014.
Niger
Mr Gregory Campbell:
[225459]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make
representations to the government of Niger to press for further action to be taken against
people perpetrating attacks on civilians and church property.
James Duddridge:
We strongly condemned the attacks on churches and other buildings in Niger in January,
which followed the “Je suis Charlie” rally in Paris. The UK will continue to raise the
importance of freedom of belief and expression with the Nigerien Government,
bilaterally and in concert with international partners such as the EU. However, we
welcome the Nigerien government's condemnation of the attacks.
Nigeria
David Simpson:
[225398]
Department has had with the Nigerian government on the two recent suicide bombings in
the north of that country.
James Duddridge:
We have condemned these horrific suicide bombings in northern Nigeria, which are
heinous examples of Boko Haram’s brutality. We discuss Boko Haram's ongoing
campaign of violence with the Nigerian government on a regular basis. We remain
committed to helping the Nigerian authorities defeat Boko Haram and end the violence
in northern Nigeria, and are providing a substantial package of military, intelligence and
development support to Nigeria to help achieve that goal.
Taiwan
Angela Smith:
[225443]
Department has had with the Taiwanese government on labour conditions on board
Taiwanese-flagged vessels operating in Falkland Islands waters in each of the last two years.
Mr Hugo Swire:
The British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei has held discussions with the Taiwanese
authorities over fishing issues around the Falklands, most commonly regarding fishing
licences.
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ANSWERS
Although we have not raised labour conditions aboard Taiwanese flagged vessels in
recent conversations, we are seeking to approach the Taiwanese authorities on this
issue.
The Falkland Islands Government has devolved responsibility for the Falkland Islands'
fishing industry, including its legislation, regulations, and licensing.
Ukraine
Angus Robertson:
[225372]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what military
equipment has been gifted to Ukraine in the last two years; and what estimate he has made
of the value of that equipment when it was gifted.
Mr David Lidington:
The UK Government has gifted £1.266m in protective gear (helmets, body armour),
medical kits, winter clothing and winter fuel to the Ukraine Armed Forces. In addition to
this, 10 armoured vehicles at a cost of £1.2m were also gifted to the OSCE’s Special
Monitoring Mission.
HEALTH
Alliance Medical
Mr Roger Godsiff:
[225738]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what grounds a contract to run NHS PET-CT
cancer scans was awarded to Alliance Medical.
Jane Ellison:
NHS England has moved to increase patient access to vital diagnostic tests in cancer
care, with an expansion of positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PETCT) scanning.
The new services will be provided by a network including Alliance Medical Limited, The
Christie NHS Foundation Trust, local National Health Service and charitable partners, and
a number of leading academic institutions. Key benefits to patients will include:
- Greater value for money, with the cost of scans reducing by almost 18% from current
prices;
- £87 million investment over 10 years, at 30 different sites across England to install new
scanners and improve the current infrastructure;
- increased patient access to services, including the provision of PET-CT scanning at five
new locations (Bath, Bristol, Carlisle, Lincoln and Truro), where there is currently no
provision at all;
- faster production of reports, meaning patients receive test results more quickly,
thereby reducing the stress of waiting, and allowing treatment to start earlier; and
Daily Report
ANSWERS
- a substantial number of PET-CT scans at no additional cost to support the research and
clinical trials capability of the national network, not only in cancer, but also in new
applications such as dementia, to provide the evidence needed to develop and enhance
services for patients.
Epilepsy
Liz Kendall:
[225698]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many finished hospital episodes with a primary
diagnosis of epilepsy there were among people aged (a) under and (b) over 18 in England in
each of the last five years.
Norman Lamb:
In the following table, we have provided the number of finished consultant episodes
(FCEs) with a primary diagnosis of epilepsy for people aged under 18 and over 18 in
England for each of the last five years. The column headed ‘unknown’ contains FCEs
where no age was provided.
TOTAL
FCES
YEAR
FCES PER AGE GROUP
Under 18
18+
Unknown
2009-10
13,192
45,486
138
58,816
2010-11
13,645
46,992
157
60,794
2011-12
14,015
47,218
182
61,415
2012-13
13,488
45,550
178
59,216
2013-14
14,357
46,016
160
60,533
Notes:
1. A FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within
one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures
do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one
episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.
2. Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) figures are available from 1989-90 onwards.
Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements
in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of
independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in National Health
Service practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of
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ANSWERS
procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer
include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be
due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information. HES figures includes
activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13
includes activity ending between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.
Source : HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre.
Liz Kendall:
[225699]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much public money has been granted into
research into epilepsy in each of the last five years.
Liz Kendall:
[225706]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much public money has been invested into
development of new drugs and treatments for epilepsy in each of the last five years.
George Freeman:
The following table shows estimated expenditure on epilepsy research and development
by the National Institute for Health (NIHR) through its research programmes, research
centres and units and research fellowships.
£ million
2009/10
National
0.8
Institute for
Health Research
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
1.0
1.3
2.7
3.1
Total spend by the NIHR on epilepsy is higher than the figures shown because
expenditure by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) on this condition cannot be
disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
The following table shows estimated expenditure on research on epilepsy by the
Research Councils and Innovate UK.
£ million
Research
Councils and
Innovate UK
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
4.2
3.5
2.0
2.3
3.1
In addition to research directly relating to epilepsy, the Medical Research Council also
supports a broad portfolio of research that aims to improve our understanding of the
underlying mechanisms of neuroscience and neurological conditions including epilepsy.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
The following table shows estimated expenditure on development of new drugs and
treatments for epilepsy by the Research Councils and Innovate UK.
£ million
Research
Councils and
Innovate UK
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.4
Liz Kendall:
[225701]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money has been spent on the
prescription of drugs to manage epilepsy in the NHS in each of the last five years.
George Freeman:
Information on the cost of medicines to treat epilepsy is shown in the table.
NET INGREDIENT COST OF MEDICINES DISPENSED IN ENGLAND TO TREAT EPILEPSY, AS DEFINED BY BRITISH
NATIONAL FORMULARY (BNF) SECTION 4.8.1 CONTROL OF THE EPILEPSIESAND 4.8.2 DRUGS USED IN STATUS
EPILEPTICUS.
Primary care cost (£)
Secondary care cost (£)
2014/15 Q1 only
117,954,639
8,972,447
2013/14
455,561,100
33,557,584
2012/13
397,626,888
29,691,830
2011/12
382,640,431
27,282,775
2010/11
346,221,736
25,390,620
2009/10
304,583,390
23,954,258
Source:
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) provided by the Health and Social Care Information
Centre (primary care)
Hospital Pharmacy Audit Index (HPAI) provided by IMS Health (secondary care)
Notes:
Net Ingredient Cost (NIC)
NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs,
fees or prescription charges income.
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ANSWERS
BNF Classifications
The PCA system uses the therapeutic classifications defined in the BNF. Information on
why a drug is prescribed is not available in this dataset. Since drugs can be prescribed to
treat more than one condition, it may not be possible to separate the different
conditions for which a drug may have been prescribed.
General Practitioners: Training
Paul Burstow:
[225556]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress Health Education England has made
in developing a mutual health e-learning package to support continuing professional
development for GPs by January 2015; and how many GPs have used that package.
Dr Daniel Poulter:
Health Education England (HEE) is not currently developing a mutual health e-learning
package to support continuing professional development for general practitioners (GPs).
However, HEE has been mandated by the Department to develop a mental health elearning package which will be available to the public from 9 March. The package has
been designed for all primary and secondary healthcare staff, including GPs.
No uptake figures are currently available.
Health Services: Veterans
Paul Burstow:
[225558]
in ensuring that training is available so that there can be a specialist GP in every clinical
commissioning group trained in the physical and mental health needs of armed forces
veterans by summer 2015.
Dr Daniel Poulter:
Health Education England (HEE) is working with partners to develop an updated eLearning programme comprising of a pre-assessment; three e-learning sessions on
‘Caring for Veterans and their Families’, ‘Mental Health problems in Veterans’, and
‘Veterans with Severe or Long-term Injuries’; and a post-course assessment.
The e-Learning package is expected to be available in summer 2015, following which
HEE will work with partners to promote the package across the National Health Service.
Hospital Wards
Mr Laurence Robertson:
[225740]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to minimise disruption for
patients at shift changeovers in hospital wards; and if he will make a statement.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Dr Daniel Poulter:
It is the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts to ensure they have a
workforce that can respond to the service needs and plan rotas that are compliant with
the Working Time Directive.
Handovers are a major aid to patient safety and continuity of good quality care and
many trusts have formalised and timetabled handover time. From an education and
training perspective, handovers present an excellent opportunity for training and they
form part of a programme, known as ‘Better Training, Better Care’, which was initiated
in response to Professor Sir John Temple’s review on the application of the Working
Time Directive on doctors’ training.
Mr Laurence Robertson:
[225741]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that hospital
wards provide sufficient (a) personal and (b) nursing care to patients; and if he will make a
statement.
Dr Daniel Poulter:
The Health and Social Care Information Centre workforce statistics for November 2014
shows there has been an increase of nearly 8,500 more nurses working on hospital
wards than in 2010.
Through the Mandate, we have asked NHS England to deliver continued improvements
in relation to the experience of care. Local healthcare organisations, with their
knowledge of the people they serve, are best placed to plan and employ a workforce
based on clinical need and sound evidence.
In November 2013, the National Quality Board (NQB) supported by Jane Cummings, the
Chief Nursing Officer for England, published guidance on How to ensure the right
people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time. The guidance
specifies that the skill mix of the workforce should reflect the patient care needs and
local requirements, considering the experience and capabilities of the workforce
employed.
NHS England introduced mandatory reporting of monthly actual and planned nursing
and midwifery staffing levels by hospital wards in May 2014. All trusts with inpatient
beds are required to publish their staffing fill rates (actual versus planned) in hours on
the NHS Choices website. In addition, all inpatient ward areas must display ward /
department level information shift by shift regarding the planned versus actual staffing
levels at the entrance to the clinical area.
To support trusts further, the Department commissioned the National Institute for
Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to produce independent and authoritative evidence
based safe staffing guidance, Safe Staffing for Nursing in Adult In-Patient Wards in
Acute Hospital ’, published in July 2014. The guidance makes recommendations on safe
staffing for registered nurses and healthcare assistants, and identifies indicators that
should be used by trusts to demonstrate safe and effective nursing care is being
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ANSWERS
provided. Assessment of patients' nursing needs should take into account individual
preferences and the need for holistic care and patient contact time.
Directors of nursing are required to take into account the NQB and NICE staffing
guidance, as well as Compassion in Practice, the nursing vision and strategy launched by
the Department and NHS England in 2012, to ensure the delivery of person centred care
and improve health outcomes.
National Health Service trust boards are required to scrutinise and sign-off staffing
reports, and these staffing decisions will then be subject to external scrutiny and
challenge by commissioners, regulators and the public, and inspection by the Chief
Inspector of Hospitals.
Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination
Mr John Baron:
[225305]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason Public Health England is
undertaking additional cost effectiveness modelling for the HPV vaccine and adolescent
boys.
Jane Ellison:
In 2008 when forming its recommendation for vaccination against the human papilloma
virus (HPV) in the United Kingdom the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunisation (JCVI) did not recommend vaccination of boys because the evidence from
modelling undertaken by the Health Protection Agency (now Public Health England
(PHE)) indicated vaccinating boys was unlikely to be cost-effective (Jit et al., 2008).
JCVI keeps the eligibility criteria of all vaccination programmes under review. In October
2013 JCVI recommended a HPV sub-committee be formed to consider a number of
issues including the potential extension of the programme to include adolescent boys,
because of new and emerging evidence on the association of HPV vaccine types with
non-cervical cancers. JCVI requested that modelling be undertaken by PHE to re-examine
the impact and cost-effectiveness of extending the HPV vaccination programme to
adolescent boys in light of this evidence. The Department has also commissioned the
University of Warwick to conduct an independent modelling assessment on vaccinating
adolescent boys.
Mr John Baron:
[225306]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons Public Health England did not
commence its cost effectiveness modelling for HPV vaccination for adolescent boys until
2015.
Jane Ellison:
On the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, Public Health
England (PHE) agreed to analyse the impact and cost effectiveness of gender neutral
human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination using an HPV cervical screening model already
being developed within PHE. This work was planned to follow the completion of a
model to look at the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination of men who have sex with
Daily Report
ANSWERS
men in sexual health clinics. Quality assurance processes have led to a delay in
completion of the HPV cervical screening model, which has delayed the commencement
of the modelling work on adolescent boys.
Mr John Baron:
[225307]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects his Department to be in a position
to make a decision on HPV vaccination for adolescent boys.
Jane Ellison:
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the independent expert
body that advises the Government on all immunisation matters including human
papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination. JCVI has set up a HPV sub-committee which is giving
consideration to work modelling the impact and cost-effectiveness of extending HPV
vaccination to adolescent boys.
It is anticipated that a model being developed at Warwick University could be presented
to the sub-committee in the second half of this year. A separate model being developed
by Public Health England may not now be completed until early 2017. JCVI and its HPV
sub-committee may need to consider both studies before taking a final view on the
impact and cost-effectiveness of extending HPV vaccination to adolescent boys and may
therefore not be in a position to do so before early 2017.
Any implementation of an HPV boys vaccination programme will be dependent on
JCVI’s final advice.
Mr John Baron:
[225308]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward the timeline for the review
and recommendation in respect of the introduction of a universal HPV vaccination
programme.
Jane Ellison:
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the independent expert
body that advises the Government on all immunisation matters including human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.
HPV is currently recommended for adolescent girls aged 12-13 years.
The JCVI is currently considering possible extension to the programme, including to men
who have sex with men (MSM) and adolescent boys. The JCVI is not considering a
universal HPV vaccination programme.
Detailed cost effectiveness analysis is required to fully understand the potential benefits
of any proposals. It is essential that the JCVI does its work thoroughly and
comprehensively before finalising its advice to the Government.
Mr John Baron:
[225309]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects a decision to be made on
introducing HPV vaccinations for men who have sex with men.
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ANSWERS
Jane Ellison:
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert
body that advises the Government on all immunisation matters agreed at its October
meeting that further consultation was needed with stakeholders before finalising its
advice to Ministers on the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination of men who have
sex with men (MSM). It held a stakeholder consultation between 12 November and 7
January and we understand that JCVI considered the outcome of the consultation at its
meeting on 4 February 2015, as it reviewed its provisional advice on MSM.
Any implementation of an HPV MSM vaccination programme will be dependent on
JCVI’s final advice. We look forward to receiving JCVI’s final advice in due course.
Mike Freer:
[225331]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the HPV vaccination programme for men who
have sex with men will commence; and whether a delivery partner has been secured for that
programme.
Jane Ellison:
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert
body that advises the Government on all immunisation matters, agreed at its October
meeting that further consultation was needed with stakeholders before finalising its
advice to ministers on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of men who have sex
with men (MSM). It held a stakeholder consultation between 12 November and 7
January and we understand that the JCVI considered the outcome of the consultation at
its meeting on 4 February 2015, as it reviewed its provisional advice on MSM. Any
implementation of an HPV MSM vaccination programme and securing a delivery partner
will be dependent on the JCVI’s final advice. We look forward to receiving the JCVI’s
final advice in due course.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Ian Paisley:
[225325]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of
people suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Jane Ellison:
The cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is still unclear but the condition appears
to be connected with cells inside the lungs known as alveolar epithelial cells. There is
currently no cure for IPF so the aim of treatment is to try to relieve symptoms and slow
its progression.
Younger people with IPF who are in a relatively good state of health may be a suitable
candidate for a lung transplant.
Public Health England is currently running a campaign to encourage those with
inappropriate breathlessness (which is a symptom of IPF) to go and see their general
practitioner. It is primarily aimed at earlier diagnosis of heart and lung diseases, with
Daily Report
ANSWERS
scope to reduce premature mortality and to improve the quality of life of those living
with these conditions.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Nic Dakin:
[225688]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with NHS
England on improving the speed of diagnosis for people with an inflammatory
musculoskeletal condition.
Nic Dakin:
[225707]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with rheumatoid arthritis are
diagnosed and receive treatment within the first three months of referral from primary care.
Norman Lamb:
This information is not collected. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(NICE) clinical guideline Rheumatoid arthritis: The management of rheumatoid arthritis in
adults, published in 2009, emphasises the need for early diagnosis, with urgent referral
to a specialist rheumatologist on suspicion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
NICE also published a quality standard on RA in June 2013. Quality standards are
concise sets of prioritised statements designed to drive measurable quality improvements
within a particular area of health or care. The standard makes seven statements which
are indicators of good care. This includes a statement on referral that sets out that
people with suspected RA are referred to a rheumatology service within three working
days of presentation. It also includes a statement on assessment which recommends that
people with suspected RA are assessed in a rheumatology service within three weeks of
referral.
Ministers at the Department have had no recent discussions with NHS England on
improving the speed of diagnosis for people with inflammatory musculoskeletal
conditions.
NHS: Nurseries
Mark Hendrick:
[225141]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which mental health and acute NHS trusts in
England provide nurseries for staff; how many nursery places each trust provides in each
such case; and what the average cost per place, per hour is in each such trust.
Dr Daniel Poulter:
The Department does not collect information in respect of whether mental health or
acute trusts provide nurseries for their staff. As employers are responsible for their
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ANSWERS
workforce, it would be for these trusts to decide, in conjunction with their staff,
whether to provide nursery facilities.
NHS: Private Sector
Mr Roger Godsiff:
[225739]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to ensure that Ministers
with financial interests in private health companies do not (a) make a profit from and (b)
have influence over the award of NHS contracts to private healthcare companies.
Jane Ellison:
NHS England and clinical commissioning groups, not Ministers, make decisions to award
contracts to providers of NHS services. In doing so, they must ensure that they act
proportionately, transparently, fairly and in the interest of patients, and that all potential
conflicts of interest for those involved in awarding contracts are declared and managed
appropriately at the outset of the process.
In May 2010, the Government published the Ministerial Code, which sets out the
standards of conduct expected of Ministers and how they discharge their duties. Section
7 of this guidance specifies that “Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could
reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests,
financial or otherwise”.
A full list of ministerial interests is published online, and can be found at the following
link:
ministers-interests-october-2013.pdf
Obesity: Children
David Simpson:
[225400]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps the Government has taken to
reduce the level of childhood obesity.
Jane Ellison:
We have a well-developed and wide-ranging programme of actions to tackle child
obesity. These include working with a wide range of partners including Public Health
England and NHS England, and through a voluntary approach with industry. Key
initiatives include Change4Life, the National Child Measurement Programme,
Change4Life Sports Clubs, School Sports Funding and the School Food Plan.
Through our voluntary approach with the food and drink industry, we have cut billions
of calories from soft drinks and we have made it easier to see how much sugar is in soft
drinks with our colour coded front of pack nutrition labelling.
The actions we are taking are delivering results with obesity rates in children levelling
off.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Perinatal Mortality
Chris Heaton-Harris:
[224930]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many serious incident investigations have been
undertaken by the NHS into incidents involving stillbirths in each year since 2010.
Dr Daniel Poulter:
It is the responsibility of care providers to investigate all serious incidents that take place
under their jurisdiction.
Data was extracted from the Strategic Executive Information System (STEIS)* and the
table below shows that a total of 955 serious incidents involving still births were
reported in England since 2010. Of these 829 are recorded as ‘closed’ following the
conclusion of an investigation.
SERIOUS INCIDENTS REPORTED IN ENGLAND TO THE STEIS DATABASE AS “MATERNITY SERVICES - INTRAPARTUM
DEATH” OR “INTRAUTERINE DEATH”
Calendar Year
STEIS
incident
type
2010
Total
2011
2012
2013
2014
up to 25
February
2015
Maternity 43
Services Intrapartum
death
70
43
55
54
4
269
Maternity 64
Services Intrauterine
death
113
140
171
181
17
686
Total
183
183
226
235
21
955
107
*STEIS includes two categories ‘Maternity Services - Intrapartum death’, which
encompass stillbirth that appeared to have occurred intrapartum (i.e. during labour) and
‘Maternity Services - Intrauterine death’, which describes death in the womb detected
before labour commenced. Extracted data describes the numbers of serious incidents
reported under these categories.
Pregnancy: Mental Health Services
Paul Burstow:
[225555]
in ensuring that a module on perinatal mental health is included in core training for
midwives.
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ANSWERS
Dr Daniel Poulter:
Health Education England (HEE) has been working with the Nursing and Midwifery
Council and Royal College of Midwives, to ensure midwives in training have a core
training module focussing on perinatal mental health, with the intention that this will be
in place for those entering training in 2015.
HEE has developed three perinatal mental health e-learning modules, in partnership with
the Institute of Health Visiting, focusing on both the recognition and interventions
needed around perinatal depression and other mental health disorders.
HOME OFFICE
Crime: Victims
Mr Elfyn Llwyd:
[225843]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints by victims of
crime have been lodged against (a) the police and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service in each
of the last five years.
Mike Penning:
The table shows the total number of complaint cases recorded against all Home Office
Police Forces and the British Transport Police from 2009/10 – 2013/14 (data is from the
Independent Police Complaints Commission). Data is not collected on whether the
complainant in each case is a victim of crime.
Full statistics on police complaints are published by the Independent Police Complaints
Commission on its website; this includes a breakdown of the number of complaints by
police force: www.ipcc.gov.uk
The Home Office does not collect data on the number of complaints made against the
Crown Prosecution Service.
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13* 2013/14
Total recorded in year 34,310
33,099
30,143
30,365
34,863
*The definition of a complaint was broadened from this point onwards to include
direction and control (applies to complaints received on or after 22 November 2012).
Daily Report
ANSWERS
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Caribbean
Mary Creagh:
[225745]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 24
February 2015 to Question 223530, and with reference to her Department's Annual Report
and Accounts 2013-14, how the figure of £73,329,000 for planned expenditure in the
Caribbean in 2014-15 was arrived at.
Justine Greening:
In the 2013/14 Annual Report a portion of the Overseas Territories planned spend was
initially included in the DFID Caribbean total.
Commonwealth
Dr Matthew Offord:
[225600]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is
taking to improve education in Commonwealth countries.
Mr Desmond Swayne:
We support education directly in 22 countries, of which 13 are Commonwealth
countries. We are also a major funder of the Global Partnership for Education, which
supports education in 60 countries of which 17 are Commonwealth. Globally, including
support to Commonwealth countries, we have supported 10.2 million children in
primary and lower-secondary school and have helped to train 123,000 teachers to
improve the quality of learning since 2010.
Democratic Republic of Congo
David Simpson:
[225396]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports she has received
on the situation between the government of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan
Hutu rebels.
Mr Desmond Swayne:
It is vital that progress is made towards ensuring all armed groups no longer pose a
threat in DRC. We welcome the government of DRC’s announcement that military
action against the FDLR (the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) has begun.
However, we are keen to see meaningful action on the ground.
Developing Countries: Sugar
Mr Ian Davidson:
[225702]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her
Department's report, The Impact of EU Sugar Policy Reform on Developing Countries,
published in February 2012, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the effect of
those reforms on those countries.
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ANSWERS
Mr Desmond Swayne:
The sugar regime is one of the most heavily regulated and distorting elements of the
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the agreement to end sugar beet quotas in 2017
is an important step towards removing these distortions.
Naturally, the Government is concerned by the effect that these reforms may have on
sugar producers in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries highlighted in the
report. This is why we encouraged the European Commission to establish a Fund of Euro
1.24 billion in 2006 to assist sugar producing countries to adapt. My Department will
continue to engage with the European Commission, the Private Sector, and ACP
countries to maximise the impact of these funds. We will also ensure that ACP countries
continue to benefit from preferential access to the EU sugar market.
Developing Countries: Taxation
Mary Creagh:
[225705]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has
spent on helping each developing country increase its tax base since 2010.
Mary Creagh:
[225736]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 12
February 2015 to Question 223693, which the 26 countries are in which her Department is
undertaking tax capacity work; how much funding is allocated to each such country; and
how many people are employed to undertake that work.
Justine Greening:
DFID is already engaged in or is developing tax capacity building in the following partner
countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz
Republic, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian
Territories, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, South Africa, South Sudan,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This includes indirect
support through multilateral organisations.
In accordance with OECD DAC reporting guidelines, we do not currently record tax
programmes under a separate spend code but we have been expanding our tax work
over the Parliament. This includes the establishment of a specialist Developing Country
Capacity Building Unit in HMRC, to deploy HMRC staff to provide technical expertise in
support of these efforts.
A wide range of staff across the Department are engaged in work on tax, including
policy, financial and corporate advisers and staff in country offices. In addition, HMRC
staff provide tax capacity technical assistance in DFID partner countries.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
JUSTICE
Courts
John Hemming:
[225310]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many courtrooms there are in (a) the High
Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, (b) the County Court in Birmingham, (c) the Family
Court in Birmingham and (d) the High Court in Birmingham.
Mr Shailesh Vara:
The Royal Courts of Justice has 122 court rooms which are available for use by the High
Court. The Birmingham Civil Justice Centre has 56 court rooms available for use by the
High Court, family court and the county court. The use of a courtroom for any particular
case will be a matter for listing and the judiciary.
Domestic Violence
Ian Paisley:
[225327]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that
domestic abuse victims are informed of the release from prison of their abusers regardless of
how long they have served in prison.
Mike Penning:
The Government is committed to putting victims and witnesses first in the criminal
justice system. We have considerably improved support given to victims, including
revamping the Victims’ Code to ensure victims of the most serious crimes get access to
vital services like counselling to help cope with and, where possible, recover from what
they have been through.
Our statutory Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) is offered to all victims where the offender
has committed a violent or sexual offence and received a sentence of 12 months or
more. The scheme enables victims to be kept informed by victim liaison officers of key
stages of the offender’s sentence, including release, and to make representations on
conditions to which the offender may be subject on release.
This entitlement is outlined in the Government’s Victims’ Code, which came into force in
December 2013. The Victims’ Code gives victims of crime clearer entitlements from
criminal justice agencies and better tailors services to individual need.
The National Offender Management Service Domestic Abuse Policy Strategy sets out
that it is best practice to offer the VCS to domestic abuse victims, regardless of the
length of the offender’s sentence and whether the offender will be subject to licensed
supervision in the community. Such decisions are made on a case by case basis. This is
outlined in the guidance for victim liaison officers.
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ANSWERS
Domestic Violence: Lancashire
Mark Hendrick:
[225139]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many domestic violence trials in each
magistrates' and Crown court in Lancashire in 2014 (a) collapsed and (b) were postponed
due to the complainant not being present.
Simon Hughes:
The information requested in relation to both the magistrates’ courts and Crown Court
is not held centrally and could only be provided by accessing and examining individual
files at a disproportionate cost.
Computerised data is available on the number of adult trials which did not proceed
because a prosecution witness did not attend. However it is not possible to filter down
that information to domestic violence trials or to the non attendance of the complainant
in domestic violence cases as the computer recording systems for the magistrates’ and
Crown court do not break down trial data into specific types of cases or types of
witnesses (complainant or other).
Driving Under Influence
Michael Dugher:
[225377]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) breathalysed and (b)
convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in each of the last five years.
Mike Penning:
Driving offences can have very serious and sometimes devastating consequences for
victims and their families. That is why the Government has toughened the law by closing
loopholes relating to breath tests conducted by the police.
The number of people breathalysed by police from 2008 to 2012 (the latest available)
can be viewed in table 1. Data for 2013 is planned for publication in April 2015, and
data for 2014 is planned for publication in April 2016. For reporting purposes the Home
Office does not differentiate between ‘positive’ and ‘refused’ breathe tests. If an
individual refuses a breath test, this is an offence which carries the same maximum
penalty as a positive breath test.
The number of offenders found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or
refusing a test in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2013 (the latest available) can be
viewed in Table 2. Court proceedings data for 2014 are planned for publication in spring
2015
Attachments:
1.
Drink Driving - Breathalyser Statistics 2008 - 13 [225377 - Table.xls]
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Prisoners: Kent
Gordon Henderson:
[225311]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign national prisoners there are in
the prison system in Kent; and how many such prisoners have completed their sentence and
are awaiting deportation.
Andrew Selous:
At 31 December 2014, there were 965 foreign national prisoners held in prisons in Kent.
19 of those had completed their sentence and were detained in prison under
immigration powers.
PRIME MINISTER
Shabana Mahmood:
[225450]
To ask the Prime Minister, whether he carried out due diligence before recommending the
appointment of Lord Green to the House of Lords in September 2010.
Mr David Cameron:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Washington and
Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson) on 11 February 2015, Official Report, columns 774775.
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE ON THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Electoral Register: British Nationals Abroad
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown:
[225429]
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on
the Electoral Commission, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Overseas
Voter Day on 5 February 2015; what budget was allocated to that campaign; and how many
overseas registrations resulted from that campaign.
Mr Gary Streeter:
The Electoral Commission’s campaign to target eligible British citizens living
overseas was launched on Monday 2 February and will run until Friday 17 April.
This is a predominately online campaign with supporting media activity and
partnership work. The campaign targets the top twenty destinations for British
citizens living overseas.
Overseas Voter Registration Day on 5 February 2015 highlighted the launch of
the online campaign, which started on Monday 2 February, and encouraged
other organisations to help get potential overseas electors registered.
The overall budget for the campaign, which includes Overseas Register to Vote
Day, is £132,000.
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ANSWERS
To support Overseas Voter Registration Day, the Commission developed a suite
of resources with tailored branding and messaging and shared this with its
partners and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; who in turn shared the
resources with overseas British Embassies and Consulates.
These shared resources included a joint press release with the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, as well as social media posts. These were successfully
shared over the course of the day with media coverage secured in target
countries including Spain, France and Cyprus. We received an excellent response
on social media, for instance the Commission’s own overseas voter blog post
has now been viewed by people in over 70 different countries.
Over 4000 overseas voter applications were made on Overseas Voter
Registration Day and the following day. In comparison, there were just over 650
applications on the equivalent two days of the previous week.
We will be including a full assessment of the overseas registration campaign in
our post-election report.
TRANSPORT
A1
Sir Greg Knight:
[225528]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to improve traffic
flow and safety on the A1 between London and the A46 at Newark.
Mr John Hayes:
In December 2014 the Government published the Road Investment Strategy, which
outlines how £15.2 billion will be invested in strategic roads between 2015 and 2021,
improving traffic flow and safety across the network.
This is the biggest upgrade to our strategic roads (motorways and major A-roads) in a
generation, building on the £9 billion worth of schemes under construction in this
Parliament.
The Roads Investment Strategy includes a new scheme that will upgrade the A1(M)
between junctions 6 and 8 around Stevenage to three lane Smart Motorways to improve
traffic flow.
The Government has also announced that it will undertake a new strategic study to
identify and assess options for further investment in the southern section of the A1. This
study will look at bringing consistency to the route between the junction with the M25
and Peterborough. In particular, it will look at the case for improving to motorway
standard the existing non-motorway section linking the two parts of the A1 (M).
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Aircraft: Air Conditioning
Jonathan Evans:
[225506]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate
measures are in place to assess the toxicity of fumes entering aircraft cabins from aircraft
engines; what steps he has taken to ensure the prevention of adverse effects on pilots, cabin
crew and passengers caused by toxic levels of fumes; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Robert Goodwill:
The Department has completed four research studies into cabin air which involved close
cooperation with airlines to facilitate the research. The main study was published by
Cranfield University in May 2011 and concluded there was no evidence for pollutants
occurring in cabin air at levels exceeding available health and safety standards and
guidelines.
The Department has also engaged with the Committee on Toxicity who considered the
Department’s four published reports during 2013. The Committee concluded that there
is no evidence that fume events are causing ill health in passengers or crew.
Bus Services: Franchises
Bridget Phillipson:
[225524]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library the progress report
by KPMG of its review of bus market franchising when it is issued in early March 2015.
Mr John Hayes:
The consultants will publish their report once they have completed the study, expected
to be in the early summer.
Overseas Visitors
Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil:
[225419]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of overseas visitors to (a) the
UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland arrive by air; and what
proportion of total spending by overseas visitors such visitors account for in each nation.
Mr Robert Goodwill:
The table below gives the number and proportion of overseas visitors to the UK and its
constituent countries who travel by air and the proportion of spending by these visitors
in 2013.
The results are based on data from the International Passenger Survey (IPS), which is
managed by the Office for National Statistics.
Overseas visitors departing the UK by air, 2013
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NUMBER OF VISITS
ANSWERS
SPENDING
Thousands
Percentage of total £ millions
departing visitors
Percentage of total
expenditure by
departing visitors
(c) England
20,955
73%
15,620
85%
(b) Scotland
2,123
87%
1,547
92%
(d) wales
519
59%
273
77%
(e) Northern
Ireland
163
44%
95
46%
(a) All Regions
23,722
72%
17,752
84%
The IPS collects information on visits and expenditure by overseas residents on the
respondents' departure from the UK. In the majority of cases respondents will arrive and
depart the UK using the same form of transport but there will be a small number who
arrive and depart using different modes. This potential discrepancy is greater for
Northern Ireland, as there are difficulties collecting estimates of travel across the land
border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
TREASURY
Air Passenger Duty: Northern Ireland
Ian Paisley:
[225328]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to devolve air
passenger duty to the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke:
The rates of air passenger duty for all direct long-haul flights departing from Northern
Ireland airports have been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly Government. The
Assembly Government has set these rates to zero.
Any further devolution of APD to Northern Ireland, as a means to achieve a reduction in
rates, would need to be funded by the Executive, in order to protect the public finances
and comply with EU state aid rules.
The Government is exempting children from air passenger duty and abolishing the two
highest band C and D rates charged on connected long-haul flights departing from
Northern Ireland. For further information I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave
on 21 January 2015 to Question UIN 220598.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Child Benefit
Helen Goodman:
[225783]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families were paid child benefit for (a)
one child, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four children or more in the last year for which figures
are available.
Helen Goodman:
[225784]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average value was of child benefit received
by families with (a) one child, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four children or more in the last year
for which figures are available.
Mr David Gauke:
The information can be found on Table 3 of the publication ‘Child Benefit Geographical
Analysis Aug 2014’ are available here:
Child_Benefit_Geographical_Statistics_Aug_2014_formatted.xls. This publication
provides figures accurate as at August 2014 and are the most recent available.
Weekly rates have been stated as the average rate of Child Benefit as, as this is a fixed
rate award, all recipient families with the same number of children will receive the same
rate.
The amount of Child Benefit received is therefore determined by the number of children
in a family. Currently, families will receive £20.50 per week for the eldest child and
£13.55 for each subsequent child. These rates are fixed until April 2015.
Employee Ownership
Mr Ian Davidson:
[225255]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the
number of participants in the Employee Shareholder Status scheme in (a) Glasgow South
West constituency, (b) Glasgow city region, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK.
Mr Ian Davidson:
[225261]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses are participating in the
Employee Shareholder Status scheme in (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Glasgow
City Region, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK.
Mr David Gauke:
No details or estimates of the number of businesses or employees using the Employee
Shareholder status within geographical regions or nationally are currently available.
HSBC
Shabana Mahmood:
[224795]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any Ministers in his Department discussed
allegations of money laundering at HSBC with Lord Green during his time as Minister for
Trade and Investment.
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ANSWERS
Mr David Gauke:
Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with their counterparts in other departments
throughout Whitehall. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the
Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings and representations.
John Mann:
[225455]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what dates special advisers in his Department
have sent emails that refer to HSBC in the last five years.
Mr David Gauke:
The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at
disproportionate cost
Inheritance Tax
Mr David Blunkett:
[225708]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2015 to
Questions 223142 and 223143, when he expects to publish the breakdown of the estimated
numbers of deaths resulting in inheritance tax liabilities by Westminster parliamentary
constituencies for years later than 2011-12.
Mr David Gauke:
Updates to Table 12-12 of the Inheritance Tax Official Statistics covering estimated
numbers of deaths resulting in Inheritance Tax liabilities for Westminster parliamentary
constituencies are published annually at the end of July each year. The July 2015 update
will include the estimated number of deaths resulting in Inheritance Tax liabilities in
2012-13.
Minimum Wage
Mr Ian Davidson:
[225582]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers were fined for not paying their
employees the national minimum wage in 2013-14.
Mr David Gauke:
The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very
seriously and has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50% to 100% of the
unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000.
These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods
on or after 7 March 2014. The Government will also bring in primary legislation as soon
as possible so that the maximum £20,000 penalty can apply to each underpaid worker.
I refer the honourable member to the answer provided at UIN 205613 for details of
penalties issued.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Renewable Energy: Tax Allowances
Mr Roger Godsiff:
[225330]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from
community energy co-operatives on the decision to remove their entitlement to Enterprise
Investment Scheme tax relief.
Mr David Gauke:
The government ran a consultation exercise between July 2014 and September 2014 on
the impact of the tax-advantaged venture capital schemes and a further consultation
exercise on the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR). Both consultations sought views on
the importance of eligibility for tax reliefs under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme
(SEIS), Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), Venture Capital Trust scheme (VCTs) and SITR
for community energy groups.
There were 25 respondents to the question in the SITR consultation, and 32 respondents
in the tax-advantaged venture capital consultation. These included responses from
community energy co-operatives and wider representative groups.
The government remains committed to supporting local energy schemes and continues
to offer grant and loan development support through programmes such as the Rural
Community Energy Fund, the Urban Community Energy Fund and the Green Investment
Bank. Furthermore, the Autumn Statement 2014 announced that qualifying local
community energy schemes will be eligible for an expanded SITR
Revenue and Customs: Preston
Mark Hendrick:
[225140]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff employed at the Tax Credit Office in
Preston are currently paid (a) more and (b) less than the living wage.
Priti Patel:
As at 31 January 2015, HMRC employed a total of 2044 staff within its Preston Tax
Credit Office site. At that date there were no staff employed at the Tax Credit Office in
Preston paid less than the living wage.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: VAT
Katy Clark:
[225404]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make
the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service eligible for VAT refunds.
Mr David Gauke:
There are no current plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make Scottish Fire
and Rescue Service eligible for VAT refunds.
In 2011 the Scottish Government were explicitly advised of this potential consequence
of changing from regional fire and police forces to single authorities as part of the
proposed revised funding model for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland.
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ANSWERS
At the time they took the decision to make these reforms they would have known they
would no longer be eligible for the VAT refunds as a result.
Small Businesses: Taxation
Pamela Nash:
[225344]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many section 660a status enquiries HM
Revenue and Customs has made in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e)
Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr David Gauke:
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) does not make ‘status enquiries’ under section 660A
ICTA 1988 and its successor legislation in Part 5, Chapter 5 ITTOIA 2005.
Sports: Taxation
Mr Gerry Sutcliffe:
[223457]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times his Department has introduced
special tax arrangements to support a major sporting event since May 2010.
Mr David Gauke:
The Government has supported a wide range of sporting events held in the UK,
including by providing specific tax exemptions for overseas sportspersons competing in
the following events:
•
Champions League final (2011)
•
Olympic & Paralympic games (2012)
•
London Anniversary Games (2013)
•
Champions League final (2013)
•
Glasgow Commonwealth Games (2014)
•
Glasgow Athletics Grand Prix (2014)
Welfare Tax Credits
Mr Frank Field:
[225361]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many mandatory reconsiderations have been
requested for tax credit claims; how many of those requests have been successful; and how
long on average it takes to process each such request.
Mr David Gauke:
HMRC has revised the appeals process, in order to align it with that of DWP in advance
of the migration of tax credits claimants to Universal Credit. Since 6 April 2014, there
has been a new stage in the process called mandatory reconsideration (MR). Now if a
claimant disagrees with an HMRC tax credit decision, they are required to ask HMRC to
Daily Report
ANSWERS
look at its decision again and revise it where appropriate. This change was introduced to
enable more disputes to be resolved as early as possible in the decision making process.
Mandatory reconsideration was introduced on 6 April 2014. Annual figures for 2014/15
are not yet available.
WALES
[Subject Heading to be Assigned]
Kevin Brennan:
[907777]
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the First Minister
on promoting exports by Welsh businesses.
Stephen Crabb:
Welsh exports have increased by almost a third since the beginning of 2010, a clear
demonstration of the success of this Government’s long-term economic plan to
rebalance the Welsh economy.
I welcome the Welsh Government’s move to work more collaboratively with the UK
Government on exports, and the First Minister’s recognition of the vital and important
role the UKTI plays.
Martin Caton:
[907779]
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of trends in the rate
of child poverty in Wales since 2010.
Stephen Crabb:
We are working collaboratively with the Welsh Government to eradicate child poverty in
Wales and tackle its root causes.
Bob Blackman:
[907781]
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the effects on
Wales of the Government's long-term economic plan.
Stephen Crabb:
Tackling the deficit and rebalancing the economy are at the heart of our long-term
economic plan, to ensure that more wealth is distributed more fairly across the UK,
including to Wales.
The UK is the fastest growing major economy in the world, and Wales is the fastest
growing part of the UK. Following thirteen years of Labour mismanagement, we are
taking decisive action to protect the economy and deliver a more secure economic
future for Wales.
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ANSWERS
WORK AND PENSIONS
Children: Maintenance
Pamela Nash:
[225652]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many first contact notice of
closure letters have been sent to (a) Segment 1 and (b) Segment 2 CSA cases in (i) the UK, (ii)
Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland.
Steve Webb:
The table below shows the total number of segment 1 first contact notice of closure
letters that have been sent up to the 21 February 2015. Management information
regarding segment 2 letters is not yet available as it is currently under development and
could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
NUMBER OF LETTERS SENT
Total
345,900
England
278,700
Scotland
30,800
Wales
21,000
Northern Ireland
500
Other
14,900
Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.
2. Numbers include Proactive and Reactive case closure letters.
3. Northern Ireland cases include cases managed by the CSA in Great Britain where the
Parent with Care or Non Resident Parent lives in Northern Ireland. This does not
include cases managed by the Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Enforcement
Division (CMED).
4. Cases included in the ‘Other’ category are cases where the Parent with Care or Non
Resident Parent has moved abroad, or where the area of the Parent with Care or Non
Resident Parent is not available on the management information.
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ANSWERS
Jobcentre Plus
Stephen Timms:
[225763]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is offered to Jobcentre
Plus staff to enable them to better work with (a) lone parents and (b) ethnic minority
jobseekers.
Esther McVey:
The training delivered to Jobcentre staff ensures they have the capability to support a
range of customers/claimants, it teaches them to respect the individual needs of
Jobseekers whether these are lone parents or from an ethnic minority background. This
approach ensures that staff are equipped to deal with a diverse set of circumstances
whilst treating all Jobseekers as individuals.
All staff receive ‘foundation learning’ which covers excellent customer service, diversity
and claimants’ needs and stresses the importance of looking for signs where additional
support may be required.
Jobcentre Work Coaches have access to an on-going, comprehensive learning
programme that focuses on raising awareness of the Jobseekers personal circumstances.
This learning recognises that irrespective of whether the Jobseeker is a lone parent or
from an ethnic minority (or both) it can affect them in different ways. To complement
this approach other more specific products are available to staff, for example, Helping
Parents into Work and Skills Screening - the process by which potential skills needs in
relation to claimants’ job goals, or available jobs in the local labour market, are
identified.
Both are useful when supporting lone parents and ethnic minority Jobseekers.
Overall the learning offered places a greater emphasis on the need for personalisation
and flexibility which enables the Work Coaches to build strong relationships with all
Jobseekers and Jobcentre staff will complete this learning programme.
Jobseeker's Allowance: South Yorkshire
Michael Dugher:
[224939]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received jobseeker's
allowance (a) within three weeks of applying and (b) three weeks or longer after applying in
(i) Barnsley East constituency, (ii) Barnsley local authority area and (iii) South Yorkshire in
each of the last five years.
Esther McVey:
This information requested is not available. The Department for Work and Pensions aims
to transform people’s lives by helping them find and remain in work and to ensure work
pays.
The effectiveness of Benefit Centres is monitored by a suite of measures to track and
manage the range of benefits it administers. This includes Cabinet Office's Structural
Reform Plan and the internal Performance Environment.
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The Department regularly publishes information on a number of key areas of
performance; these are included in our Transparency Indicators page, the DWP Mid year
review which was published in December 2014 and the Annual Reports and Accounts.
There has been an increase in the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claims being cleared
within 10 days of 19.4 percentage points, from 70.8% in March 2010 to 90.2% in
March 2014.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-business-plan-transparencymeasures/dwp-business-plan-transparency-measures
DWP mid-year report April 2014 to September 2014 - Publications - GOV.UK
DWP annual report and accounts 2013 to 2014 - Publications - GOV.UK
Social Security Benefits
Rachel Reeves:
[225386]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what value of interim
payments have been made to people affected by sanctions or delays in benefit payments.
Rachel Reeves:
[225387]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the oral Answer of 8
December 2014, Official Report, column 638, what steps he has taken to raise awareness of
interim payments for people affected by sanctions or delays in benefit payments.
Esther McVey:
[Holding answer 2 March 2015]: Hardship Payments may be available to claimants who
have been sanctioned. We strengthened guidance for work coaches in July 2014 and
sped up the payment process so that all sanctioned claimants are informed about how
and when they can make an application for a Hardship Payment and can receive
payment swiftly. We plan to publish statistical information on Hardship Payments in
Summer 2015.
Short Term Benefit Advances (STBAs) replaced Crisis Loan Alignment Payments and
Interim Payments of benefit in April 2013.
There has been an increase in the number of Jobseekers Allowance claims being cleared
within 10 days of 19.4 percentage points, from 70.8% in March 2010 to 90.2% in
March 2014. Most benefits are paid in arrears and STBAs can help tide over claimants
who qualify until their first benefit payment. This is not the same as “benefit delays”
and, therefore, we do not collect such data.
As the Secretary of State announced in his oral answer (Official Report, 8 December
2014, column 633), more information will be provided to claimants about STBAs online
and in Jobcentres. And staff guidance will be updated and staff reminded of the process
for considering an STBA.
The department has already undertaken testing of the posters and messaging with a
small number of staff and claimants and the designs have now been reviewed by the
Social Security Advisory Committee.
Daily Report
ANSWERS
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Dr Julian Huppert:
[225435]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the procedures for
notifying his Department of a change of circumstances in the event of hospitalisation when
the claimant is incapacitated and unable to contact the Disability Benefits helpline.
Mr Mark Harper:
[Holding answer 2 March 2015]: The Department has reviewed its procedures for
notifying hospital admissions when the customer is incapacitated and unable to contact
us themselves.
We have taken account of the fact that there is no reduction in the Benefit paid for the
first twenty eight days following admission, where there has been no previous
hospitalisation within the preceding twenty eight days. Also, measures are in place so
that the report of the hospital admission may be taken from another person, on the
customer’s behalf. We have concluded that the procedures already in place are
satisfactory.
Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses
Mr Ian Davidson:
[224883]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the target time is from the point
of application for people with (a) cancer and (b) motor neurone disease to receive their
benefit entitlement under the special rules for terminal illness.
Mr Mark Harper:
[Holding answer 26 February 2015]: I refer my Hon. Member to the reply given by the
Department to his previous question number 223035, Official Report 09 February 2015.
Training
Andy McDonald:
[225463]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is provided for frontline
staff of his Department on working with people with mental health issues.
Esther McVey:
DWP Frontline staff are trained in the skills required to support a range of claimants and
to respect their individual needs. This ensures they are skilled to deal with a diverse set
of circumstances including those with mental ill health, whilst recognising the need to
treat everyone as individuals.
Frontline advisers have a comprehensive and progressive training programme which is
regularly reviewed. This learning focuses on raising awareness of the individual’s
personal circumstances, including disabilities and health conditions which can affect
individuals in different ways. Within the learning, frontline advisers are also signposted
to further guidance and specialist sources of information.
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ANSWERS
Work Programme
Stephen Timms:
[225762]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had
with Work Programme providers on the development of their workforce.
Esther McVey:
Work Programme providers are contractually committed to raising standards and they
are expected to build and maintain a culture of improvement through continuous selfassessment and planning for improvement.
As part of the self-assessment providers must ensure their staff develop skills and
expertise to meet the needs of participants. The Department’s Performance Manager’s
will discuss staffing issues with providers as part of their regular performance
management meetings.
The independent Work Programme Building Best Practice Group report (published 18
December 2014), recommended that the department continued to support the Institute
of Employability Professionals ‘what works’ workshops, in which front-line advisers from
different providers meet and share knowledge and best practice in supporting claimant
groups. The Department fully accepted this recommendation and will continue to
promote these workshops.
Stephen Timms:
[225764]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were referred to the
Work Programme by Jobcentre Plus but not subsequently attached to the programme in
each month since June 2011.
Esther McVey:
The information we have, on the number of Work Programme referrals by current Work
Programme status, in each month since June 2011, is published and can be found at:
http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html
Guidance for users is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance
Stephen Timms:
[225765]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent through the
Work Programme on (a) attachment payments, (b) job outcome and (c) sustainment
payments in Contract Package Areas 12 and 13 since June 2011.
Esther McVey:
The information cannot be released for publication, as public knowledge of individual
contract payments at contract package level would impact on the Department’s ability
to negotiate competitive prices in future contract periods and risk some of the
Commercial in confidence elements of the Department’s Contracts.
Daily Report
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
CABINET OFFICE
Indemnity for Returning Officers and Acting Returning Officers at UK Parliamentary
elections
Minister for the Constitution (Mr Sam Gyimah):
[HCWS338]
It is normal practice, when a government department proposes to undertake a contingent
liability in excess of £300,000 for which there is no specific statutory authority, for the
Minister concerned to present a departmental Minute to Parliament giving particulars of the
liability created and explaining the circumstances; and to refrain from incurring the liability
until fourteen parliamentary sitting days after the issue of the Minute, except in cases of
special urgency.
Returning Officers for UK Parliamentary elections in England and Wales are appointed under
section 24 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (“RPA 1983”). The post is an
honorary one, held by the Sheriff of a county or the Mayor or Chairman of a local council.
However, in practice, under section 28 of the RPA 1983, the Returning Officer discharges
functions through an Acting Returning Officer, who is usually a senior officer in the local
authority.
In Scotland, under sections 25 and 41 of the RPA 1983, Returning Officers for UK
Parliamentary elections are appointed local authority officers.
For the purposes of UK Parliamentary elections, Returning Officers and Acting Returning
Officers throughout Great Britain (referred to below as “ROs” and “AROs”) are independent
officers. They are separate from both central and local government. As a result, they are
exposed to a variety of legal risks varying from minor claims for injury at polling booths, to
significant election petitions and associated legal costs.
ROs and AROs make their own arrangements to insure themselves against any risks they face
in taking forward their statutory duties at local and UK Parliamentary elections. The cover
obtained usually forms part of the local authority’s own insurance arrangements.
In a small sample of AROs from the Cabinet Office's Electoral Policy Coordination Group, all
provided details of existing insurance cover in place with the local authority that extended to
cover the AROs conduct in relation to UK Parliamentary elections. The upper limit of
Officials' Indemnity cover in the sample ranged from £5m to £15m, with excesses ranging
from nil to £500,000.
This insurance mainly sought to cover:
•
liability for damages arising out of wrongful acts in the performance of official duties;
•
reasonable legal expenses for defending any proceedings; and
•
costs arising out of holding another election.
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WRITTEN STATEMENTS
While this insurance, coupled with local authority’s employers and public liability insurance,
will cover the great majority of risks to which ROs and AROs will be exposed to at UK
Parliamentary elections, they could ultimately be liable for claims of a type not covered by
insurance policies. They could also be liable for claims that exceed the insurance limits in
existing cover.
In light of this, the Cabinet Office proposes to provide ROs and AROs with a specific
indemnity for UK Parliamentary elections to supplement the insurance policies that have
been arranged locally.
The indemnity will fund ROs and AROs for costs (including reasonable legal costs and
reasonable expenses) incurred in connection with a UK Parliamentary election, which arise in
relation to their discharge of responsibilities as RO or ARO but fall outside of the scope of
the insurance cover which they have arranged locally, and where all other forms of recourse
have been exhausted.
The indemnity will be limited to the extent that:
(i) it will not cover any costs which arise in whole or part from any deliberate or wilful
negligence by an ARO/RO;
(ii) it will not generally cover any excess costs which the ARO/RO has negotiated on his / her
insurance policy (although individual claims for excess costs will be judged on their merits);
(iii) it will not cover situations where the ARO/RO’s insurance policy offers an alternative
means of cover;
(iv) it will not cover any reduction, under section 29A of the Representation of the People
Act 1983, in the amount to which the RO or ARO is entitled for his/her services;
(v) it will not cover any penalty imposed in relation to a criminal offence;
(vi) it will not cover any claim relating to the carrying out of electoral registration duties; and
(vii) it will not cover any claim relating to the use of a motor vehicle where such use should
have been covered by a valid insurance policy but was not.
The indemnity will cover costs arising in relation to UK Parliamentary elections, including byelections, where the date of the poll is on or before 31 March 2020. Any claim must be
made within 13 months of the poll at the election to which it relates.
The Government gave similar indemnities in relation to previous UK Parliamentary general
elections.
The likelihood of the indemnity being called is very low. The volume of claims which have
been made at previous national elections has been very low. So far there have been no
claims against the indemnity given in respect of the recent European Parliamentary elections
on 22 May 2014. The largest claim met under previous government insurance or indemnity
arrangements for a national election was £24,035.75 at the 2009 European Parliamentary
election. Minor injury and damage claims met under government insurance or indemnity
arrangements at national elections have amounted to less than £10,000 over the last
decade.
Daily Report
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
However, the possibility of a successful claim in the future cannot be ruled out. The potential
risk associated with election petitions could be significant. For example, the costs for the
Winchester election petition in 1997, following the general election of that year, amounted
to £250,000. If a petition involving an ARO or RO went to a full trial and ran for several days
it is conceivable that the bill for legal costs could run into millions of pounds. It is also
conceivable that there could be more than one occurrence associated with a single election.
The costs of an election petition might not be completely covered through existing insurance
arrangements and may require the indemnity to be called upon.
The indemnity is therefore unlimited. If the liability is called, provision for any payment is
likely to be met from the Consolidated Fund.
The Treasury has approved the proposal in principle. If, during the period of fourteen
parliamentary sitting days beginning on the date on which this Minute was laid before
Parliament (or, if there are fewer than fourteen such sitting days in this Parliament, the
period ending with the last sitting day in this Parliament), a Member signifies an objection by
giving notice of a Parliamentary Question or by otherwise raising the matter in Parliament,
final approval to proceed with incurring the liability will be withheld pending an examination
of the objection.
The Statistics Board (known as the UK Statistics Authority): General Report of the
2011 Census
Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Mr Francis Maude):
[HCWS341]
The UK Statistics Authority has published the General Report of the 2011 Census.
The General Report is the official, and comprehensive, account of the 2011 Census in
England and Wales. It reviews the entire census operation and provides a wealth of detail
about how the census was carried out and what lessons have been learned.
It is aimed at both the experienced and occasional user of census data, but it is hoped the
wider public may also find the Report useful and informative.
This General Report is being laid before both Houses of Parliament pursuant to the Census
Act 1920.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Kris
Hopkins):
[HCWS342]
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) has made the following Written Ministerial
Statement:
I am today announcing Key Performance Targets that have been agreed for the Queen
Elizabeth II Conference Centre for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.
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WRITTEN STATEMENTS
The agency’s principal financial target for 2015/16 is to achieve a minimum dividend
payment to the Department for Communities and Local Government of £1.7 million as
proposed in the business plan for the year.
The agency also has the following targets to achieve:
· Room Hire – To achieve a Capacity Utilisation ratio of 53%.
· To generate secondary revenue from Audio Visual & Information Technology services and
Catering royalty which in total equates to a ratio of 90% of room hire revenue.
· To achieve an overall score for client satisfaction of at least 90%.
· To receive less than 2 complaints per 100 events held.
The Centre is forecasting an increase in its annual dividend payment to the Exchequer from
£1.5 million in 2014/15 to £1.7 million in 2015/16 which is projected to rise further over its
corporate plan period.
I am also delighted to announce that the Centre has delivered significant improvements and
enjoyed considerable success over the course of the last two years.
· For the year ending 2014/15 the Centre delivered a growth in room hire revenue of 17.3%
in comparison to the previous year, a substantial achievement.
· For 2014/15 the Centre also delivered the best trading results across all income streams
since 2009/10 and in one month, June 2014, delivered the highest occupancy level and
revenue generating month since it opened 29 years ago.
· In economic terms it is estimated that the Centre delivered an economic impact to the
London and UK economy of £122 million in 2014/15.
· The Centre remains fully self funding and has invested wisely in improving its facilities and
services and as a result was awarded the 2014 Gold Award for Best Large Venue by
EVENTIA, the UK’s largest event industry association.
· The Centre is an increasingly successful profit making agency, paying an annual dividend
which is forecast to increase again in 2015/16 and in each of the years covered by its
corporate plan.
I would like to offer my congratulations to the Centre’s management team for their
proactive and determined efforts in modernising and improving this agency and its
performance.
Concessionary coal
Minister of State for Energy (Matthew Hancock):
[HCWS343]
I want to update the House on matters concerning the provision of concessionary fuel
entitlements to the miners of UK Coal Production Ltd (UKC)
Daily Report
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
On 15 January 2015, UKC submitted to Government a request for additional public sector
funding to extend the life of its two deep coal mines. Under the company’s current plans,
Thoresby is due to close in August 2015 and Kellingley in December 2015. The support
requested constitutes state aid to the coal sector, which is governed by Council Decision
2010/787/EU, and is restricted to facilitating the safe and orderly closure of loss-making coal
mines by 2018 at the latest.
The company’s request is for total additional support of £338m. Of this, £244m is to cover
the mine’s operating losses prior to closure in 2018 (‘closure aid’ under Article 3 of the Coal
Decision), and £94m is aimed at mitigating the social and environmental impacts of mine
closure (Article 4 aid for ‘exceptional costs’).
I wish to announce now that the Government will ensure UKC miners receive their
concessionary fuel entitlements.
EU Energy Council, Brussels, 5 March
Minister of state for Energy (Matthew Hancock):
[HCWS339]
My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate
Change (Baroness Verma) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
Today in advance of the forthcoming Energy Council in Brussels on 5 March, I am writing to
outline the agenda items to be discussed.
Under the first item on the agenda the Latvian Presidency has suggested an exchange of
views on the Strategic Framework for the Energy Union, with a view to contributing to the
discussion and conclusions on the Energy Union expected at the European Council on 19/20
March. The UK broadly welcomes the Commission’s Communication setting out a strategy
for a ‘resilient Energy Union with a forward looking Climate Change Policy’ and considers it
a promising start to delivering the EU reform needed to strengthen Europe’s energy security,
decarbonise cost-effectively and deepen the internal energy market. The UK will be arguing
that the scale of the challenges ahead requires further ambition and flexibility and that
Member States need to be able to draw on the full range of low, and lower, carbon
technologies to deliver secure, low carbon and competitive energy, including renewables,
energy efficiency, nuclear, CCS and gas.
The Council will then hold a policy debate on energy infrastructure, focusing on measures to
promote the efficient implementation of an interconnected cross-border energy market,
including ending the energy isolation of Member States. The UK agrees that more needs to
be done by Member States to complete the Single Market and that particular priority needs
to be given to the facilitation of new interconnection and investment projects.
The Commission and Presidency will then report on the current situation in relation to
European energy security.
Finally, the Czech delegation is expected to present proposals on the European Nuclear
Energy Forum.
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WRITTEN STATEMENTS
TREASURY
Infrastructure
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander):
[HCWS340]
I am pleased to inform the House that the government has agreed the sale of its entire
interest in Eurostar International Limited (“Eurostar”) for £757.1m.
The Autumn Statement 2013 and National Infrastructure Plan 2013 set out the
government’s ambition to achieve £20 billion from corporate and financial asset sales by
2020. Eurostar was identified as a possible candidate for sale and following a competitive
auction process which started in October 2014, the government have now reached final
agreements.
A consortium comprising Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Hermes
Infrastructure has agreed to acquire Government’s 40% stake in Eurostar for £585.1m. In
addition, Eurostar has, on closing of the sale of the Government stake, agreed to redeem
HMG’s preference share, providing a further £172m for the exchequer.
Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking London, Ebbsfleet and Ashford with Paris,
Brussels, Lille and other French destinations. Established in 1994 as a partnership between
three railway companies: SNCF, SNCB and British Rail (subsequently London and Continental
Railways (LCR)), Eurostar became a single, unified corporate entity owned by three
shareholders: SNCF, SNCB and LCR in September 2010. In June 2014 the ownership of the
UK holding transferred from LCR, a Department for Transport owned company, to HM
Treasury.
The sale receipts will be paid on completion of the contract, which is expected to happen in
the second quarter of 2015. SNCF and SNCB – the other shareholders in Eurostar – have the
option (the “Pre-emption Right”) to acquire HMG’s 40% stake for a 15% premium to the
agreed price of £585.1m. Closing of the sale to the CDPQ and Hermes Infrastructure
consortium is conditional on SNCF and SNCB not exercising the Pre-emption Right. The
transaction is also conditional on certain regulatory approvals including EU merger clearance.

04 March 2015

Transcription

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