Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 24 January 2007
House of Commons Commission
St. George Flag
A recent health and safety report identified the following risks.
Access to the flag pole is by ladder but there is no safe means of passing the flag up the ladder; the flag raiser needs to climb over a ventilation duct; lighting is poor and there is no emergency lighting. In addition there are heavy hatch doors with no means of preventing closure and no harness anchorage points.
The flagpole has been used only once since Portcullis House was opened when it was found to be dangerous and it has been non operational since September 2000. Means of rectifying the health and safety risks are being looked into and when the costs are known a decision will be taken on whether to fly flags from this location. If it is decided to do so, the aim will be to complete the necessary modifications by summer 2007.
Solicitor-General
Advocacy Services
In 2005-06 the Law Officers’ Departments spent the following amounts on preparation and presentation in the Crown court and higher courts.
Department Advocacy services from private sector barristers In-house advocacy Crown Prosecution Service 140.30 3.36 Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Service 15.70 0.38 Serious Fraud Office 2.03 1— 1 The Serious Fraud Office does not employ in-house barristers.
The Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol), spent some £14 million on civil advocacy services, most of which is recovered from other Departments, which instructed TSol. It is not possible separately to identify the cost of the small amount of advocacy done by in-house TSol barristers.
Electoral Commission Committee
Recruitment Agencies
The Electoral Commission came into existence on 30 November 2000. It informs me that the total amount paid to recruitment agencies for the hire of temporary staff in each financial year from 2002-03 is as shown in the table. These amounts include the remuneration paid to the temporary staff and the agency fees.
Expenditure (£) 2006-07 1400,000 2005-06 602,000 2004-05 440,000 2003-04 380,000 2002-03 231,000 1 Forecast
The equivalent figures for 2000-01 and 2001-02 are not readily available. In 2000-01, the commission’s total expenditure on recruitment, agency staff, and training was £84,270. In 2001-02, payments to recruitment agencies were not recorded separatelyfrom payments to other organisations in respect of secondees, and total expenditure under this combined heading was £190,000.
Wales
British Food
My office does not have in house catering.
Recruitment Agencies
The Wales Office spent £99,199 on agency staff in 2004-05 and £91,914 in 2005-06.
Information for previous years was not kept in this format and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Transport
A50
The most recent estimate (at 2005 prices) for replacement of the concrete surface on this length of A50 was in excess of £9.9 million. There is no scheme programmed for resurfacing the A50 between Blythe Bridge and Uttoxeter in the foreseeable future, so no current estimate is available.
Buses
The average age of the fleet in England at 31 March 2006 was 8.2 years. This information was published on page 6 in DfT’s “Public Transport Statistics Bulletin GB: 2006 Edition Supplement”, a copy of which is in the House Library.
Buses: Bedfordshire
(2) what steps he is taking to support the provision of bus services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what steps he is taking to promote the use of rural based community bus services; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what steps he is taking to ensure pensioners in rural areas have access to free or concessionary bus travel; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what representations his Department has received on proposals to reduce the provision of bus services in rural areas of Bedfordshire; and if he will make a statement.
The Department has supported the provision of bus services in rural areas by the introduction in 1998 of the rural bus subsidy grant (RBSG), a grant paid to local transport authorities according to numbers living in rural areas. A total of £393 million has been allocated to authorities over the period 1998-99 to 2006-07.
In addition, a total of £110 million has been awarded to authorities successful in Rural Bus Challenge (RBC) competitions held from 1998 to 2003. This scheme has encouraged the development of innovative solutions to meeting rural transport needs. Many of the 300 projects initially supported by RBC funding are now continuing with mainstream funding from local authorities and other sources.
A further step of particular relevance to rural areas has been the introduction of amended rules for the route registration of local bus services which has enabled the introduction of flexibly routed, demand responsive bus services. These services are also now eligible for bus service operators grant (BSOG) from the Department.
The following table shows the Department’s spending on grants to Bedfordshire county council under the RBSG and RBC schemes.
RBSG/RBC spend (£ million) 1998-99 0.44 1999-2000 0.44 2000-01 0.44 2001-02 0.68 2002-03 0.74 2003-04 0.91 2004-05 1.74 2005-06 1.29 2006-071 1.27 1 Estimated.
It should be noted that the majority of support for local bus services is provided by local authorities using the Government’s revenue support grant (RSG) and authorities’ own resources. It is for each authority to decide how much of their RSG allocation to devote to bus support. I understand Bedfordshire county council is currently considering to what extent it can fund substitute services following an announcement of planned service changes by Stagecoach.
Many of the projects supported under the RBC have been community-based services. In addition, in 2002 we extended eligibility to receive BSOG to a wide range of community transport services. A total of over £4 million annually is now paid to such services of which approximately £0.15 million is to community transport operators in Bedfordshire. Our bus policy document “Putting Passengers First”, published in December, proposes a number of further measures to assist community transport provision.
From April this year, older and disabled people have been guaranteed free off-peak local bus travel within their local authority area. From April 2008, this will be extended further allowing free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.
We have received no recent representations on proposed changes to rural bus services in Bedfordshire.
Buses: Essex
(2) how many new bus routes were started in Essex in each of the last five years.
The information is not available without incurring disproportionate costs. Essex county council have advised that they hold back copies of their quarterly (previously monthly) publication “Passenger Transport News” which contain details for all bus service changes in the county of Essex.
Lifebelts: River Thames
The Department has no responsibility for the renewal and maintenance of lifebelts, which are provided at the discretion of a mix of private and public land owners.
Overseas Lorries
In 2004, 1.4 million foreign registered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) travelled to mainland Europe from Great Britain, while in 2005 the figure was 1.5 million vehicles. It is not possible to provide a UK estimate since information on foreign vehicles leaving Northern Ireland via the Irish Land Boundary is not available.
The Department for Transport estimated that in 2003, the last year for which figures are available, foreign registered HGVs travelled 0.9 billion kilometres in Great Britain.
Parton-Lilyhall Bypass
The cost for the A595 Parton to Lillyhall scheme is £35.2 million. The scheme is due to be completed in winter 2008.
An environmental statement and an economic impact report have been published for the scheme, which includes the Copeland hinterland, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
Safety Cameras
It is expected that these will be published on the Department’s website today, 24 January.
Vehicle Register
Between 1 November 2006 and 31 December 2006 we received 184,483 requests for data from private companies and from private individuals. We cannot distinguish between these groups without manual examination of the papers and therefore without incurring disproportionate costs.
Nor can we say how many requests from private companies were rejected in that period.
No organisation has yet been given approved conditional access since the new measures were introduced on 1 November 2006. Any organisation wanting access to data electronically will need to become a member of an Accredited Trade Association (ATA) and to comply with that association’s code of practice that will have clear and enforceable rules governing the business, procedures of their members. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is currently discussing ATA status with several companies.
Scotland
Correspondence
No letters sent to the Scotland Office from hon. Members during the 2005-06 Session remain unanswered.
The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members’ Peers’ correspondence. The report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006, Official Report, columns 75-78WS. Information relating to 2006 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready.
Devolution
Since 12 December 2006, 74 devolution issues have been intimated to the Advocate-General. Of these 74 devolution issues, 54 related to civil proceedings and 20 related to criminal proceedings.
Freedom of Information
All information that is released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is published on the Scotland Office’s website, unless it is available elsewhere in the public domain. I acknowledge there was an unintentional delay in our doing so for my recent reply to the hon. Member about travelling costs of Scotland Office staff.
Culture, Media and Sport
Digital Television
Presently, the vast majority of households in the constituency should be able to receive digital TV services via either digital satellite or digital terrestrial (Freeview).
Ofcom estimate that from switchover (which will take place during 2009 in the Granada region), coverage of digital terrestrial television will be increased to substantially match that currently achieved by analogue services (this is taken to equate to 98.5 per cent. of UK households).
Historic Churches
The chair of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust attended an ecclesiastical heritage event hosted by the Department in December 2005.
In March 2006 I received a copy of the trust's 2005 review of the year.
The chief executive of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust was a signatory to a letter jointly signed by representatives of nine organisations, in support of English Heritage's Inspired campaign on funding for historic churches, received in June 2006.
As Minister for Culture, I attended a meeting hosted by the chair of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust in July 2006, at which representatives of many church heritage bodies were present.
The Government recognise the important role played by the Historic Churches Preservation Trust in raising and making available funding for the repair and conservation of historic church buildings.
National Lottery
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is the sole, UK-wide Lottery distributing body for the heritage good cause. Total Lottery expenditure by the HLF in each of the last nine financial years is given in the following table. This includes money drawn down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund to meet the bodies’ administrative expenses. Details of individual grants, supplied by each Lottery distributor, can be found on the Department’s Lottery Grants Database, searchable at
www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
Expenditure in £ million, rounded to nearest £1 million 1997-98 133 1998-99 196 1999-2000 277 2000-01 290 2001-02 262 2002-03 265 2003-04 324 2004-05 308 2005-06 374
Lottery funds are distributed to the arts good cause by six bodies. These are Arts Council England, the Scottish Arts Council, the Arts Council of Wales, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the UK Film Council and Scottish Screen. However, other Lottery distributors may sometimes make awards which are arts-related, for example the Heritage Lottery Fund for the acquisition or retention of a work of arts in a UK museum or gallery.
Total Lottery expenditure by the six arts Lottery distributors in each of the last nine financial years is given in the following table. This includes money drawn down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund to meet the bodies’ administrative expenses. Details of individual grants, supplied by each Lottery distributor, can be found on the Department’s Lottery grants database, searchable at
www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
Expenditure in £ million, rounded to nearest £1 million 1997-98 356 1998-99 366 1999-2000 259 2000-01 272 2001-02 275 2002-03 246 2003-04 295 2004-05 298 2005-06 275
Pigeon Racing
Decisions on whether particular activities and pastimes should be recognised as sports are made by unanimous agreement between the home country sports councils. As such it would be inappropriate for Government to intervene. Any decisions to fund recognised sports are made by the individual home country sports councils.
I can confirm that Sport England has not received any representations to recognise pigeon racing as a sport. In the first instance, I would recommend a submission to the relevant Sports Council, outlining the case for recognising pigeon racing. Sport England will be able to provide information on the criteria for recognition of an activity as a sport.
Recruitment Agencies
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has paid recruitment agencies the amounts in the following table in each year since 1997:
£ 1997-98 278,618.91 1998-99 482,465.39 1999-2000 456,230.03 2000-01 386,498.94 2001-02 409,743.71 2002-03 512,869.85 2003-04 451,750.43 2004-05 496,585.32 2005-06 1,147,515.76 2006-07 11,069,662.09 1 To 19 January 2007.
These sums are inclusive of the full salary costs of the temporary staff.
Television Licences
The BBC's Royal Charter contains a specific duty for the BBC Trust to ensure that the arrangements for the collection of the licence fee are efficient, appropriate and proportionate.
The Government provide no personal data to TV Licensing to aid in the detection and prosecution of licence evaders.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to do so. For the reasons set out in the BBC Charter Review White Paper published in March 2006, the Government have no plans to extend the availability of free TV licences.
TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Livingston constituency in 2005-06 was 3,480, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.
(2) which part of the UK the most TV licence evaders were caught in the last 12 months; and what percentage that figure represents of all households in that area;
(3) whether TV Licensing has access to data held by other Government departments to aid them in tracking licence evaders;
(4) whether TV Licensing has (a) identified and (b) applied more resources to the (i) areas and (ii) households that most consistently evade the television licensing authorities.
The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day-to-day administration under contract to the Corporation. I have asked the BBC’s Head of Revenue Management to consider the questions raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Defence
Afghanistan
[holding answer 8 January 2007]: We have no plans to make ex-gratia payments in connection with the incident on 3 December 2006 in Kandahar, when an International Security Assistance Force convoy came under attack from a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. We have conducted a full investigation into the incident which concluded that the British forces involved acted properly and within their rules of engagement.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also produced a report on the incident, which includes a number of recommendations relating to future incidents of this kind. We have measures in place to address some of these recommendations. Members of the UK Task Force have also met with members of the Government of Afghanistan to review how current practices can be improved.
Boarding School Allowances
The answer of 6 November 2006, Official Report, columns 801-2W, asked for information covering the last five years. The only year that the information had been held separated into officers and other ranks was 2005-06 and the same information for the previous years could be provided only at a disproportionate cost due to work being undertaken to transit from the three legacy systems to JPA—joint personnel administration system.
Information for 2005-06
Number of service children currently being educated utilising the MOD’s Boarding School Allowance Scheme:
As at the spring term 2005, Service Education Allowances were being paid for 7,914 children.
The breakdown of service claimants is as follows:
Number Royal Navy 1,377 Royal Air Force 2,257 Army 4,280
The number of children in receipt of Education Allowances from commissioned officer’s families:
Number Royal Navy 920 Royal Air Force 1,286 Army 2,675
The number of children in receipt of Education Allowances from all ratings, non-commissioned officer’s (NCO) and other ranks families:
Number Royal Navy 457 Royal Air Force 971 Army 1,605
Defence Training Review
As with other PFI projects, the Defence Training Review (DTR) Contractor will take responsibility for the standard risks associated with a PFI project such as performance and cost risks including: design; construction and whole-life maintenance; non-discriminatory change in the law; town and country planning; commissioning and certification; and loss or damage to assets. In addition and by virtue of the training-specific nature of the DTR programme, risks relating to training will also be transferred. For example the contractor will be paid on the basis of student throughput and against pre-agreed target pass rates for courses.
EU and NATO Missions
The table shows the number of troops engaged in European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and NATO missions in each year between 2003 and 2006.
The figures for 2007 are given as at 14 January 2007, but are subject to future Periodic Mission Review. As military operations remain fluid and we are unable to predict if there will be additional NATO or ESDP missions, it is not possible to state how many troops are expected to be engaged on such missions in 2007.
NATO1 ESDP2 2003 4,305 84 2004 3,281 950 2005 2,720 950 2006 4,281 654 20073 6,360 654 1 Derived from averaging weekly deployed totals over the year. NATO figures include Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. 2 Maximum deployed during year. 3 The spot figures given as at 14 January 2007 are subject to future Periodic Mission Review.
Within the MOD, eight people work exclusively on European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), although these dedicated staff draw on the support of other personnel across the MOD who devote varying proportions of their time to particular aspects of ESDP as required. Officers in their management chain also devote a portion of their time to this issue.
Additionally the UK Military Representation to the EU in Brussels comprises nine MOD staff. Two MOD staff are also seconded to the UK diplomatic representation to the EU to work on ESDP.
IT Projects
The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Japanese Internment
It is a requirement of the Government’s ex-gratia payment scheme for former far east prisoners of war and civilian internees that claimants be able to demonstrate a close link with the UK. This was initially based on normal residence in the UK before the war. In 2001, eligibility was extended to include the birth link criterion, which it was accepted in 2006 was unlawful. The 20-year residence criterion was introduced earlier in 2006 to extend eligibility to former internees who could demonstrate that they had established a close link to the UK after the war, on the basis of residence.
As at December, the Veterans Agency had written to 916 claimants whom they identified as being potential beneficiaries under the 20-year residency criterion. 513 responses had been received and 129 awards made. In 301 cases, the claimant had advised that they were not eligible. 11 cases had been rejected for reasons other than residency (for example the claimant was not British at the time of internment). Nine cases were on hold pending a final decision and 45 others were being processed.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 8 January 2007, Official Report, columns 89-90W.
Protective Clothing
None. The standard issue tri-service uniform, Combat Soldier 95 (CS95), and its desert equivalent have not been designed with flame retardant properties as operational analysis has shown that the soldier on the battlefield faces a minimal risk from burn injuries.
Specialist fire retardant clothing is issued to personnel in specific roles where there is a known fire risk (e.g. armoured vehicle crews).
Reserves
The available requirement and strength data are given as follows.
Requirement Strength3 Requirement Strength3 Territorial Army4 59,000 56,200 42,000 35,940 Royal Naval Reserve5 n/a 2,670 2,900 2,180 Royal Marines Reserve5 n/a 890 990 710 Royal Auxiliary Air Force6 2,250 1,740 2,220 71,460 n/a = not available 1 Royal Auxiliary Air Force data are at 1 January 1999. All others at 1 April 1997. 2 Territorial Army (TA) data are at 1 November 2006. Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) data and Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) data are at 1 October 2006. Royal Auxiliary Air Force Requirement data are at 1 April 2006. Royal Auxiliary Air Force Strength data are at 1 October 2006. 3 Strength figures are for both trained and untrained personnel. 4 The 1997 figures exclude Mobilised TA personnel as the reserve type cannot be easily identified. There were a total of 990 Mobilised Personnel (Volunteer and Regular Reserve) at 1 April 1997. The 2006 figures include 1,060 Mobilised TA Personnel. All TA figures include Officer Training Corps (OTC) and exclude Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS) and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS). At 1 November 2006 there were 4,910 capbadged OTC personnel. 5 RNR and RMR strength figures exclude FTRS. 6 The Royal Auxiliary Air Force Requirement includes FTRS Home Commitment (HC) and Limited Commitment (LC); the Strength includes FTRS (HC), (LC) and Full Commitment (FC) (for which there is no separate requirement). 7 Provisional. Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system for RAF, all RAF data from 1 May 20O6 are provisional and subject to review.
Separation Allowances
[holding answer 8 January 2007]: I regret that due to an administrative oversight I was unable to answer these questions before the House prorogued on 8 November 2006.
Constitutional Affairs
Executive Agencies
Both Her Majesty’s Courts Service and the Tribunals Service have regional offices outside London. The Public Guardianship Office does not have a regional office outside London.
The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for three executive agencies: Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS), the Tribunals Service and the Public Guardianship Office (PGO). Details of the functions and budgets of HMCS and the PGO can be found in their annual reports, copies of which are in the Library and which are also on-line at:
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/annual_reports.htm
and
http://www.guardianship.gov.uk/downloads/Annual_ Report_2005-06.Final.pdf
respectively. The Tribunals Service was created as an executive agency in April 2006 and has not yet, therefore, produced an annual report. Its function is to provide support to the judiciary and tribunal users to ensure the impartial and efficient operation of the tribunals it administers. In the 2006-07 Winter Supplementary the Tribunals Service had a resource Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) of £270,987,000 and a Capital DEL of £3,903,000.
Legal Aid
The Government’s proposals, set out in “Legal Aid Reform: the Way Ahead”, will ensure that legal aid continues to be available for those people who require legal assistance. The reforms will ensure that legal aid spending can be placed on a sustainable footing and spending rebalanced between civil, family and criminal legal aid. This will be of particular benefit to the vulnerable and those facing social exclusion.
As at 19 January 2007, the Department had received 80 representations since November 2006 on civil and family legal aid solicitors’ fees. There have been extensive discussions with the Law Society and other key stakeholders. These are being taken into account in further work by the Department and the Legal Services Commission.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Details of the remit, Government funding and gross expenditure of public bodies sponsored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs can be found in the Cabinet Office publication “Public Bodies 2006”, copies of which are in the Library and which is also available online at:
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/publicbodies2006.pdf
Postal Ballots
My Department does not issue guidance to post offices on the employment of individuals who choose to stand as candidates at local or national elections. The Electoral Commission produces a code of conduct which sets out guidance on how candidates and their agents should behave during an election campaign. This includes guidance on the handling of postal vote applications and ballot papers.
International Development
Iraq
I can tell the House that we have just agreed a £4 million contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross to continue to provide protection and emergency assistance, including water and medical supplies. This brings our total humanitarian contribution to over £120 million since 2003.
Afghanistan
Between 2001 and March 2006 DFID spent over £390 million on reconstruction and development. DFID’s programme focuses on building effective state institutions; improving economic management and supporting rural livelihoods. The best way to do this is by helping the Afghans help themselves—which is why over 70 per cent. of our aid goes directly to the Government of Afghanistan.
International Corruption
I frequently discuss the fight against corruption with my international counterparts.
For example, last year I had extensive discussions with the President of the World Bank on combating corruption. I also talked to the Chief Ministers of the Overseas Territories at their Consultative Council meeting in November. I also discuss the issue with Ministers in our partner countries.
Ministers approved the UK anti-corruption action plan in July 2006. The plan aims to improve the UK’s capacity to investigate foreign bribery, stop money laundering and recover stolen assets, promote responsible business conduct in developing countries and support international efforts to fight corruption. I shall report on progress to the Prime Minister in February.
Malaria
DFID provides considerable support for the purchase and distribution of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) through, for example, direct support for country-level ITN programmes and through our support to multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the Roll Back Malaria partnership, UNICEF and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which all help finance the purchase and distribution of ITNs in developing countries.
South America
The formation of a community of South American nations is still at an early stage. We support moves towards regional integration on the basis that it provides important opportunities for economic development, including for poorer nations. The exact path to regional integration, including how the Community of South American Nations will evolve, is a matter for South Americans themselves to determine.
German G8 Presidency
I welcome Germany’s plan to focus on Africa and development during its G8 and EU presidencies. We fully support the priority given to governance, economic growth, peace and security and HIV/AIDS, and will be working closely with our German colleagues to make progress on these issues. We will also continue to push for progress in other crucial areas such as education, trade and aid volumes.
Drinking Water: Africa
Sub-Sahara Africa is the region where the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on water and sanitation are most off-track. In March 2005 I committed to double DFID’s support to water and sanitation in Africa to £95 million a year by 2007-08 and more than double funding again to £200 million a year by 2010-11.
We are making good progress towards achieving this target. We have significantly increased our water and sanitation programmes, focusing on countries where current access levels are particularly low. DFID is providing £6 million to the African Development Bank’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative, with a target of achieving 80 per cent. rural access to water supply and sanitation by 2015. In Ethiopia we are developing a new £100 million programme to provide water and sanitation to 4 million people. Programmes in DRC, Sudan, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda are expanding.
Burma
The most recent period for which figures are available is financial year 2005-06, in which DFID spent £6,437,793 on reducing poverty in Burma. The largest disbursements were to (i) the Fund for HIV/AIDS in Myanmar for provision of HIV/AIDS treatment, (ii) the BBC World Service Trust project to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, (iii) the Thai-Burma Border Consortium for assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand, (iv) the UN’s Human Development Initiative which provides small-scale improvements in rural technologies and infrastructure, and (v) to the International Committee of the Red Cross for humanitarian and protection work in prisons and in eastern Burma.
Carbon Emissions
DFID began to measure carbon emissions from our UK buildings in 1999, vehicles in 2003 and air travel in 2004. The latest figures we have for carbon emissions are as follows:
Tonnes of CO2 Buildings 4,109 Air Travel 17,352 Vehicles 57
DFID is committed to the new sustainable operations targets which include a commitment for a carbon neutral central Government office estate by 2012. All Government air travel has been captured under the Government Carbon Offsetting Scheme since April 2006.
DFID proposes to achieve carbon neutrality through a package of measures including renewable energy on site (we are currently working with the Carbon Trust to agree the best technology for our UK estate); implementing further energy saving measures into both buildings, and further upgrading of our award winning video-conferencing facilities to make further savings on air/rail travel. DFID will only offset unavoidable carbon emissions that result after all economically viable carbon savings have been made, so it is not currently possible to estimate what the cost of offsetting will be.
Congo Brazzaville
(2) what discussions he has had with the Government of Congo Brazzaville on (a) oil exploration, (b) environmental protection, (c) oil sector management and (d) the use of oil revenues to fund development;
(3) what recent assessment he has made of the level of corruption in Congo Brazzaville.
Corruption remains a serious problem in the Republic of Congo. Transparency International’s survey last year rated the country 142 of 163 states. A particular area of concern, despite the Congo-Brazzaville Government having made a statement of support for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), is the management of natural resource revenues, which lacks transparency and attracts widespread NGO criticism. Campaigners against corruption in the country have faced harassment from state officials. The British embassy has raised concerns on several occasions with the Congo-Brazzaville Government, and requested more information about the brief detention last year of two members of the Publish What You Pay Coalition who have been effective advocates of EITI locally.
The UK also discusses governance issues with the Congolese Government on a regular basis in conjunction with European partners and through the World Bank and IMF. The UK has made clear that the windfall received in increased oil revenues should be spent on poverty reduction. Economic issues and social development form part of the European Union’s regular article 8 dialogue. EU missions frequently raise the need for increased transparency in the oil sector, particularly in the management of revenues.
When the country qualified for assistance under the heavily indebted poor country (HIPC) initiative in February 2006, the UK, with the international community, insisted that interim debt relief be accompanied by—and conditional upon—a strict programme of governance reform. Congo’s debt relief savings are maintained in a special account. Expenditures from this account are limited to agreed poverty-reducing categories and monitored by a committee comprising representatives in observer status from international donors and Congolese civil society. Under the HIPC agreement, interim debt relief could be withdrawn if Congo fails to maintain satisfactory performance.
Furthermore, Congo agreed to implement a number of tough governance and anti-corruption reforms before it receives irrevocable debt stock cancellation under HIPC. These include the establishment of a national anti-corruption committee; the completion of a corruption diagnostic study by international experts; sustained, satisfactory performance under World Bank and IMF supervised programs; and successive annual audit opinions to confirm that the state oil company’s accounts are in line with international best practice. There will be an annual review of progress, the first due to begin later this year, by the World Bank’s Executive Board. Delivered in the right way, we hope that debt relief will help Republic of Congo, one of the world’s most indebted and poorest countries, spend more on health, education and infrastructure.
Darfur
As the UN statement of 17 January made clear, humanitarian agencies are struggling in exceptionally and increasingly difficult circumstances to deliver vital aid to those in need in Darfur. DFID funding is providing training for humanitarian agencies to prevent, mitigate and mange security risks to their staff. Through our contributions to the Common Humanitarian Fund, the UN also receives funding to help co-ordinate and respond to security incidents. Our overall level of funding remains high (we are the second largest bilateral donor to Darfur) and we have taken steps to ensure that our funding is as flexible as possible so our partners can better manage restrictions and relocations of their activities on the ground.
At political level, we are working with all sides to the conflict to ensure the ability of humanitarian agencies to operate freely, securely and without constraint. We are calling on all sides to cease the violence immediately; renew the ceasefire and political process and accept the AU/UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.
During the last six months, well over 400 humanitarian workers have been temporarily relocated or evacuated in 31 operations across Darfur. Only one agency has withdrawn completely from Darfur in the last two years, and that was done at the insistence of the Government of Sudan. Humanitarian agencies have found it increasingly difficult to maintain access to areas in need given the pervasive insecurity and attacks on their compounds and staff. Basic relief operations in large areas are being maintained by locally-hired staff. The strong efforts made by agencies have limited the impact of withdrawals to date, but without the specialist support and protection-by-presence of international staff, there are concerns that the quality of the work done may decline and the humanitarian conditions begin to deteriorate.
DFID is providing funding to assist humanitarian agencies to prevent, mitigate and manage security risks to their staff. Through our contributions to the Common Humanitarian Fund, the UN also receives funding to help co-ordinate and respond to security incidents. In addition to this support, our partners receive flexible funding that enables them to manage restrictions and relocations of their activities on the ground.
Egypt
DFID closed its main bilateral programme in Egypt in 2005 in line with its commitment to prioritise aid to the poorest countries in the world and has no plans to provide aid to Egypt in 2006-07. The UK will continue to support poverty reduction efforts in Egypt through our contributions to international institutions such as the European Commission (EC) by contributing €100.44 million as part of EC funding to Egypt over the next four years.
World Food Programme: Somalia
During 2006 the UK contributed £6.5 million to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation in Somalia, approximately 8.0 per cent. of total donor contributions since January 2003.
The UK is also the largest single contributor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), having contributed $82 million of the total of $343 million or 24 per cent. of total donor funding. The CERF has contributed $9.15 million for WFP humanitarian operations in Somalia since the beginning of 2006.
The UK is also a major supporter of other aspects of humanitarian relief operations in Somalia. For example our support to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) assists in negotiating humanitarian access for other members of the international relief community including WFP.
Trade and Industry
Engagements
This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
EU-Mercosur Trade
The level of trade between the top 20 EU markets and Mercosur full members totalled US$ 71,545 million in 2005. The following table shows the level of trade by imports and exports over the last three years.
2003 2004 2005 Mercosur imports from the EU 19,285 25,499 29,088 Mercosur exports to the EU 30,548 37,191 42,457 Totals 49,833 62,690 71,545
UK Trade and Investment’s teams in Mercosur’s foil member markets have identified the following as the main growth sectors in 2006-07.
Argentina
Mining, agriculture, financial and legal services, oil and gas, creative and media.
Brazil
Aerospace, agriculture, biotech/pharma, construction, creative/media, education/training, engineering, environment, financial and legal services, healthcare/medical, ICT, oil and gas, power, transport.
Paraguay
Paraguay does not have any dedicated UKTI resource to deal with commercial enquiries. However, the dominant sector is agriculture.
Uruguay
Uruguay's key growth sectors are agriculture, food and beverages, tobacco and chemical industries.
Venezuela
Oil and gas, agriculture, construction, consumer goods, education and training, environment, financial services, ICT, power, security, tourism
Minimum Wage
I have been asked to reply.
National minimum wage statistical data are not held by reference to constituency.
New Zealand Butter
I have been asked to reply.
The amount of Customs Duty levied on imports of butter from New Zealand during the years specified was as follows:
£ 2004 1,910,121.86 2005 25,595,073.90 2006 25,292,635.52
Customs duties form part of the system of the European Communities’ Own Resources member states are allowed to retain, by way of collection costs, 25 per cent. of the amounts collected, the remaining 75 per cent. being transferred to the European Commission.
I have been asked to reply.
The EU has a system of import tariffs. There is a fixed tariff on butter. However, as a result of an agreement between New Zealand and the EU (negotiated initially at the time of the UK’s accession to the EEC), a current access quota allows New Zealand to import on an annual basis a set quantity of butter into the EU at a reduced tariff.
During 2006 some 42,397,648.81 kg of New Zealand butter with a value of £4,055,281.39 was declared in the UK. The Customs duty paid totalled £25,292,635.52 or an average of 0.88 euros paid per kilo, based on the net weight.
North West Regional Development
I have been asked to reply.
Thirty-five people are employed at Lancashire Learning and Skills Council. As part of its recent restructuring exercise, the LSC has established four new local partnership teams in Lancashire. These teams will be roughly coterminous with existing local authority boundaries, and will strengthen the LSC’s ability to work in partnership with local authorities and children’s trusts, including on 14-19; and to support wider economic development through stronger links between jobs, training and skills.
Post Office Network
(2) how much of the subsidy for the post office network announced on 14 December 2006 is for (a) restructuring, (b) modernisation, (c) social network subsidy, (d) new products and services and (e) other support initiatives; and how much of the funding announced will be in (i) cash and (ii) non-cash items.
[holding answer 23 January 2007]: The Government intend to provide up to £1.7 billion, subject to state aid clearance, between now and 2011 in support of the post office network.
A detailed breakdown of our funding is not yet available and will be dependent, following the conclusion of Government's national consultation, on how Post Office Limited intends to implement the necessary restructuring of the network to meet the framework set by Government's proposals.
Royal Mail
[holding answer 22 January 2007]: There is no timetable for an announcement on a decision. We hope to be able to announce a decision soon.
Northern Ireland
Antrim Area Hospital
Information on the ratio of nurses to patients is not available. United Hospitals HSS Trust has provided the following information on the ratio of nurses per bed in general medical and surgical wards.
(a) There are 1.13 nurses per bed in general Medical wards at Antrim Area hospital. The number of beds in each ward range from 24-27.
(b) There are 1.04 nurses per bed in general Surgical wards at Antrim Area hospital. There are 27 beds in each ward.
CCTV: Londonderry
Londonderry district command unit submitted an application for funding under the Town Centre CCTV Challenge Competition; as the application did not meet the eligibility criteria, the application was unsuccessful and applicants were advised accordingly.
There have been no discussions between the police in Londonderry and the Northern Ireland Office since August 2005 on resources for the installation of CCTV cameras at the Irish Street/Top of the Hill interface.
Child Sex Offenders
Northern Ireland court proceedings and sentencing data sources do not include victim information in relation to the commission of an offence. It is therefore possible only to provide information for those offences which, by their definition, identify a child as the victim. Average sentence lengths (in months) for those convicted of and given immediate custody for sexual offences against children are given in the table. Data cover the calendar years 1995 to 2004, the latter being the most up-to-date available at present.
It is not possible from the available data to determine the time served in custody by each individual sentenced.
Offence 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 20041 Gross indecency with child 11.8 4.0 0 21.0 0 18.4 18.0 13.5 27.6 16.7 Buggery with boy under 16 years 0 0 0 0 0 24.0 24.0 72.0 84.0 106.5 Buggery with girl 0 0 0 0 36.0 84.0 0 0 0 24.0 Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 0 24.0 60.0 0 10.0 23.0 108.0 48.0 60.0 20.0 Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 7.5 4.0 30.5 12.0 0 4.5 12.0 9.0 0 0 Incest by man with female under 14 years 0 0 0 0 0 90.0 84.0 0 0 0 Indecent assault on female child 0 0 0 46.0 54.0 19.6 14.5 15.0 16.0 18.0 Indecent assault on male child 0 0 0 21.0 48.0 20.0 12.0 0 0 48.0 Distributing indecent photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 7.5 14.0 36.0 0 12.0 Possessing indecent photographs of child(ren) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.0 Taking indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 0 84.0 8.0 24.0 7.0 Copying indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12.0 Making indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9.0 1 Excludes one person sentenced to Juvenile Justice Centre Order for indecent assault on male child. Note: Data are collated on the principal offence rule; thus only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
Correspondence
The six national standards for central Government were introduced to the Northern Ireland Office and its Executive Agencies from April 1997.
However, even though no longer formally monitored by the Cabinet Office, the Department continues to use the national standards as a way of ensuring it maintains a good customer service to the general public.
One of the standards is to answer letters quickly and clearly, within a departmental target of 15 working days. Performance for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 was as follows:
Number of letters received Percentage in target NIO Core 2,026 89 Northern Ireland Prison Service 1,079 98 Forensic Science Northern Ireland 113 98 The Compensation Agency 98,800 98 Public Prosecution Service 117 93 Youth Justice Agency 157 96
It should be noted that some parts of the Department impose a local target of replying to correspondence within 10 working days. In particular the Compensation Agency which has responded to a vast amount of correspondence during 2005.
The performance in relation to this target is monitored on a regular basis.
Hoax Emergency Calls
The numbers of hoax calls received by Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service for the last 10 calendar years are set out in the table as follows:
NI total 1997 6,192 1998 4,911 1999 4,172 2000 5,879 2001 7,444 2002 5,704 2003 5,873 2004 5,952 2005 5,079 2006 4,777
The numbers of hoax calls received by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), for each of the last eight financial years, are set out in the following table. NIAS cannot provide information prior to the 1999-2000 financial year. (Note: These figures include calls generated by Automated Fire Alarms).
NI total 1999-2000 1,554 2000-01 3,078 2001-02 3,402 2002-03 3,176 2003-04 3,436 2004-05 2,991 2005-06 6,403 2006-07 (9 months) 4,926
The numbers of hoax calls received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSN1) for the last five financial years are set out in the table as follows. Information prior to the 2002-03 financial year is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
NI total 2002-03 531 2003-04 681 2004-05 850 2005-06 927 2006-07 (to 21 January 2007) 1,198
Mid-Ulster Hospital
Information on the ratio of nurses to patients is not available. United Hospitals HSS Trust has provided the following information on the ratio of nurses per bed in general medical and surgical wards.
There are 1.15 nurses per bed for general medical and surgical wards at the Mid-Ulster Hospital. There is a total of three general wards, two of which deal with medical/cardiology patients and one which deals with medical and surgical patients. The number of beds in each of the three wards ranges from 18-25.
Ministerial Interview
The views I expressed in the New Statesman about the need to work through multinational institutions and the pride I expressed on the Government’s record since 1997 of trebling aid to Africa, leading the fight for trade justice, and lifting billions in debt off the poorest countries are shared across Government.
MRSA
The number of patient episodes of MRSA bacteraemia reported by year and where possible by hospital over the last five years are detailed in the following table.
Trust Hospital 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Altnagelvin Hospitals Altnagelvin Area Hospital 16 14 17 22 21 Waterside Hospital (ward 5) 0 0 0 0 0 Belfast City Hospitals Belfast City 144 46 53 247 39 NICCO (Belvoir Park) 1— 1 2 2— 0 Causeway Causeway Hospital 34 12 9 49 10 Dalriada Hospital 3— 0 0 4— 0 Robinson Memorial Hospital 3— 0 0 4— 0 Craigavon Area Hospital Group Craigavon Area Hospital 11 13 22 22 19 Lurgan Hospital 0 3 3 2 1 South Tyrone Hospital 0 0 0 0 0 Down Lisburn Downe Hospital 59 4 3 14 4 Lagan Valley Hospital 5— 2 9 3 3 Greenpark Forster Green Hospital 60 74 85 92 103 Musgrave Park Hospital 6— 7— 8— 9— 10— Mater Mater Infirmorum Hospital 8 20 25 9 23 Newry and Mourne Daisy Hill Hospital 5 4 10 5 3 Royal Group of Hospitals RBHSC 0 0 1 1 1 Royal Jubilee 0 0 4 2 2 Royal Victoria Hospital 30 27 37 41 46 Sperrin Lakeland Erne Hospital 3 0 10 3 2 Tyrone County Hospital 2 3 5 13 4 Ulster Community and Hospitals Ards Hospital 1113 0 1 0 0 Bangor Hospital 11— 1 0 0 0 Ulster Hospital 11— 24 22 34 25 United Hospitals Antrim Area Hospital 1225 28 32 1341 1437 Braid Valley Hospital 12— 0 1 13— 14— Mid Ulster Hospital 12— 1 8 13— 14— Moyle Hospital 12— 0 0 13— 14— Whiteabbey Hospital 12— 5 5 13— 14— Northern Ireland total 170 212 284 270 243 Note: Surveillance began 1 April 2001. Source: Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland (CDSC (NI)).
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Advertising
DEFRA (excluding executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies) spent a total of £108,000 with The Guardian media group, including online, advertorials and advertising features, in financial year 2005-06. The majority of this expenditure was on advertising vacancies.
DEFRA also purchases some media space via media buying agencies. Some of the expenditure by these agencies may have been with The Guardian media group. A figure for this expenditure is not available.
Carbon Neutral Woodchip Burners
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has one departmental building (Whittington road, Worcester) which uses a woodchip burner to provide heating.
Common Agricultural Policy
Agricultural policy in the EU generates transfers to producers from both consumers and taxpayers. An estimate of the cost of the Common Agricultural Policy can be obtained by combining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) consumer support estimates for the EU with data on agricultural expenditure from the EU budget.
The OECD also compiles estimates of national expenditures on agricultural policies within the EU.
The following table sets out estimates of these costs per head of population, as requested:
Cost of the CAP per head National expenditures per head 20051 210 n/a 2001 215 352 1996 216 38 19863 319 27 1 EU 25 (provisional) 2 Average 1999-2001 3 EU 12
Correspondence
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 11 January 2007, Official Report, column 687W.
Departmental Expenditure
We provide general advice to public bodies under the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative to improve environmental performance and reduce waste in public sector catering, This includes a case study on the PSFPI website—‘Inn The Park’, The Royal Parks (London)—which gives as one of the steps taken to improve environmental performance:
“Plastic-bottled water has been phased out with the introduction of the drinking ‘fountain’, reducing waste and cost”
URL:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/casestudies/royalparks.htm.
We are looking at providing more specific advice.
Environment Agency and English Nature Expenditure
English Nature’s finance systems did not permit the recording of expenditure by local authority area and therefore this information is not available.
The Environment Agency's (EA) north-west region central area covers most of Lancashire and parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchment, and covers a number of functions. The EA is not required to, and does not, keep records of sums expended in local authority districts. Therefore, the information requested is not available.
The southern region of the Environment Agency (EA) covers most of the geographical areas of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and records its expenditure in relation to those areas. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchments. Therefore, the information is not available in the form specified in the question.
The southern region of the Environment Agency (EA) covers most of the geographical areas of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and records its expenditure in relation to those areas. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchments and covers a number of functions. The EA is not required to, and does not, keep records of sums expended in sub-areas or local authority districts. Therefore, the information requested is not available.
[holding answer 23 January 2007]: The southern region of the Environment Agency (EA) covers most of the geographical areas of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and records its expenditure in relation to those areas. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchments and covers a number of functions. Therefore, the information is not available in the form specified in the question.
However, information is available on flood risk management expenditure for two specific projects in the Faversham area. These include the Medway and Swale Estuary Shoreline Management Plan at £71,000 for 2006-07 and £108,000 for 2007-08, and the North Kent Rivers Catchment Flood Management Plan at £23,000 for 2006-07 and £71,000 for 2007-08.
English Nature’s finance systems did not permit the recording of expenditure by local authority area and therefore this information is not available.
Food Surpluses: European Union
At the end of the 2006 public storage financial year (30 September 2006), EU public stocks were 13,476,812 tonnes of cereal, rice, sugar and milk products and 3,529,002 hectolitres of alcohol/wine.
The individual quantities of these products are listed in the table.
Expenditure for intervention operations in the UK during the budget year 2006 was £1,380,911.70.
Receipts of £1,892,043.40 were gained from the sale of intervention products leading to a net gain of £511,131.70.
Expenditure for intervention operations during the budget year 2006 for the EU was €1053.5 million.
Receipts of €452.6 million were gained from sales of intervention products leading to an overall total expenditure of €600.9 million.
These figures are provisional and take into account aid, storage, sales and depreciation.
A figure for how much the UK contributes towards these specific costs is not available as the UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole rather than to individual components of it.
At the end of the 2006 public storage financial year (30 September 2006), EU public stocks were as follows:
Product Quantity (tonnes) Cereals 12,184, 741 Rice 61,589 Olive Oil 0 Milk sector (including butter) 117,831 Sugar 1,112,651 Beef meat 0 Total 13,476,812
Product Quantity (hectolitres) Wine/Alcohol 3,529,002 Total 3,529,002 Source: European Commission Public Storage Flash Report of 11 December 2006
Furniture
The Department’s expenditure for furniture manufactured by British firms is as follows:
£ 2000-01 634,715.24 2001-02 820,731.86 2002-03 381,676.10 2003-04 793,109.02 2004-05 1,800,549.93 2005-06 1,863,904.78
Orangutans
I have held no recent discussions with EU colleagues on this issue.
Public Appointments
The following table details the public appointments made by DEFRA to former Ministers since the Department was formed in 2001.
Body Former Minister Dates Water Services Regulation Authority Lord Whitty Appointed in March 2006 but resigned to take up post with Environment Agency as below Environment Agency Board Lord Whitty 18 September 2006 to 17 September 2009 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Baroness Hayman 1999 to July 2006 resigned due to election as Speaker for the House of Lords
Public Finance Contracts
The core Department is currently undertaking one private finance initiative (PFI) project to provide office facilities at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge. There are, however, a number other PFI and public private partnership (PPP) projects being undertaken by DEFRA’s sponsored bodies i.e. non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and public corporations. The information requested about these projects is set out in the following table. The total cost of each PFI contract reflects the sum of the unitary charge payments which are projections to the end of the contract, and are conditional on the performance of the private sector contractor. These costs include not only the repayment of the capital value of the project but also service and maintenance charges.
The Department also provides support in the form of PFI credits to allow local authorities to enter into PFI contracts to provide waste recycling and management facilities. However, as the Department itself has not entered into these contracts and they are between the local authority and the service provider, we have not provided information about these deals.
Organisation Project Assets transferred to private sector Total cost of contract Estimated cost of traditional procurement over the life of contract Environment Agency Broadland Flood Alleviation Project None Total payments estimated at £167.4 million (inc VAT) reflecting current prices and inflation for the life of the project. £155 million (inc VAT) at March1998 prices but £209 million based on indexation rates. Environment Agency Pevensey Bay Sea Defences None Total payments estimated at £35.4 million The present value of the initial contract in1998 was estimated at £15.8 million compared to its traditional procurement cost of £19.2 million. Since the coverage of the contract was extended in 2002 to include another frontage, no comparable present day cash figures are available. DEFRA Office Facilities at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge Building and land at Brooklands Avenue. Value £28.2 million. Total payments estimated at £92.3 million Information not available. Natural England (successor to Countryside Agency) SPIRIT IT System None £1.3 million Information not available.
Organisation Project Assets transferred to private sector Total cost of contract Estimated cost of traditional procurement over the life of contract British Waterways Waterside Pub Partnership Property worth £13.9 million as at November 2006. Assets worth £2.9 million are planned to be sold in the future This PPP is a partnership agreement and does not have a priced contract in place. No comparison made with traditional procurement costs. British Waterways Wood Wharf (London) development None at present but assets worth £57.2 million are planned to be sold in the future. As above As above British Waterways ISIS (development of river and canal side property) Property worth £15.4 million as at November 2006. Assets worth £52.2 million are planned to be sold in the future. As above As above
Rain Forests
The UK Government are pursuing rainforest protection through a number of measures that include research on improving forest management, banning trade in endangered species and reducing trade in illegally logged timber products.
On reducing the trade in illegal timber from rainforests, and all other forest types, the Government are working to implement the EU Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation, adopted in 2005. This allows the EU to enter into Voluntary Partnership Agreements with timber producing countries, and will include a licensing system to identify legal timber products for export to the EU.
Collaboration continues with other major consumer countries in the G8 (plus China) and with the private sector. In particular, the UK Government’s timber procurement policy, which requires all timber supplied to have derived from legally harvested trees, has become a beacon for other Governments to tackle illegal logging through voluntary consumer action.
Developing countries currently have no obligations to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, although they can contribute to global emission reductions by hosting projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The CDM includes afforestation and reforestation projects, but not deforestation, because of concerns that forestry protection projects would displace the deforestation elsewhere, with little or no net gain.
Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations, Papua New Guinea and the Coalition of Rainforest Nations (CRN), and subsequently Brazil, have proposed that developing countries might participate in climate change agreements by voluntary targets to reduce deforestation below national (rather than project specific) baselines.
Achievement relative to a national reference level would take account of any displacement of deforestation within a country.
At the launch of the Stern Review in October 2006, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK would be working in partnership with a number of partners to explore ways of mobilising international resources to assist developing countries in sustainable forestry management. These partners include Brazil, the CRN, other developing countries, Germany (as Presidency of the G8) the EU and the World Bank. We are currently in talks with Germany and developing countries to establish how best to take this forward.
Furthermore, the UK Government are committed to working with other countries to promote the conservation of the world’s wildlife, for example, through our membership of agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) data shows that about 13 million hectares of the world's forests are lost annually due to deforestation. Brazil (3,103) and Indonesia (1,871) demonstrated the largest net forest loss (1,000 hectares per year) between 2000 and 2005. However, the net rate of loss is slowing down, thanks to new planting and natural expansion of existing forests. A range of initiatives introduced by Brazil are thought to have reduced deforestation rates in the Amazon by an estimated 31 per cent. in 2004-05 and 30 per cent. in 2005-06.
No single action can stop illegal logging. Combating it requires the simultaneous implementation of many policies and measures in and between those countries that produce timber and those that import it. In 2002, the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia that commits both Governments to work together to tackle illegal logging and the associated trade in timber between the two countries. Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) legislation was adopted under the UK Presidency of the European Union (EU) in December 2005. This will allow the EU to enter into agreements with developing countries that export timber.
In January 2006, new funding of £24 million over five years to tackle illegal logging and underlying governance problems was announced. This will focus on tropical countries in Africa and Asia.
Action to reduce emissions from deforestation is not currently included under the Kyoto Protocol. This is because of the risk of such projects simply resulting in displacement of deforestation, to no net environmental gain. Proposals recently put forward by Brazil, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Costa Rica, supported by the Coalition of Rainforest Nations, measure reductions in emissions relative to a national baseline, rather than a project-specific one. This greatly reduces the risk of displacement. The UK welcomes both proposals, and is actively working with the EU and international negotiating partners to secure a successful outcome on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries at the UN climate negotiations in Bali, in December 2007.
Rats
There is no specific duty on water companies in relation to the control of rats in sewers. A joint protocol, published in 1999 by the Local Government Association and Water UK, set out arrangements for closer working between water companies and local authorities on rodent infestations in sewers. However, sewer baiting is a matter for individual water companies.
Royal Mail
From information held centrally, the core Department has spent the following sums with Royal Mail and Parcelforce:
Royal Mail Parcelforce 2001-02 3,705,225.54 23,419.49 2002-03 3,687,032.30 21,576.06 2003-04 2,299,632.72 11,718.29 2004-05 1,485,721.13 4,127.73 2005-06 923,440.13 4,937.14 Total 12,101,051.82 65,778.71
The core Department does not hold information centrally for what its Executive Agencies may have spent with either organisation.
Rural Economy
The regional development agencies (RDAs) in England were given the strategic lead for tourism in the regions, and have been tasked with ensuring the appropriate delivery structures are in place. Their remit includes rural areas as well as urban. Defra contributes to the RDA ‘single pot’ to support such activity. VisitBritain was established as the national lead tourism marketing organisation, promoting the UK overseas, and England domestically, including rural areas.
A high quality environment is a key part of the visitor experience in rural areas and Defra has a wide range of policies which support this including agri-environment schemes, landscape conservation and waterways. Defra sponsors the three major navigation authorities—British Waterways, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority. It provides them with financial support in their important work of maintaining and improving canals and waterways. The Government recognise that waterways act as a catalyst for regeneration. For example, British Waterways has around 1,500 miles of rural waterways and has been involved with over £10 billion of waterside regeneration. In 2006-007, the in-year cut to Defra's navigation bodies will have no demonstrable effect on rural economies.
Set-aside
The data requested are not available as payments against set-aside entitlements are not separately identified from other single payment scheme (SPS) expenditure at EU level. Despite the introduction of the SPS, set-aside was retained as a production control measure as part of the 2003 common agricultural policy (CAP) reforms. The Government have already signalled their view to our EU partners that constraints on production such as set-aside should be eliminated as part of the 2008 CAP reform ‘health check’.
Single Farm Payments
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) does not fine farmers. However for a variety of reasons penalties can be applied to a Single Payment Scheme (and associated schemes) application.
As at 15 November 2006 25,551 penalties have been applied to 2005 scheme year claims, affecting 19,673 Single Business Identifiers, equating to deductions of £15,090,280. In addition a further 1,823 claims were penalised owing to non-compliances found during inspections.
For the 2006 scheme year the RPA has only made a small number of payments and a figure of the number of penalties applied is not available.
Sugar Imports
The European Union (EU) imposes customs duties on imports of sugar in order to protect the minimum prices which are offered to EU growers and processors under the common organisation of the market. The rates of import duty vary; for white and raw sugar they are €0.419 per kilogram, or €0.339 per kilogram where the sugar is imported for refining.
In principle, these duty rates apply to imports from all third countries but some countries are eligible for preferential terms. Currently, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries may supply 1.3 million tonnes to the EU, duty-free, and at the EU market price. However, under the Everything But Arms agreement, the duty that would otherwise be payable by the least developed countries is being progressively reduced and will be completely suspended from 2009.
My Department has not made an assessment of the balance between world sugar production and consumption.
Tobacco Production: European Union
The European Union (EU) adopted budget for tobacco premiums in 2006 was €920 million and the provisional adopted budget for 2007 is €316.6 million. The main beneficiaries of the EU subsidy have been Greece and Italy.
European Community produced tobacco is classified so that payments (known as “premia”) are made on eight groups. Premia are paid only when a standard contract has been concluded between the producer and a first processor for tobacco grown in recognised production zones. However, there is a quota system with a Community limit of 350,600 tonnes (divided by member state and variety group). Producers may not conclude contracts for tobacco beyond their quota, so any tobacco grown beyond quota will only fetch market prices and no premium.
Following a successful reform of the EU tobacco regime in 2004, direct support will cease in 2010.
The most recent figures (for 2005) show that some 53 per cent. of the 364,000 tonnes of raw tobacco produced in the European Union (EU) was exported to countries outside the EU.
There is no export refund system.
The tobacco regime was introduced in 1970 to support member states who have traditionally grown the crop in geographically disadvantaged areas, maintain farmers’ incomes and reduce surpluses by adapting production to market needs.
The UK does not produce tobacco and has always been critical of the support regime because of the cost and health implications. We believe that subsidies are at odds with the Community-sponsored Europe Against Cancer programme.
The successful reform of the EU tobacco regime in 2004 introduced ‘decoupling’, which means that the direct link between production and support is broken. This will apply progressively until 2010 when direct support for tobacco will cease.
Trade Union Funding
The Department does not fund individual trade unions. DEFRA does grant its trade union representatives reasonable time off and facilities to carry out union duties, activities and training in accordance with their statutory rights; and remains committed to doing so.
Translation Services
No documents were translated in 2002 but in the last four years, DEFRA’s translation section has arranged the translation of the following documents for people in the UK who do not speak English:
Amendment to paragraph of “EC Quality Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables—A Retailer’s Guide” (2003)
Leaflet entitled “If in doubt, leave it out” (re illegal imports) (2003)
Leaflet on Manual Harvest Workers (2003)
Gangmaster leaflet (2004)
Extracts from Agriculture and Horticulture Act (2004)
Leaflet entitled “Waste—duty of care” (2004)
Leaflet entitled “Food on the Go” (2005)
Two dry cleaning leaflets—reminders about Solvent Emissions Directive (2006)
Summary leaflet—Controls on the handling of waste (2006)
The cost per language in each of these years is as follows:
2003 2004 2005 2006 Arab 1,066 235 0 0 Bengali 1,066 0 1,045 504 Chinese Simplified 595 0 0 0 Chinese Traditional 665 1,004 1,045 424 Farsi 0 235 0 0 Greek 0 0 0 65 Gujarati 1,136 0 1,045 65 Hindi 1,136 0 0 0 Kurdish 0 470 0 0 Polish 94 0 0 0 Portuguese 73 0 0 0 Punjabi 1,136 0 1,045 0 Russian 72 0 0 0 Turkish 70 0 1,045 431 Urdu 1,136 2,555 1,045 504
DEFRA’s translation section provides a translation service from and into English for staff in the Department’s core divisions and its Executive agencies. Translations into English include correspondence, health conditions, draft EU regulations and scientific articles. Translations into a variety of foreign languages include correspondence and health certificates, plus some leaflets aimed at non-English speakers in the UK. In addition, publications, consultations and letters are regularly translated into Welsh under DEFRA’s Welsh Language Scheme, as set out on our website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/welshlangscheme/index.htm.
Wild Birds: Imports
The European Union has voted for an indefinite ban on animal health grounds. It can be repealed or amended if, for example, there is evidence of a change in the risk associated with importing disease.
Education and Skills
A-Levels: Romford
In 2005-06, 558 students aged 16-18 completed their A level (or equivalent qualification) studies in institutions located in the Romford constituency. There are no data available on the number of these young people who entered full-time employment at this local level.
Child Care
Information is not available in the form requested.
The available information about population estimates for three and four-year-olds in each London borough is shown in table 1. Information about the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in each London borough is shown in table 2.
London boroughs Population estimates for three and four-year-olds Inner London Camden 4,800 Hackney 6,700 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,900 Haringey 6,100 Islington 4,100 Kensington and Chelsea 3,900 Lambeth 6,800 Lewisham 6,300 Newham 8,300 Southwark 6,600 Tower Hamlets 6,300 Wandsworth 6,400 Westminster 4,500 Outer London Barking and Dagenham 4,800 Barnet 8,300 Bexley 5,000 Brent 6,600 Bromley 7,100 Croydon 8,200 Ealing 7,300 Enfield 7,400 Greenwich 6,100 Harrow 4,900 Havering 4,900 Hillingdon 6,100 Hounslow 5,300 Kingston upon Thames 3,400 Merton 4,600 Redbridge 6,100 Richmond upon Thames 4,500 Sutton 4,000 Waltham Forest 5,900 1 ONS population estimates at December 2005, rounded to the nearest 100. 2 ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability.
London boroughs Number of part-time funded places filled by three and four-year-olds Inner London Camden 4,065 Hackney 5,495 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,460 Haringey 5,505 Islington 4,160 Kensington and Chelsea 2,380 Lambeth 6,200 Lewisham 5,650 Newham 7,600 Southwark 6,210 Tower Hamlets 5,790 Wandsworth 6,070 Westminster 3,400 Outer London Barking and Dagenham 4,225 Barnet 7,055 Bexley 4,720 Brent 5,785 Bromley 6,110 Croydon 7,435 Ealing 7,115 Enfield 6,395 Greenwich 5,875 Harrow 4,020 Havering 4,425 Hillingdon 6,115 Hounslow 4,575 Kingston upon Thames 3,050 Merton 4,255 Redbridge 6,045 Richmond upon Thames 4,005 Sutton 3,675 Waltham Forest 5,865 1 A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
Data on eligibility and take up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the London Childcare Affordability Pilot, the child care element of the working tax credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS child care allowances.
Information is not available in the form requested.
At December 2005 the Office for National Statistics shows Coventry having a population of 7,2001 three and four-year-olds, and the 2006 early years and annual schools censuses show the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in the Coventry local authority area was 6,5002.
Data on eligibility and take-up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the child care element of the working tax credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS child care allowances.
1 ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability.
2 The number of children benefiting from some form of free early education can exceed the number of free part-time early education places taken up by children as a place may be taken up by more than one child.
Information is not available in the form requested.
At December 2005 the Office for National Statistics shows East Sussex having a population of 10,0001 three and four-year-olds, and the 2006 Early Years and Annual Schools Censuses show the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in the East Sussex local authority area was 8,5002.
Data on eligibility and take-up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the child care element of the Working Tax Credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS childcare allowances.
1 ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability.
2 The number of children benefiting from some form of free early education can exceed the number of free part-time early education places taken up by children as a place may be taken up by more than one child.
Information is not available in the form requested.
At December 2005 the Office for National Statistics shows Chorley parliamentary constituency having a population of 2,2001 three and four-year-olds, and the 2006 Early Years and Annual Schools Censuses show the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in the Chorley parliamentary constituency was 2,0002.
Data on eligibility and take-up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS childcare allowances.
1 ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability.
2 The number of children benefiting from some form of free early education can exceed the number of free part-time early education places taken up by children as a place may be taken up by more than one child.
Church Music
The national curriculum for music sets out that children must be taught about music through a range of live and recorded music from different times and cultures including music from the British Isles, the “Western classical” tradition, folk, jazz and popular genres, and by well-known composers and performers. Religious education syllabuses are drawn up locally and it is a matter for individual schools to decide within this framework if they wish to address the role of church music. Choir schools in the independent and maintained sectors are pre-eminent in supporting church music and maintaining our rich choral heritage.
Education Maintenance Allowance
Expenditure on education maintenance allowance since its inception in 1999 is shown in the following table.
Cost (£ million) 1999-2000 11 2000-01 52 2001-02 109 2002-03 120 2003-04 142 2004-05 260 2005-06 406.6
Education Supervision Orders
The Department does not collect data relating to education supervision orders.
Further Education
Figures for those participating in further education (FE) funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) can be derived from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). The FE ILR was collated for the first time in 2002-03 and figures are given from that time.
The following table shows the total number of learners aged 19 and above in FE in local LSC areas within the east Midlands since 2002/03 based on home postcode of the learner. Numbers of learners nationally are presented for comparison.
Area/year Adult learners in FE Derbyshire 2002-03 86,040 2003-04 83,700 2004-05 84,990 2005-06 74,620 Nottinghamshire 2002-03 91,130 2003-04 96,210 2004-05 93,200 2005-06 71,840 Lincolnshire and Rutland 2002-03 50,790 2003-04 54,910 2004-05 51,540 2005-06 36,450 Leicestershire 2002-03 77,340 2003-04 77,170 2004-05 77,240 2005-06 63,270 Northamptonshire 2002-03 37,520 2003-04 37,650 2004-05 39,300 2005-06 31,530 East Midlands 2002-03 342,820 2003-04 349,640 2004-05 346,270 2005-06 277,720 England 2002-03 3,510,810 2003-04 3,456,100 2004-05 3,476,930 2005-06 2,884,780 Note: Figures rounded to nearest 10. Source: 2005-06 figures breakdown figures reported in ILR/SFR11, Further Education, Work-Based Learning and Adult and Community Learning—Learner Numbers in England: 2005-06; 2004-05 and 2003-04 derived from figures reported in ILR/SFR08; 2002-03 figures derived from figures reported in ILR/SFR05.
Further Education Colleges
There are well established procedures, set out in regulations (Statutory Instrument No: 2001/782), for the publication of proposals to dissolve a further education corporation. Where a proposal is published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), this includes a requirement to consult. The Further Education and Training Bill retains the requirement for regulations, which prescribe both the type of information to be included in the proposal and the manner in which it must be published. This ensures those who have an interest in the proposal are informed and have an opportunity to make representations.
Proposals must be published for a period of at least one calendar month. Parents, parent associations and staff may take part in the consultation process. Any representations received must be taken into account by the LSC before a decision is made to dissolve a further education corporation.
The White Paper “Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances” set out our plans for greater flexibility and simplification of the FE system. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is best placed to ensure that the most appropriate arrangements for the delivery of such provision are in place in each area. While the Secretary of State currently decides whether to incorporate and dissolve further education corporations, this decision is based on a proposal developed by the LSC following consultation with the local community. By transferring these powers to the LSC we expect the process of establishing or dissolving institutions to be simpler, quicker and less bureaucratic.
In future, the Secretary of State would intervene in these processes only where he considered the Council was acting unreasonably in relation to its statutory duties.
The Department’s records indicate that the power, under Section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, for the Secretary of State to remove members of a governing body of a further education corporation has not been exercised.
This is a reserve power to be used only in exceptional circumstances where all other options have failed. We believe that having the power available and the possibility of it being exercised has been the trigger, in some cases, for governing bodies to act themselves.
The following table sets out all Further Education Colleges closed (dissolved) each year since May 1997. The Secretary of State made the decision in each case, as is currently required at Section 27 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. However, the decisions were based on proposals developed by the Further Education Funding Council and, subsequently, the Learning and Skills Council following consultation with the local community.
In all but one instance (noted on the table), the college corporations were dissolved as part of a merger between two or more existing colleges. The dissolution of a college corporation does not necessarily imply the closure of a site or a reduction in the level of further education provision available.
Number College name Date 1 Worcestershire College of Agriculture and Horticulture 10 May 1997 2 South Park Sixth Form College 1 August 1997 3 Hyde Clarendon College 18 February 1998 4 Airedale and Wharfedale College 1 August 1998 5 Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture 1 August 1998 6 Basford Hall College 1 August 1998 7 East Birmingham College 1 August 1998 8 North Bolton College 1 August 1998 9 South College, Bolton 1 August 1998 10 York Sixth Form College 1 April 1999 11 High Pavement Sixth Form College 1 April 1999 12 Durham College of Agriculture and Horticulture 1 June 1999 13 East Durham Community College 1 June 1999 14 Greenhill College 1 June 1999 15 Harrow and Weald College 1 June 1999 16 Charles Keene College of Further Education 1 August 1999 17 Leicester South Fields College 1 August 1999 18 Holme Lacey College 1 August 1999 19 Arnold and Carlton College 1 September 1999 20 Kirkley Hall College 1 January 2000 21 Phoenix College 1 April 2000 22 The Rutland College 1 August 2000 23 Hendon College 1 August 2000 24 College of Care and Early Education 1 August 2000 25 Melton Mowbray College 1 September 2000 26 Kingsway College 1 September 2000 27 Trowbridge College 1 November 2000 28 Chippenham College 1 November 2000 29 Lackham College 1 November 2000 30 Walford College 1 January 2001 31 West Oxfordshire College 31 March 2001 32 St. Austell College 1 August 2001 33 Basildon College 1 August 2001 34 Thurrock College 1 August 2001 35 Rowley Regis College 1 August 2001 36 Shena Simon College 1 September 2001 37 Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology 1 November 2001 38 Lewes Tertiary College 1 November 2001 39 Soundwell College 1 January 2002 40 Ealing Tertiary College 1 January 2002 41 Coventry Technical College 1 February 2002 42 Broomfield College 1 March 2002 43 Mackworth College 1 March 2002 44 Derbyshire Tertiary College 1 March 2002 45 East Yorkshire College 1 March 2002 46 Brinsbury College 1 August 2002 47 Teesside Tertiary College 1 August 2002 48 North Derbyshire Tertiary College1 31 December 2002 49 Merrist Wood College 1 August 2003 50 The Rycotewood College 1 August 2003 51 Oxfordshire College of Further Education 1 August 2003 52 North Oxfordshire College and School of Art 1 August 2003 53 Rugby College of Further Education 1 August 2003 54 North Birmingham College 1 August 2003 55 Park Sixth Form College 1 November 2003 56 Daventry Tertiary College 1 August 2004 57 Rother Valley College 1 August 2004 58 Cannington College 1 September 2004 59 North Tyneside College 1 January 2005 60 Tynemouth College 1 January 2005 61 Crawley College 1 August 2005 62 Haywards Heath College 1 August 2005 63 North Area College 1 January 2006 64 The Isle College 1 April 2006 65 People’s College, Nottingham 1 June 2006 66 Josiah Mason Sixth Form College 1 August 2006 67 Widnes and Runcorn Sixth Form College 1 August 2006 68 Newark and Sherwood 1 January 2007 1 Closed other than as a result of merger
The following table sets out all Further Education Colleges established each year since May 1997. The Secretary of State made the final decision in each case, as is currently required at Section 16 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. However, the decisions were based on proposals developed by the Further Education Funding Council and, subsequently, the Learning and Skills Council following consultation with the local community.
In all but two instances (noted on the table), the new colleges were established as part of a merger between two or more existing colleges.
Number College name Date 1 Bolton Sixth Form College 1 August 1998 2 East Durham and Houghall Community College 1 June 1999 3 Harrow College 1 June 1999 4 Leicester College 1 August 1999 5 Wiltshire College 1 November 2000 6 Thurrock and Basildon College 1 August 2001 7 Brooke House Sixth Form College1 1 October 2001 8 Sussex Downs College 1 November 2001 9 Derby College 1 March 2002 10 Longley Park Sixth Form College1 1 November 2002 11 Oxford and Cherwell College 1 August 2003 12 Tyne Metropolitan College 1 January 2005 13 Central Sussex College 1 August 2005 1 Established other than as a result of merger
The Framework for Excellence (FfE) and the associated strategies announced in the White Paper ‘Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances’ will be developed and implemented as part of a coherent and evolving package of reform. FfE should help to improve the quality of post-16 provision and support better-informed choices and decisions by employers and individuals, thereby contributing to better and more relevant outcomes for end-users, increasing skill levels in the workforce and increased productivity.
The framework is in an early stage of development and it is not possible to estimate potential savings in administration at this stage. However, FfE will enable FE institutions to use a single performance management framework, with common sets of data and performance indicators instead of a number of different frameworks. Thus FfE will be more streamlined than existing arrangements and will reduce bureaucracy.
GCSEs
The information requested is in the following table.
Pupils aged 15 Pupils at the end of key stage 4 Number (Thousand) Percentage Number (Thousand) Percentage Achieving 5+ A*-C 379.6 58.5 382.4 59.2 Achieving 5+ A*-C including English and mathematics 294.1 45.3 295.9 45.8 Achieving A*-C in English, mathematics and science 264.1 40.7 265.9 41.2 Achieving A*-C in English, mathematics, science and a modern foreign language 166.9 25.7 168.1 26.0 Achieving 5+ A*-C including English, mathematics and science 263.5 40.9 265.2 41.1 Achieving 5+ A*-C including English, mathematics, science and a modern foreign language 166.9 25.7 168.1 26.0
Higher Education Funding Council
The following table sets out the percentage of HEFCE’s budget which was spent directly on the provision of Higher Education (HE) in Further Education Colleges (FECs).
As percent of grants to all institutions As percent of grants to all institutions and other bodies 2001-02 3.1 3.1 2002-03 2.8 2.7 2003-04 2.6 2.5 2004-05 2.5 2.4 2005-06 2.5 2.5
These figures exclude indirectly funded HE provision in FE Colleges financed under franchising arrangements with Higher Education Institutions. While the position varies between individual institutions, FE Colleges have in recent years tended to receive higher than average percentage increases in their budgets as a result of our commitment to increase and widen participation and have benefited from the allocation of Additional Student Numbers and the widening participation premium in the grant distribution formulae adopted by HEFCE as a result.
Higher Education: Havering
The latest information, showing all entrants to higher education from Havering local authority, is given in the following table. Information is not held centrally on the number of students from Havering who study abroad.
Country of study Number of entrants England 1,975 Wales 20 Scotland 10 Northern Ireland 0 1 Covers all entrants to undergraduate courses from schools, further education colleges and other types of education institutions. Notes: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis and are rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Learning and Skills Council
We have no plans to change the membership of the Learning and Skills Council as a consequence of the proposed powers in the Further Education and Training Bill for the closure and establishment of further education colleges. However, as part of the streamlining of the LSC to make it more streamlined and responsive, clause 1 of the Bill proposes a reduction in the minimum size of the National Council. As part of its normal business the LSC reviews, from time to time, the composition of its council. The provision in the Bill will give the LSC flexibility when it carries out these reviews. The LSC National Council's membership reflects both its role for the consumers of the learning system—learners and employers—as well as for those who deliver it.
Legal Advice
The Department for Education and Skills spent £369,647 in 2001-02, £172,043 in 2002-03, £275,523 in 2003-04, £243,286 in 2004-05 and £250,815 in 2005-06 on external legal services (i.e. advice and some litigation services). The figures have been rounded to the nearest pound.
New Schools
The Department for Education and Skills does not collect information on new schools built by local authorities, in support of our policies of devolving decision-making to the local level and minimising bureaucratic burden. However, we estimate that since 1997, 800 new schools have been built around the country.
This estimate includes information on the numbers, by local authority, of new schools (including replacement schools) built in recent years through the academies programme and the private finance initiative, which is also renewing and refurbishing many existing school buildings. Additionally, in the voluntary aided sector, we have information on new schools approved and built since 2001-02, although these figures under-represent the number of new voluntary aided schools opened, as they do not include where a new school is open, but all elements of construction are not yet completed. Nor do the figures include new voluntary aided schools approved in earlier years but completed in or after 2001-02, where the records are not readily accessible.
This information is provided in the following table. We will collect this information systematically in Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital Programme.
Private finance initiative Academies Voluntary aided schools Total Barking and Dagenham 1 — — 1 Barnet — 1 — 1 Bexley — 1 — 1 Birmingham 8 — 1 9 Blackburn with Darwen — — 1 1 Bolton 1 — — 1 Brent 1 1 — 2 Bristol 4 1 — 5 Calderdale 5 — — 5 Camden 1 — — 1 Cheshire 4 — 1 5 Cornwall 2 — — 2 Coventry — — 1 1 Darlington — — 1 1 Derby 5 — — 5 Derbyshire 4 — — 4 Devon 5 — 1 6 Doncaster — 1 — 1 Dorset 1 — 1 2 Dudley 2 — — 2 Ealing 4 1 — 5 East Riding of Yorkshire 2 — — 2 East Sussex 4 — 1 5 Enfield 2 — — 2 Essex 2 — — 2 Hackney — 1 — 1 Haringey 1 — — 1 Harrow 2 — — 2 Herefordshire 1 — — 1 Hillingdon 1 1 1 3 Kent 2 1 2 5 Kingston upon Hull 1 — — 1 Lambeth 1 1 — 2 Lancashire 1 — 1 2 Leeds 15 1 — 16 Leicester City — — 1 1 Lincolnshire 7 — — 7 Liverpool 16 1 — 17 Manchester 2 1 — 3 Middlesbrough — 2 1 3 Milton Keynes — — 1 1 Newcastle upon Tyne 6 — — 6 Newham 3 — — 3 Norfolk — — 1 1 North Tyneside 4 — — 4 North Yorkshire 4 — — 4 Northamptonshire 1 1 1 3 Nottinghamshire 2 — — 2 Oxfordshire — — 1 1 Portsmouth 1 — — 1 Reading — 1 1 2 Redbridge 1 — — 1 Redcar and Cleveland 5 — — 5 Richmond upon Thames 2 — — 2 Rotherham 7 — — 7 Salford — 1 — 1 Sandwell 5 1 — 6 Sheffield 6 — 1 7 Solihull — 1 — 1 South Tyneside 1 — — 1 Southampton 3 — — 3 Southwark — 1 — 1 Staffordshire 1 — 1 2 Stockton-on-Tees 2 — — 2 Stoke-on-Trent 1 — — 1 Sunderland 1 — 1 2 Surrey — — 1 1 Swindon 2 — 1 3 Tameside 3 — — 3 Telford and Wrekin 1 — 1 2 Torbay 2 — — 2 Tower Hamlets 1 — 1 2 Walsall 1 1 — 2 Waltham Forest 2 — — 2 Wandsworth — — 1 1 West Sussex 3 — — 3 Wigan — — 1 1 Wiltshire 3 — 1 4 Wirral 3 — — 3 York 2 — — 2 Total 187 22 29 238
Place 2Be
Place 2Be currently receives £729,000 through the children, young people and families grant. Criteria for organisations supported through this grant require them to have agreed performance indicators and targets that are monitored and evaluated on a six monthly basis. The Department has not made a separate analysis of the effectiveness, value for money or future role of Place 2Be.
Polytechnics
Higher Education Institutions, as autonomous bodies, are responsible for the standards of their own qualifications and the quality of teaching. The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education conducts regular audits of the management of quality in each institution. Since 1997, QAA audit reports have shown consistently high ratings on quality and standards across all Higher Education Institutions (including ‘post 92’ institutions).
Teenage Pregnancy Unit
(2) if he will break down by main budget heading the expenditure of the teenage pregnancy unit in 2005-06;
(3) what the job description is of each employee at the teenage pregnancy unit.
[holding answer 23 January 2007]: The following table sets out the budget allocated to deliver the Government’s teenage pregnancy strategy, since it was launched in 1999. The table separates out the amounts spent on: local implementation (paid through a local implementation grant to each top-tier local authority in England); and the amount retained by the teenage pregnancy unit (TPU) to pay for aspects of the strategy that are best managed centrally, such as funding for the national media campaign and commissioning of research projects).
Financial year Local implementation Central costs Total 1999-2000 4.5 0.5 5 2000-01 11.5 4.5 16 2001-02 16 5 21 2002-03 16 5 21 2003-04 133 7 40 2004-05 133 7 40 2005-06 133 5 38 2006-07 29.5 5.5 35 2007-082 29.5 5.5 35 1Budgets in years 2003-04 to 2005-06 included funding for the Sure Start Plus pilots. 2Provisional
The budget breakdown for 2005-06 is presented in the following table.
Budget Amount (£ million) Local implementation (including Sure Start Plus pilots) 33 Regional co-ordinators 0.9 Media campaign 2.3 Research 0.1 PSHE training programme for community nurses 0.8 Miscellaneous (staff-related costs, conferences, Independent Advisory Group) 0.9 Total 38
The job titles for the six civil servants who currently make up the TPU are:
1. National programme manager
2. National policy manager
3. National support manager
4. TPU data analyst
5. Support for local implementation
6. Admin officer
Youth Opportunity Funds
The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and the Youth Capital Fund (YCF) were announced in the Green Paper “Youth Matters” and have been available to local authorities from April 2006. A total of £115 million is available for both funds over the period 2006-08.
Definitive data on participation across England will be available at the end of this financial year. The data that we have so far shows that more than 9,000 young people have been involved in making decisions about how the two funds are being used, and that around 24,000 have been involved in developing and submitting bids for the funding.
A combined total of £509,128 is available for YOF and YCF in East Sussex for each of the two years during the period 2006-08.
In East Sussex YOF funding has been administered by seven funding panels; five borough and district panels (allocating funding within their area) and two specialist panels (allocating funding to targeted groups). Over 80 young people have been involved in local panels. 12 young people from Eastbourne have been involved in their local panel. Three of these young people have also been involved in the YOF countywide steering group.
To date around 115 YOF/YCF projects have been approved in East Sussex including over 30 from Eastbourne. The range of projects is diverse and will benefit a wide range of young people including those who are disadvantaged, but detailed information on the number of young people involved is not available until the end of the financial year.
A full report summarising Year One activity in East Sussex will be prepared by the local authority in February, and they have indicated they would be happy to provide a copy of the report.
Home Department
Airports: Security
I have been asked to reply.
Use of backscatter technology as an alternative to full body hand searching started at London Heathrow airport in June 2004 as part of a programme for trialling enhanced screening processes. The implementation of this equipment is now being evaluated.
Guidance has been given to the operators but is not for publication due to security reasons.
Animal Welfare
(2) whether animal welfare stakeholders will be involved in the process of implementing the Animals Scientific Procedures Better Regulation Action Plan.
The objectives of the Animals Scientific Procedures Better Regulation Programme are to simplify current regulatory requirements and administrative processes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and reduce compliance costs whilst maintaining animal welfare standards.
The programme will be overseen and managed within the framework for implementation of the Home Office Simplification Plan, announced in December 2006, and will actively involve operational level practitioners from industry and academia and those with a special interest in animal welfare to identify and prioritise the regulatory requirements and administrative processes to be improved and the compliance costs to be reduced; and to devise and test practical solutions, including assessing any impact on animal welfare.
All animals that are used in procedures licensed under the 1986 Act must be housed and cared for in a way that meets the standards published in the Home Office codes of practice for the housing and care of animals.
We continue to work to ensure that the highest standards of animal welfare are being implemented and have no intention of introducing measures that will weaken the protections afforded by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Ashfield Young Offender Institution
There have been a total of 47 staff subjected to disciplinary proceedings at Ashfield since 2004. The outcomes were that seven staff were dismissed, 17 given final written warnings, 10 given written warnings, 12 received verbal warnings and one member of staff was regraded.
Assets Recovery Agency
The 2005-06 costs of running the Belfast office of the Assets Recovery Agency totalled £8.3 million gross (£5.2 million net). This was made up of £2.1 million in staff costs, £4.3 million in receivers’ and other specialists’ fees, overheads of £1.5 million and other costs of £0.3 million. Asset recoveries applied against receivers’ fees totalled £3.0 million, leaving net costs of £5.2 million.
The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has no powers to bring prosecutions. In Northern Ireland this will remain the responsibility of the Public Prosecution Service. The ARA will maintain its current efforts in disrupting organised criminal enterprises through the civil recovery of criminal assets and through taxation until the merger with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), which is not likely to take place before April 2008. In addition the ARA has been carrying out some criminal confiscation work in Northern Ireland in support of cases investigated by Northern Ireland Government Departments and prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service. SOCA will take over responsibility for all of ARA’s existing cases after the merger. The Serious Crime Bill includes provisions to extend the power to launch civil recovery proceedings to both SOCA and the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland.
The Government fully support the excellent co-operation that exists between the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) and the Criminal Assets Bureau in the Republic of Ireland in disrupting criminal enterprises through the recovery of assets. These arrangements will continue when ARA is merged with the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Nothing in the Government’s proposals to merge the Assets Recovery Agency with the Serious Organised Crime Agency will take away from our efforts in tackling organised crime in Northern Ireland through the recovery of assets. Our aim is that it will improve and enhance our efforts to do so. All staff in the Assets Recovery Agency in Belfast will have the opportunity to transfer to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. No decisions have yet been taken about the total numbers of SOCA staff to be based in Belfast following the merger which is not likely to take place before April 2008. However, as was made clear in the written ministerial statement of 11 January 2007, Official Report, column 21WS, there will be no diminution in the resources available for asset recovery work in Northern Ireland.
Asylum Seekers
(2) how many (a) officials in his Department and (b) police officers were involved in the operation of dawn raids on asylum seekers and illegal immigrants in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2005 and (iv) 2006; and at which local Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices these raids were organised;
(3) what representations he has received from (a) the Police Federation and (b) the Association of Chief Police Officers on the use of police in dawn raids on asylum seekers;
(4) under whose command police officers in dawn raids on asylum seekers are acting; and what their role is during such raids.
The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) does not conduct ‘raids’ against asylum seekers. Officers undertake operational visits to detain and remove persons who no longer have the right to remain in the UK and do so in line with operational policy and guidance. IND is unable to supply the level of detailed information requested as to do so would have significant resource implications and is available only at disproportionate cost. Information about each immigration enforcement operation involving police officers has been kept since 2005 and therefore data on operations supported by the police in 1998 and 1999 are not available. In 2005 and 2006 there were 8,865 and 13,953 police supported operations respectively, some of which will have been undertaken early in the morning for operational reasons. I can confirm that all Police Operational Support Unit (POSU) costs, which include overtime for all operations, are paid by IND.
In 2001 the Home Office asked the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for the support of the police service to assist with the arrest of immigration offenders (including unsuccessful asylum seekers). ACPO, on behalf of the police service, agreed to this request. There have been no known representations received from the police federation on the use of the police service to assist with enforcement operations.
Police officers act at the request of IND with whom operational tasking generally rests. The police role is to enter, secure, search premises, detain suspects and maintain a safe environment.
(2) whether officials qualified in child care are required to be present when dawn raids are undertaken on asylum seekers where children are likely to be present;
(3) whether dawn raids to detain failed asylum seekers are authorised at ministerial level;
(4) whether neighbours of asylum seekers detained in dawn raids are offered any explanation of the action being taken; and whether they are given an opportunity to express their views on such raids;
(5) what opportunities asylum seekers detained during dawn raids are offered to consult (a) their legal advisers and (b) their Member of Parliament (i) at the point of detention, (ii) in transit and (iii) at a detention centre.
The immigration and nationality directorate (IND) does not conduct ‘raids’ against asylum seekers. Officers undertake operational visits to detain and remove persons who no longer have the right to remain in the UK and do so in line with operational policy and guidance.
Immigration officers are instructed, in chapter 58 of the Operational Enforcement Manual (OEM), available on the IND website, to book an interpreter if required when planning a family detention visit.
The IND Family Removals Policy notice (EPU 2/06), available on the IND website, requires that there must be a minimum of one officer trained in emergency life saving when it is expected that children will be present during any operation to detain a family. IND’s policy and practice is to deploy immigration officers who have been trained in working with families and children. Such officers are based in every office which plans and carries out family detention visits. To strengthen these arrangements, IND has been conducting a review of family removal procedures, the report of which is to be published shortly. One of the aims of that review has been to identify how the welfare of the children can be properly taken into account.
Chapter 46 of the OEM sets out the levels of authority of enforcement visits.
If neighbours have any questions or concerns about an enforcement visit at the time it is taking place, this will be dealt with by the officer in charge (OIC) so long as it is safe to do so and does not unduly delay proceedings.
In chapter 58 of the OEM, immigration officers are instructed to inform families that they can contact a legal representative once they are at the detention centre. As set out in the Removal Centre Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), detainees are able to make a phone call immediately on arrival at the removal centre free of charge. Thereafter they must have access to phones for at least 14 hours a day, including during normal active periods. It is a matter for detainees as to whether they wish to consult a legal adviser or their Member of Parliament. Detainees must be advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at the centre.
Bokhari Family Raid
(2) whether the officers who carried out the dawn raid on the Bokhari family in Grimsby on 9 January were informed of Mr. Bokhari’s medical condition.
I wrote to my hon. Friend on 22 January with the information requested.
British Citizenship
My right hon. Friend has used the power once, in July 2006. That decision is now subject to appeal. One of his predecessors gave a person notice in February 2003 that he intended to use the power against him. That intention is also the subject of an appeal which has been delayed by the intervention of criminal proceedings.
Citizenship Applications: Armed Services
Following the change of policy that I announced on 22 November 2006, Official Report, column 68WS, and based on current service records held by the Ministry of Defence, we estimate that approximately 1,500 members of the UK armed forces are currently eligible to apply for naturalisation and that between 700 and 1,900 may be expected to be eligible in each successive year. There is, however, no requirement on them to apply for British citizenship.
Correspondence
I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 November 2006.
The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 19 January.
Criminal Justice
[holding answer 18 January 2007]: Between April 2005 and July 2006, 22,500 Suspended Sentence Orders were made which commenced under probation service supervision. Section 190 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 allows the courts to impose requirements under a Suspended Sentence Order. Suspended Sentence Orders cannot be made in isolation, without requirements being added to them.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and the totals have been rounded.
[holding answer 18 January 2007]: These procedural reforms in Schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 are connected with another provision in that Act that would increase magistrates sentencing powers, and it was announced last year that the implementation of these provisions would be reviewed together. The Government are committed to ensuring that cases are dealt with as efficiently as possible in the appropriate court. Discussions are continuing about how best to achieve this, and an announcement about the way forward will be made in due course.
Development Plus Programme
Between 2005-06 the cost of the Home Office Development Plus Programme was £260,310. Feedback from the programme indicates that most G6/7 participants reported becoming more self aware, had set and achieved goals, identified strengths, built confidence and benchmarked skills as a result of the programme. Most AA—SEO participants reported that the course had a significant impact on their work as well as their ability to set or address job-based/professional goals.
Driving Without Insurance
We consider there are significant drawbacks to this approach. It is not vehicles that have to be insured, but a particular driver’s use of a particular vehicle. The presence of a disc on a vehicle’s windscreen would not prove that the person driving it at any particular time was properly insured to do so. Improved use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology linked to the Motor Insurance Database, the power to seize a vehicle being driven by someone without insurance and the introduction under the Road Safety Act 2006 of continuous enforcement from the record are likely to be more effective in dealing with uninsured driving.
Drug Importations
(2) how many detections by HM Revenue and Customs of substantial quantities of class A drugs were referred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the last two years; how many of these cases SOCA decided not to investigate; and what the reasons for decision were in each case.
Since the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) on 1 April 2006, it has worked closely with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. SOCA does not comment on operational matters but will publish an annual report following the end of the financial year on the exercise of its functions during the year.
Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) does not refer drug importation cases notified to it by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to police forces. HMRC drug detections notified to SOCA by HMRC that are not adopted by SOCA are for HMRC to action as they consider appropriate.
Drug Liaison Officers
On 1 April 2006, 59 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) overseas officers with functions including those of a drugs liaison officer transferred to Serious Organises Crime Agency (SOCA). Of those, 50 remain in post to-day.
In line with the statutory responsibilities of SOCA to reduce harm from all forms of organised crime, not just from the threat of drugs trafficking, all of these posts have been converted to SOCA liaison officer posts which are general crime posts.
EU Accession State Workers
The Department has not commissioned research into the average earnings of workers from the 2004 EU accession states. However, the Government does publish data from the Worker Registration scheme (WRS) which regulates access to the labour market of the A8 EU accession states on a quarterly basis. The latest quarterly statistics for the period 1 May 2004-30 September 2006 were published on 21 November 2006. This report includes information on the number of hours worked by A8 workers and their hourly wages.
A copy of the report is available on the IND website:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/0/reports/accession_monitoring.html
Flu Jabs
2,869 non Agency Home Office staff under the age of 65 received an influenza vaccination as part of the Department’s 2005-06 voluntary influenza vaccination programme. The Identity and Passport Service, formerly the UK Passport Agency, similarly vaccinated 589 staff. The Prison Service does not run a centrally organised vaccination programme and there is no centrally held data for individual establishments on this matter.
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
The Secretary of State is unable to give projected numbers of staff employed at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon that will be employed each year to 2010, as the resource budget for 2007-08 and following years for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has not yet been decided. Final decisions on 2007-08 budgets will be taken shortly.
The red rating was given to the IND complaints procedures by the Home Office Audit and Assurance Unit (HOAAU). The Complaints Audit Committee (CAC) mentioned the red rating in its latest report, published on 14 December 2006.
IND published a detailed formal response to the CAC report on the same date, explaining what action it intends to take on each of the CAC's recommendations.
A complaints handling programme has been established to overhaul IND's complaints processes in line with Cabinet Office guidance and the CAC's recommendations. It will also take account of recommendations made by the HOAAU. The necessary changes will happen over the next 12 to 15 months.
Full details and timescales can be found in IND’s formal response, available in the House Library. It can also be found at:
www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/cac
Motoring Offences
(2) how many vehicles with overseas registration plates were caught on camera committing (a) speeding and (b) red light offences in England in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006; and how many drivers of these vehicles had (A) penalties imposed on and (B) prosecutions brought against them;
(3) what proportion of (a) speeding and (b) red light offences caught on camera were committed in vehicles with overseas registration plates in 2006;
(4) how many (a) penalties were imposed and (b) prosecutions were brought against foreign nationals for (i) speeding and (ii) red light offences in England in 2006.
(2) how many vehicles with overseas registration plates were caught on camera committing (a) speeding and (b) red light offences in England in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006; and how many drivers of these vehicles had (A) penalties imposed on and (B) prosecutions brought against them;
(3) what proportion of (a) speeding and (b) red light offences caught on camera were committed in vehicles with overseas registration plates in 2006;
(4) how many (a) penalties were imposed and (b) prosecutions were brought against foreign nationals for (i) speeding and (ii) red light offences in England in 2006.
There are a number of practical problems in taking enforcement action against the drivers of foreign registered vehicles. We have taken a number of measures to improve the situation. These include a provision in the Road Safety Act 2006 which will allow the exchange of driver licensing and vehicle registration information with other countries. Further help will be provided by the European Framework Decision on the Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties, which will allow penalties imposed by courts in one member state to be enforced in another and by the International Convention on the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications. The growing use of Automatic Number Plate recognition cameras, which check passing vehicles against various databases, is also helping enforcement against foreign offenders detected speeding and jumping red lights, since a person who succeeds in leaving the country without being dealt with for such an offence can have their vehicle’s number-plate recorded on a database and so be detected and dealt with on return here.
The information requested in respect of foreign registered vehicles detected by camera in the infringement of speed limits or jumping red traffic signals is not collected centrally.
Online Child Abuse
The latest available information was set out in the Home Secretary’s statements to the House of Commons dated 10 January and 16 January, and in the Home Office press statement issued on 13 January.
Passports
The Identity and Passport Service does not ask passport holders to keep their address up to date on our database. Therefore, the Identity and Passport Service cannot identify the number of current residents by geographical area that have taken advantage of the scheme to issue free passports to those applicants born on or before 2 September 1929.
However a response can be provided for residents of the United Kingdom:
(a) For the last 12 months (1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006) 153,330 people born on or before 2 September 1929 have had their entitlement to free passports fulfilled by the Identity and Passports Service.
(b) In the first year of the scheme (18 October 2004 to 17 October 2005) 201,123 people born on or before 2 September 1929 have had their entitlement to free passports fulfilled by the Identity and Passport Service.
PentiP System
(2) what the estimated cost is of establishing the PentiP computer system; and what the annual cost is expected to be of maintaining the system thereafter.
The PentiP computer system will provide a single national data sharing system to process all fixed penalty notices and penalty notices for disorder. It is planned to be operational in 53 police forces (comprising 53 forces in England and Wales; eight forces in Scotland; the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and the British Transport Police) by September 2009. It is estimated that the system will cost, in total, £9.3 million over the period 2005-06 to 2009-10 to implement. Once implemented, the annual cost of maintaining the system, estimated to be approximately £140,000, will be funded by police forces and courts out of savings generated by replacing and rationalising existing penalty notice systems.
Police Officers and Community Support Officers
The available data are given in the table as follows.
As at 31 March: Police officers Police community support officers2, 3, 4 1997 393 — 1998 444 — 1999 466 — 2000 255 — 2001 553 — 2002 676 — 2003 792 0 2004 643 33 2005 542 106 2006 492 64 1 Full time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave 2 Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03 3 Data are not available for Quarter 1 2002-03 (April to June 2002 inclusive) 4 Data are not available for Quarter 1 2003-04 (April to June 2003 inclusive)
Police service strength data are collected and published annually and data are given as at 31 March of the relevant year. Data from 31 March 2001 to 31 March 2006 have therefore been given in the following tables.
Police force 20013 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Avon and Somerset 2,994 3,096 3,149 3,401 3,384 3,389 Bedfordshire 1,036 1,069 1,106 1,181 1,215 1,198 Cambridgeshire 1,296 1,362 1,384 1,400 1,402 1,430 Cheshire 2,002 2,059 2,119 2,177 2,186 2,174 Cleveland 1,407 1,461 1,582 1,687 1,676 1,677 Cumbria 1,048 1,100 1,140 1,222 1,232 1,230 Derbyshire 1,823 1,848 2,003 2,070 2,070 2,046 Devon and Cornwall 2,934 3,053 3,202 3,283 3,369 3,493 Dorset 1,354 1,381 1,416 1,433 1,450 1,485 Durham 1,595 1,614 1,651 1,685 1,718 1,699 Essex 2,897 2,946 2,989 3,098 3,190 3,279 Gloucestershire 1,173 1,183 1,227 1,284 1,291 1,289 Greater Manchester 6,909 7,217 7,343 8,042 8.041 7,959 Hampshire 3,438 3,480 3,668 3,706 3,725 3,707 Hertfordshire 1,922 1,825 1,957 2,086 2,104 2,126 Humberside 1,917 2,058 2,105 2,213 2,230 2,224 Kent 3,319 3,355 3,487 3,576 3,586 3,599 Lancashire 3,255 3,304 3,339 3,550 3,551 3,583 Leicestershire 2,032 2,100 2,114 2,277 2,283 2,250 Lincolnshire 1,202 1,198 1,221 1,228 1,221 1,213 London, City of 703 764 808 853 876 869 Merseyside 4,081 4,125 4,099 4,122 4,317 4,269 Metropolitan Police 24,878 26,223 27,984 29,735 30,710 30,536 Norfolk 1,420 1,468 1,499 1,510 1,544 1,557 Northamptonshire 1,157 1,214 1,210 1,239 1,267 1,317 Northumbria 3,857 3,929 3,943 4,040 4,048 3,983 North Yorkshire 1,305 1,417 1,444 1,529 1,543 1,636 Nottinghamshire 2,275 2,330 2,411 2,484 2,502 2,477 South Yorkshire 3,197 3,199 3,183 3,279 3,265 3,255 Staffordshire 2,129 2,133 2,202 2,266 2,280 2,272 Suffolk 1,133 1,203 1,253 1,304 1,313 1,300 Surrey 2,066 1,992 1,906 1,913 1,915 1,922 Sussex 2,855 2,893 2,989 3,039 3,044 3,092 Thames Valley 3,703 3,762 3,833 4,034 4,114 4,229 Warwickshire 926 969 997 1,008 1,011 1,032 West Mercia 1,951 2,018 2,256 2,355 2,367 2,351 West Midlands 7,423 7,681 7,751 7,887 8,056 8,097 West Yorkshire 4,815 4,889 5,029 5,275 5,631 5,644 Wiltshire 1,120 1,157 1,158 1,217 1,222 1.219 Dyfed-Powys 1,055 1.132 1,149 1,160 1,174 1,182 Gwent 1,274 1,333 1,341 1,372 1,438 1,467 North Wales 1,444 1,506 1,539 1,603 1.652 1,617 South Wales 3,154 3,222 3,239 3,279 3,281 3,263 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. 2 Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. 3 Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 transferred some resources from the Metropolitan Police to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police forces.
Government region 20013 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 North East 6,858 7,004 7,176 7,412 7,442 7,359 North West 17,296 17,805 18,040 19,113 19,327 19,215 Yorkshire and the Humber 11,234 11,563 11,761 12,296 12,669 12,759 East Midlands 8,490 8,690 8,959 9,298 9,343 9,303 West Midlands 12,429 12,801 13,206 13,516 13,714 13,752 Eastern 9,703 9,873 10,188 10,579 10,768 10,890 London 25,581 26,987 28,792 30,588 31,586 31,405 South East 15,381 15,482 15,883 16,268 16,384 16,549 South West 9,576 9,870 10,152 10,618 10,716 10,875 Wales 6,927 7,193 7,268 7,414 7,545 7,529 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. 2 Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. 3 Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 transferred some resources from the Metropolitan Police to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police forces.
Police community support officer strength1 (FTE)2 by police force as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 063Police force200320042005420064Avon and Somerset045139130Bedfordshire0124041Cambridgeshire65786101Cheshire2505275Cleveland377775100Cumbria001717Derbyshire004342Devon and Cornwall19517474Dorset684761Durham10286967Essex1086179192Gloucestershire0547272Greater Manchester160173269251Hampshire002630Hertfordshire144698139Humberside002020Kent05910597Lancashire77110161184Leicestershire2841103136Lincolnshire29387578London, City of001411Merseyside4072170196Metropolitan Police5131,4632,1472,315Norfolk12336865Northamptonshire12103740Northumbria051126129North Yorkshire0527571Nottinghamshire1056108112South Yorkshire1459124121Staffordshire076370Suffolk0153430Surrey2156115126Sussex2283228257Thames Valley0798130Warwickshire11255664West Mercia8578185West Midlands039219252West Yorkshire70265394462Wiltshire15234157Dyfed-Powys052526Gwent30457776North Wales005958South Wales0591071111 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.2 Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.3 Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03.4 Strength figures as at 31 March 2005 onwards include those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. Therefore these figures are not comparable with those provided for other years in the table.
Government region 2003 2004 20054 20064 North East 47 155 270 296 North West 280 406 669 723 Yorkshire and the Humber 84 376 613 674 East Midlands 79 145 366 408 West Midlands 19 129 419 471 Eastern 41 248 505 568 London 513 1,463 2,161 2,326 South East 43 205 572 640 South West 40 181 373 394 Wales 30 109 268 271 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. 2 Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. 3 Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03. 4 Strength figures as at 31 March 2005 onwards include those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. Therefore these figures are not comparable with those provided for other years in the table.
Prisons
The information requested is set out in the following table and covers the period from 1 June to 30 November 2006. There have been 299 absconds from all open prisons, in England and Wales, during this period. Figures for 2006-07 are provisional and subject to validation.
Month Number of absconds June 39 July 36 August 41 September 61 October 63 November 59 Total 299
The best measure of drug misuse in prisons is provided by the random mandatory drug testing programme. Results are given in the following table.
Year1 Positive rate (Percentage) 1997-08 20.8 2002-03 11.7 2005-06 10.3 1 Figures are reported on a financial year basis.
Probation Service
The resource allocation for 2007-08 is not yet settled; the indicative allocation is £908 million an increase of £25 million over 2006-07. After allowing for a £7 million technical adjustment, the increase is £32 million.
This allocation is in respect of the local probation boards and the National Probation Directorate (NPD). Certain expenditure related to the Probation Service, but managed centrally by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), is not included. Arising from a review of NOMS HQ, the National Probation Directorate is being incorporated into the NOMS centre and in 2007-08 there will not be a separate NPD budget
There is no indicative allocation as yet for 2008-09.
Public Opinion Research
The Home Office conducts a wide range of research activities that support the development of information-led policy, including surveys of public opinion that consider Home Office issues and its related areas of responsibility. The Department commissions such work only when it is justified by the specific needs of a particular policy or programme and when this is the most economic, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose. Consulting and involving the public helps inform both policy formulation and delivery of better quality public services.
Research programmes are often complex and combine a mixture of quantitative and qualitative elements. It is therefore not possible to break down the costs of opinion polling from the overall cost of a research project. The breakdown requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Serious Organised Crime Agency
In his letter of 9 June 2005 laid before both Houses of Parliament, the Home Secretary set SOCA his strategic priorities for its first three years of operation and how he will judge its success. This has been reflected in SOCA’s 2006-07 annual plan.
Victim Support
[holding answer 16 January 2007]: The Government funded BrakeCare’s advice pack for bereaved families and friends from 2001-02 to 2006-07 and will advise of the criteria and administrative procedures for future funding through the Victims’ Fund.
Victim Care Units are currently being piloted in partnership with Victim Support. Decisions on rollout have yet to be made.
[holding answer 16 January 2007]: The National Audit Office, in 2002, made a recommendation that the Home Office
“review the current arrangements for funding voluntary sector activity in this field [helping victims and witnesses], with the aim of [...] ensuring that the opportunity to bid to run new services is available to all potential providers.”
The Compact and the Treasury’s Guidance to Funders and Purchasers advise Departments to use appropriate funding and procurement procedures when asking the voluntary sector to deliver Government priorities.
We have not so far gone out to tender on new services from bereaved victims charities. Since 2004-05 the Victims’ Fund has invited the voluntary sector to bid for grants from the Fund and the arrangements for doing so were in line with the principles in the Compact. So far it has focused on supporting victims of sexual violence. We are currently considering whether to broaden the scope of the 2007-08 Victims’ Fund.
Victims of Crime: Financial Support
The Home Office funds a wide range of projects and organisations to support victims of crime, such as sexual assault referral centres and independent sexual violence advisors for victims of sexual violence, the POPPY scheme for victims of trafficking, independent domestic violence advisors and 64 specialist court areas for domestic violence victims.
The main national funding made available is as follows:
Funding to Victim Support Compensation paid by CICA Funding to the Victims' fund 1997-98 12.7 201.5 — 1998-99 12.7 194.4 — 1999-2000 17.5 205.2 — 2000-01 18.6 207.9 — 2001-02 25.1 233.5 — 2002-03 29.3 232.1 — 2003-04 30 227.5 — 2004-05 30 186.2 1 2005-06 30 184 3 2006-07 30 Not yet available 1.25
Visa Applications
All UK visa applicants are considered on their individual merits and in line with the Immigration Rules. Details of a number of people suspected of, or known to have, committed human rights abuses are entered on the Immigration Watchlist. Visa applicants are routinely checked against the Watchlist. Where the person has been excluded from the UK by personal decision of the Home Secretary, entry clearance will not be granted. In other cases, where the individual is shown to have an adverse history this information will feature heavily in considering the application. Entry clearance or immigration officers are empowered to refuse a person entry clearance or entry if they consider that their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Burma
I discussed the human rights situation in Burma with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui when I visited Beijing in July 2006. Human rights, refugees, political prisoners and conditions in prisons have been discussed at official level with China and Russia.
During discussions on Burma at the UN we have made clear our concern about the human rights situation in Burma to all UN Security Council members, including China, Russia and South Africa. Our Permanent Representative's statement to the UN Security Council on 12 January reiterated these concerns. This statement was made in the presence of all UN Security Council Permanent Representatives.
Colombia
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met Colombian Foreign Minister Araujo on her recent visit to UK. Although the specific issues of investigations into Colombian paramilitary organisations' links with Colombian parliamentarians and Senator Alvaro Araujo were not raised, the two ministers discussed issues of bilateral importance such as the peace process, justice and peace law, counter-narcotics cooperation, President Uribe's plans for his second term and EU/Community of Andean Nations Association agreements. It was a positive first meeting in which both sides agreed to maintain and build on the close bilateral working relationship.
UK policy towards Colombia is one of constructive engagement. We support the efforts of President Uribe to tackle the interconnected problems of internal armed conflict, illegal drugs trade and human rights abuses. In this meeting, and in our regular dealings with the Colombian authorities, we impress on them the importance of respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. We will continue to monitor the issue of the alleged links between paramilitaries and parliamentarians in Colombia closely.
Cyprus
The Government believe that a fair, viable and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem is most likely to be achieved through a UN-led settlement process fully supported by both communities. The Annan plan provided for an independent, impartial reconciliation committee to promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Although the elements of any future plan will need to be agreed by both communities, it is likely that any comprehensive settlement would include a reconciliation process.
We welcome the agreement of the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to the proposals put forward by the UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, on 15 November 2006. These are designed to lead to a resumption of comprehensive settlement negotiations. With other members of the UN Security Council, we have urged both sides now to now show the flexibility and courage required to grasp the opportunity which this agreement presents. We will continue to offer all support as necessary in the coming months.
The UK welcomes all steps that help increase contact and trust between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Opening a new crossing point at Ledra Street would have just such a beneficial effect. We welcome the Turkish Cypriot initiative to dismantle the bridge, and hope that this move will soon be followed by other practical steps leading to the full opening of the crossing point and fresh momentum in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Darfur
The Tripartite Mechanism between the African Union (AU), UN and Government of Sudan was established to take forward planning for UN support to the AU and a joint AU/UN force, as agreed at Addis Ababa on 16 November 2006.
Following considerable international pressure, including from the UK, President Bashir has now accepted UN support for the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and has allowed the first UN military personnel into Darfur. We have been pressing the UN and AU to implement the Addis Ababa package.
Our ambassador in Addis Ababa spoke to AU Peace and Security Commissioner Djinnet on 17 January to press on these points. On 18 January my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She pressed for progress in all areas, including in deploying UN support to AMIS and planning for the joint AU-UN force. She urged the Secretary-General to engage AU chairperson Konare directly, ahead of the AU summit at the end of January.
We utterly condemn all aerial bombardment in Darfur by the government of Sudan. We continue to make clear to the government that this action violates UN Security Council Resolution 1591 and must stop immediately. The government of Sudan has committed to renewing its political dialogue with the rebels. If it becomes clear that Sudan is determined not to cooperate, we will consider, with Security Council partners and the UN Secretariat, all measures which may help improve the situation in Darfur. A no-fly zone would be one of the options available for the international community to consider.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Negotiations are ongoing between the government and army of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Laurent Nkunda to try and resolve the political and security crisis in North Kivu province. Several points must be addressed before any deal can be considered final. Broad agreement has been reached that troops currently serving under Nkunda will come under the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) central command in the future. We are urging the Congolese Government to resolve this in a way that avoids causing further suffering to the population of north Kivu.
We continually press the Congolese authorities to accelerate the process of reforming the security sector and to ensure that FARDC troops and militias are prevented from continuing to abuse civilians in a climate of impunity.
Following last year’s historic elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the political landscape is still taking shape. Although a President, Prime Minister and Parliament are in place, negotiations are continuing on the size and make-up of the new Government.
Once all institutions are in place the government needs to focus on security, poverty reduction, good governance, security sector reform and human rights. President Kabila promised action on all these fronts in his inauguration speech on 6 December 2006.
The UK will be in the DRC for the long haul supporting the DRC in consolidating its new peace and rebuilding the country. We have underlined the need for political and legal space for opposition parties, and that the government must be responsible, transparent and respect human rights.
EU Border Agency
The UK strongly supports the EU Border Agency (Frontex). Through the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Government have provided input to Frontex in relation to finance, to operational planning and training, as well as participating in a number of Frontex operations, including in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. The Government look to participate in Frontex operational activity where we see value in doing so.
The UK is represented at Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Councils by Ministers from the Home Office and the Department of Constitutional Affairs. The JHA Informal Meeting on 15-16 January 2007 was attended by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, right hon. Baroness Ashton of Upholland, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Nationality, Citizenship and Immigration (Joan Ryan). The EU Border Agency was discussed briefly in the context of EU migration policy, but it was not a formal item on the agenda.
EU Council Meetings
The German Government have published a programme for their presidency that details the areas that they intend to cover. An 18-month programme for the three successive German, Portuguese and Slovenian presidencies has also been published for the first time. Both of these documents are available at the following website:
http://www.eu2007.de/en/The_Council_Presidency/Priorities_Programmes/index.html.
A White Paper on Prospects for the EU in 2007 and an Explanatory Memorandum regarding the 18-month programme will be laid in the House shortly, and will give more details of the Government’s approach.
The spring European Council in March is likely to focus on climate and energy security and the Better Regulation agenda. There will also be discussion regarding the single market and economic reform, as well as a range of other issues. In June, the presidency will present a report to the European Council assessing the state of discussions on the future of Europe, according to the conclusions of the June 2006 European Council. Portugal is expected to continue this work under its presidency. The Portuguese will also focus on other priorities at the December European Council in line with the 18-month programme. Further details will be made available in the White Paper on Prospects for the EU in 2007.
The German presidency will build on the work agreed under previous presidencies to ensure that the EU’s policies and actions on external relations are focused, effective and coherent. The programme at the General Affairs and External Relations Councils will in part be dependent on external developments, but we anticipate that a broad range of foreign policy issues will be discussed, including Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Portugal will continue this approach under its presidency. Further details will be made available in the White Paper on Prospects for the EU in 2007.
Under the German presidency, the spring European Council will take place in Brussels on 8 and 9 March, with the June European Council due to take place on 21 and 22 June. An Informal Meeting of Heads of State and Government will also take place in Berlin on 25 March, to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome. The Portuguese presidency is set to host an Informal Meeting of Heads and Government on 18 and 19 October, with the December European Council due to take place on 13 and 14 December.
European Direct Centres
25 Europe Direct centres have opened across the UK hosted in a range of organisations including Libraries, Chambers of Commerce and Local Government Offices. The European Commission part fund the centres up to 50 per cent. with the remainder coming from the contractual partner itself, which is in all cases necessarily a public-sector or not-for-profit entity. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not committed any funds to the Europe Direct Centres, but has helped to raise the profile of their launches and provided input to training events.
The location of the centres and the amount funded by the Commission in Financial Year 2006-07 for each one are as follows: Plymouth (€24,000), Eastleigh (€24,000), London (€23,996.62), Coventry (€24,000), Llangollen (€24,000), Cardiff (€24,000), Durham (€12,000), Luton (€24,000), Newton (€23,981.50), Camarthen (€24,000), Paignton (€24,000), Leeds (€23,999.73), Gloucester (€24,000), Belfast - two Centres (€23,330 and €24,000), Wrexham (€23,417), Ashford - three Centres (€24,000 each), Derry (€17,000), Highlands and Islands (€21,397), Edinburgh - two Centres (€24,000 each), North and Western Lancashire (€24,000) and Ballygawley in Co Tyrone (€12,000).
Executive Agencies
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for the following executive agencies:
Wilton Park
Which contributes to the Government's strategic priorities by delivering conferences on key international themes, bringing together decision-makers and opinion-formers from around the world to address the most pressing global issues. Wilton Park's financial target is to cover its running costs through raising conference and commercial income. The target turnover in 2006-07 is £4 million.
FCO Services
Became an Executive Agency of the FCO on 1 April 2006 and has yet to submit its first set of financial statements. It was set up in 1999 to provide the FCO with co-ordinated support services on a global basis in support of the FCO’s worldwide objectives. As part of the modernisation of Government, FCO Services now offers its services to a wider customer base including other Government Departments. FCO Services forecasts a turnover of around £120 million per annum with the FCO being its main customer and with wider market customers accounting for an ever increasing share of revenues.
Government Auctions
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not arranged, or contributed to, any auctions or sales in Blackpool, Lancashire or the North West and has no plans to do so.
Illegal Immigration
Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have met with officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office to discuss the influx of migrants in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. Discussion focused on the functioning of Frontex (the EU Border Agency) and its role in co-ordinating EU operations around the Canaries and Malta.
Mental Illness: Employment
Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the related public sector bodies are required to publish and implement Disability Equality Schemes. These set out how the FCO carry out the Disability Equality Duty, monitor, and report on progress. This includes the arrangements for gathering information on the effect of policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of disabled employees, including those with mental health issues, and making use of that information.
As part of the disability equality scheme the FCO operates a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. Candidates with mental health issues who are classified as disabled as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995 and who meet the minimum criteria in the job specification at the shortlisting stage, are guaranteed an invitation to the next stage of assessment. To ensure fairness throughout the selection process the FCO works closely with an independent disability adviser to guarantee that reasonable adjustments are made.
The FCO is an accredited user of the Government's “two ticks” disability symbol, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. This is included on all recruitment advertising to encourage applications from disabled candidates, including those with mental health issues. To promote careers with the FCO, it has undertaken advertising with publications which directly target disabled individuals including Able, Target and Hobsons.
The FCO also participates in the Cabinet Office summer placement scheme, which offers disabled undergraduate students a six-week placement within selected FCO departments and we will be hosting five candidates in July 2007.
The public sector bodies sponsored by the department that are subject to these requirements are responsible for publishing and implementing their own disability equality schemes.
Moldova
The UK enjoys a constructive relationship with Moldova and welcomes opportunities for further co-operation. Over the last year, we have welcomed many high profile visitors from Moldova to the UK, including Ministers and parliamentarians. The Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Dr. Marian Lupu, visited the UK in February for meetings with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials. Valeriu Ostalep, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration visited the UK in July 2006, and the Minister of Defence, Valeriu Plesca, visited the UK in September 2006, meeting with, among others, the Minister of State, my noble Friend Lord Drayson. I met the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs Zinaida Grecianii, on her visit to the UK in November. We continue to look for upcoming opportunities for inward visits from Moldova.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for the following non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs):
British Council
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Great Britain-China Centre
British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
Diplomatic Service Appeals Board
Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
Wilton Park Academic Council
Foreign Compensation Commission
Details of the remit, Government funding and gross expenditure of public bodies sponsored by the FCO can be found in the Cabinet Office publication ‘Public Bodies 2006’, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and which can also be found on the following website:
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/public-bodies2006.pdf
The function and budget of each body for the financial year 2006-07 is as follows:
Executive NDPBs
Established in statute and carrying out administrative, regulatory and commercial functions, they employ their own staff and are allocated their own budgets.
British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
The Association promotes better understanding between Britain and the countries of Eastern Europe through a programme of exchanges, conferences, seminars and training workshops.
Budget £167,000
British Council
The British Council connects people worldwide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and builds lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. It operates in 109 countries and achieves its objective through the teaching of English and administering of UK examinations; the promotion of British education and training; knowledge and information, the arts, science, sports and governance.
Budget £179,503,000
Great Britain-China Centre
To promote closer economic professional, cultural and academic relations between Britain and China; and to encourage mutual knowledge and understanding.
Budget £300,000
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
The Marshall Aid Commission has responsibility for the Marshall Scholarships.
Budget £2,100,000
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
To assist the development of pluralistic democratic institutions overseas. Priority regions are Central/Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Anglophone Africa.
Budget £4,100,000
Other Bodies funded from within the FCO’s resources:
Advisory NDPBs
Provide independent and expert advice to Ministers on particular topics of interest. Staff from their sponsoring department supports NDPBs. They do not have their own budget, as costs incurred come within the department's expenditure.
Diplomatic Service Appeal Board
To advise the Foreign Secretary whether premature retirement, or termination of an appointment on grounds of failed probation, or on dismissal is fair.
The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
To advise on the purchasing of wine for Government hospitality.
Wilton Park Academic Council
The Council aims to ensure that Wilton Park Agency retains its full academic independence.
Tribunal NDPBs
Have jurisdiction in a specialised field of law. They are supported by staff from their sponsoring department and do not have their own budgets.
Foreign Compensation Commission
The Commission deals with ongoing queries from foreign governments and the public about previous claims, The Commission is also engaged in upgrading information and management systems to make records more readily accessible and to comply with all relevant legislation.
Somalia
The position of Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament is a matter for the parliament’s MPs. The Speaker was impeached by a parliamentary vote. 183 MPs voted in favour of removing the Speaker, eight voted against and one abstained. The President of the transitional federal government (TFG) must sign into effect the impeachment. Those voting in favour of the impeachment included members of the Speaker’s own clan.
A stable, self-governing and democratic Somalia can only be delivered in the long term by the success of the transitional federal institutions (TFI), including the TFG. The TFG was formed in 2004 out of the Nairobi peace process which brought together leaders from across Somali society to agree the transitional federal charter. This included agreement to a constitutional process eventually leading to elections. All major clans are represented in the TFG, which is recognised by the international community.
We are pressing the TFG to be inclusive and reach out to all Somalis in seeking a lasting and peaceful solution for Somalia; and urge the TFI to work together for the same objective.
We are working closely with our international partners on this issue. John Sawers, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Director-General Political, represented the UK at the International Contact Group (ICG) on Somalia in Nairobi on 5 January. Other members of the ICG include the African Union (AU), Tanzania and Kenya, in its role as the Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. In its communiqué, the ICG expressed an urgent need for funding to facilitate the deployment of a stabilisation force in Somalia, as envisaged in UN Security Council Resolution 1725. It welcomed Uganda's offer to be part of this force.
Since the ICG meeting we have had a range of discussions with our international partners on the deployment of an international force to Somalia. These include discussions between: my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Kikwete of Tanzania; my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia; our high commissioner in Nairobi and Foreign Minister Tuju of Kenya; and our ambassador in Addis Ababa and Said Djinnit of the AU’s Commission for Peace and Security.
Sri Lanka
The UK is deeply concerned about the increasing violence in Sri Lanka and its impact on the civilian population. At least 80 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the year. Over 200,000 people have been displaced since the fighting began in April 2006.
Both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam must cease military action and implement the agreements they had reached to reduce the violence. Recent incidents demonstrate that neither side is protecting the civilian population. We urge them to return to the negotiating table in order to prevent a further deterioration of the security situation and the needless loss of more lives.
Uganda
The mediation process in Juba, southern Sudan, between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan Government is clearly very fragile. The announcement by the LRA on 12 January that they will not return to Juba is disappointing. The Ugandan Government and the talks mediator, Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar, have confirmed that they wish to resume discussions in Juba and the LRA need to do so as well.
We have provided financial support to the talks process and continue to urge all parties to demonstrate a strong commitment to finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict, which will allow the communities of northern Uganda to start rebuilding their lives.
Zimbabwe
United Nations Security Council partners are aware of our position on Zimbabwe. We stay in close contact with those countries which particularly share our interest in encouraging the Government of Zimbabwe to reverse its course and restore democracy, the rule of law, and full human rights, such as South Africa, the United States and EU partners.
We are concerned that Operation Muguta is further disrupting Zimbabwe's already fragile food security. Despite good rainfall last year, Zimbabwe has again failed to produce sufficient grain to meet the food needs of its people, as a result of poor agricultural policies and continuing mismanagement of the economy. The Department for International Development has just contributed an additional £3 million to the World Food programme for its operations in Zimbabwe.
On the subject of economic sanctions, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, on 2 November 2006, Official Report, column 668W.
Treasury
Airline Passenger Duty
(2) what representations he has received from the travel industry on the effect of the recent increase in air passenger duty on the industry; and if he will make a statement.
The Treasury routinely meets with stakeholder groups as part of the policy development process. However the Treasury also balances openness with the need to maintain the confidentiality of tax proposals under consideration for the Chancellor’s Budget and pre-Budget reports.
The decision to increase rates was taken after careful consideration of all environmental, social and economic factors, including the impact on the travel industry of an increase.
The Chancellor received a number of representations from the travel industry following his 6 December pre-Budget report announcement and Ministers and officials have met with industry representatives to discuss these.
Information on revenue raised by air passenger duty can be found in Table 1 and Table 2 of the HM Revenue and Customs ‘Air Passenger Duty Bulletin’ on the HM Revenue and Customs website:
http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=airpass
Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit
This information is not available.
Children and Young People Discussion Paper
(2) what the cost to the public purse was of producing the Policy Review on Children and Young People Discussion Paper published on 9 January.
There are eight full-time equivalent Treasury staff directly supporting the Review of Children and Young People. They undertake a wide variety of roles, in addition to the production of the discussion paper on 9 January, to ensure the Review is underpinned by robust analysis to inform the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. The printing cost of the discussion paper was £7,000.
Clostridium Difficile
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths there were where Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital trust. (111002)
Special analyses of deaths involving Clostridium difficile are undertaken annually by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales. These are published in Health Statistics Quarterly. The latest year for which such figures are available is 2004. Information on the numbers of deaths between 1999 and 2004 involving Clostridium difficile were published in Health Statistics Quarterly 30 in May 2006.1 Data on Clostridium difficile-related deaths in 2005 will be published in Health Statistics Quarterly 33 on February 22nd 2007. No figures are routinely available for NHS Trusts.
1 Office for National Statistics (2006) Report: Deaths involving Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 1999-2004. Health Statistics Quarterly 30, 56-60.
Defence Expenditure
In the course of his official duties the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with other Ministers and officials. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s policy to disclose specific details of these meetings.
EU Budget
The Government’s latest forecast of the United Kingdom’s net contribution to the EC Budget in 2006-07 and 2007-08 can be found in footnote 3 to Table B16 (page 240) of the pre-Budget report of December 2006. The equivalent gross contribution forecast, after taking account of the United Kingdom abatement, in these two financial years is £7.9 billion and £9.8 billion respectively. Based on Eurostat population figures for the United Kingdom in 2005 (60,034.5 thousand) the net and gross contribution, post abatement, per head in each of these two financial years would be £47 net, £132 gross (2006-07) and £75 net, £163 gross (2007-08). HM Treasury does not, as a matter of course, forecast the gross and net contributions of all the other member states as this is a matter for their respective Governments. Figures for the 2007 gross contribution of each member state will be included in the 2007 EC adopted budget which will be published in the European Commission’s Official Journal, L (Legislation) series, in due course.
Irrecoverable VAT
(2) what estimate he has made of the value of Gift Aid to the voluntary sector in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collect data on the voluntary sector’s irrecoverable VAT costs.
The voluntary sector’s irrecoverable VAT costs have been considered by the Government in two major reviews since 1997. In the course of these reviews it was not possible to find a VAT solution that was practical, efficient, affordable, well-targeted and based on principle. Available resources are better and more effectively deployed through the existing tax reliefs and targeted initiatives and support.
HMRC does not hold information about the amount of Gift Aid reclaimed by the voluntary sector; however the amounts donated by individuals and tax reclaimed by charities under Gift Aid for the years 2003-04 to 2005-06 are published on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm
Gift Aid forms part of over £2.7 billion of tax relief for charities and charitable giving that we provide each year, which also includes £200 million in reliefs from VAT. These tax reliefs are in addition to broader Government funding for the voluntary and community sector, which stands at over £3.3 billion per year.
Mosaic Data
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 17 May 2006, Official Report, column 1079W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles).
National Minimum Wage
National minimum wage statistical data are not held by reference to constituency.
Office for National Statistics
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
As National Statistician I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the current status is of each of the Freedom of Information applications made to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2006. (110532)
The quarterly report Freedom of Information Act 2000, Statistics on the Implementation in Central Government which can be found in the House of Commons library, contains the statistics you require on the outcomes of Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Office for National Statistics. Reports have been published so far for the first three quarters of 2006.
In the final quarter of 2006, ONS received 29 requests, of these 3 are still out-standing, and 26 have been completed. Of the completed requests ONS provided the information in full in 8 cases and withheld the information in full or in part on 5 occasions. On 12 occasions ONS found that it did not hold the information, or that it was readily available elsewhere and on one occasion the request was found to be vexatious.
Savings Gateway Scheme
Halifax has not mass mailed offers of credit to Saving Gateway customers. The contract between Halifax, DfES, HMRC and HMT states that members of the HBOS group will only market their own products at the specific request of the customer, unless the customer is an existing HBOS customer, in which case existing marketing arrangements will remain.
The Saving Gateway is an account targeted at low-income households, delivering a strong incentive to save regularly through the Government matching money saved in the account. The first Saving Gateway pilot used a match rate of £1 for £1; however the second Saving Gateway pilot is testing the effects of alternative match rates of £1 for £1, £2 and £5 and contribution limits, initial endowments and the support of a range of financial education bodies.
On completion of the Saving Gateway, the participant’s money is transferred into a Halifax Liquid Gold account. This was proposed by HBOS in discussion with Treasury officials as it was an existing Saving account and the IT could be adapted quickly to accommodate the Saving Gateway pilot.
Self-assessment
(2) what estimate he has made of how much additional tax was (a) collected and (b) rebated in 2006 as a result of the self-assessment process.
The numbers of staff deployed on processing self assessment tax returns, and the related salary costs, for the last three years are shown in the table as follows.
Staff1 Cost2 (£) 2005-06 1,858.36 43,992,454.81 2004-05 1,891.00 36,571,852.81 2003-04 2,005.91 37,088,722.85 1 Staff numbers are expressed as full time equivalents 2 Cost is based on average salaries
The total amount of income tax, class 4 national insurance contributions and capital gains tax collected under Income Tax Self Assessment in the year 2005-06 was £27.998 billion and £4.533 billion was repaid.
Stamp Duty
HMRC administrative systems do not identify whether a stamp duty land taxpayer is a first time buyer and nor do they distinguish house purchases from other residential transactions. It is not therefore possible to derive regional percentages. However, it is estimated that over half of all first time home buyers are exempt from stamp duty, taking into account the £125,000 starting threshold and the enhanced £150,000 threshold which is available in 2,000 disadvantaged wards.
Tax Credits
(2) how many people in Livingston constituency (a) are in receipt of child tax credit and (b) received child tax credit in the first year the scheme was introduced.
Estimated numbers of families benefiting from tax credits are available only for in-work families. The average number in 2004-05 of such families with positive awards in each constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, is published in “Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2004-05 Geographical Analysis”. This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
Information for 2005-06 awards is due to be published in May 2007.
Information for 2003-04 is not available for the Livingston constituency in its current boundaries.
Unemployment Statistics
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
Table 1, attached, shows the number of unemployed people, aged 16 to 24, resident in the Chorley constituency, for the 12 months ending in February 1999 and 2000, from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March 2005, from the APS and the corresponding unemployment rates which are defined as the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the economically active population in the relevant age group. These are the only years for which the sample sizes are sufficient to provide estimates.
The estimates in Table 1 are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area. They are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. In this case, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give an accurate estimate of even the direction of the change over the period.
ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of people aged 18 to 24, resident in the Chorley constituency, claiming ISA from 1997 to 2006.
Thousand 12 months ending Level Rate1 (Percentage) February 1999 1 12.1 February 2000 1 13.7 March 2005 1 11.4 1 Unemployed as a percentage of the economically active population. Notes: Estimates are subject to random variability. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution. Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population survey.
Number 1997 465 1998 380 1999 360 2000 310 2001 290 2002 265 2003 275 2004 235 2005 275 2006 325 Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative data
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (117288)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
Table 1, attached, shows the numbers of unemployed, aged 16 to 24, resident in the London Borough of Bexley and in the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency. For the 12 months ending in February from 1997 to 2004 data are from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March 2005 and 2006 data are from the APS. The corresponding unemployment rates are defined as the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the economically active population in the relevant age group.
As these estimates are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, they are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. In this case, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give an accurate estimate of even the direction of the change over the period.
ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of people aged 18 to 24, resident in the London Borough of Bexley and the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, claiming JSA from 1997 to 2006. The figures for Bexley are also expressed as a percentage of the official estimates of the 18 to 24 population, resident in the area. Corresponding proportions for the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency are not available by age group.
Bexley Bexleyheath and Crayford 12 months ending: Level (Thousand) Rate1 (Percentage) Level (Thousand) Rate1 (Percentage) February 1997 3 12.9 2— 2— February 1998 2 10.6 1 13.9 February 1999 2 11.0 1 10.9 February 2000 2 11.8 2— 2— February 2001 1 5.3 2— 2— February 2002 1 7.6 1 11.0 February 2003 1 6.1 1 7.7 February 2004 1 7.8 2— 2— March 2005 1 6.9 1 12.8 March 2006 3 16.3 2— 2— 1 Unemployed as a percentage of the economically active population. 2 Sample size too small to provide estimates. Notes: 1. Estimates are subject to random variability. 2. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution. Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey.
Bexley Bexleyheath and Crayford Level Proportion1 (Percentage) Level 1997 1,295 7.9 450 1998 935 5.7 320 1999 745 4.5 260 2000 615 3.7 215 2001 540 3.3 175 2002 605 3.6 190 2003 690 4.0 225 2004 750 4.2 260 2005 795 4.4 290 2006 915 5.0 330 1 Proportion of official population estimates. Not available for parliamentary constituencies. Notes: 1. Claimant count data by age includes computerised claims only. 2. Dataset rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative data.
Valuation Office Agency
In the last five years the following research projects have been both (a) initiated and (b) commissioned by the Valuation Office Agency:
Development and Implementation of an Automated Valuation Model (AVM)
Joint research into the development of a definitive address database within Government (ACACIA)
[holding answer 16 January 2007]: Valuation Office Agency (VOA) staff have made seven visits to Hong Kong in the last five years. One visit was to a property tax conference. The remainder were to the Rating and Valuation Department, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region). This destination was inadvertently omitted from my answer on 30 November 2006, Official Report, column 854W.
VAT
(2) whether his Department has informed traders in the mobile telephone and computer-chip industries when they can expect to receive the VAT repayments that are under extended review;
(3) for what reason his Department has placed VAT repayments for traders in the mobile telephone and computer-chip industries under extended review.
HMRC has a duty to protect tax revenues, including taking steps to counter inaccurate, fraudulent or abusive repayment claims. HMRC is entitled to verify VAT repayment claims to ensure that they are properly payable. Decisions to verify repayment claims or take other action to improve taxpayer compliance are made on the basis of perceived risk and are applied across the whole VAT register.
Given the very complex nature of missing trader intra-community-MTIC-fraud, HM Revenue and Customs needs time to pursue inquiries and consider the consequences of all that they find. As soon as a VAT repayment claim is selected for verification HM Revenue and Customs fully explains the verification process in writing. Updates are also provided on a regular basis throughout the process. Only when inquiries are completed will HM Revenue and Customs advise claimants of the outcome.
Last year the level of VAT repayment claims from those suspected of trading in supply chains associated with MTIC fraud rose very rapidly, without known economic or commercial reason. As a result, HMRC is verifying a greater proportion of VAT repayment claims from businesses dealing in goods, such as mobile phones and computer chips, and with other sectors known to be associated with MTIC fraud. In order to ensure that its action is proportionate, HMRC has deployed an additional 600 staff to enable these verification checks to be carried out efficiently and effectively.
World Economic Forum
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2007, the UK will be represented by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other Ministers.
Work and Pensions
Child Maintenance Payments
(2) if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the benefit disregard with regard to child maintenance payments across all child support cases to (a) £15, (b) £20, (c) £25, (d) £30, (e) £35, (f) £40, (g) £45 and (h) £50 in each year from 2008-09 to 2015-16.
The number of children lifted out of poverty and cost of increasing the levels of the child maintenance disregard in income support, jobseekers allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit in 2009-10 are shown in the following table:
Level of disregard Number of children lifted out of poverty Cost in extra benefit expenditure (£ million) £20 n/a 50 £30 30,000-40,000 100 £40 40,000-50,000 140 £50 50,000-60,000 170 n/a = not available Notes: 1. Number of children lifted out of poverty is defined here as the number of children in households lifted above 60 per cent. of equivalised median household income before housing costs by increasing the level of the disregard. 2. Estimates provided are indicative and should only be used to give some idea of scale, since there is uncertainty over future distributions of earnings and maintenance receipts, and figures are sensitive to the assumptions used and drawn from a sample of data. 3. Figures for the number of children lifted out of poverty by a £20 disregard are not available due to a small sample size. 4. Poverty figures are based on analysis of 2004-05 Family Resources Survey and are rounded to the nearest 10,000. 5. Costs are calculated to the nearest £10 million and are based upon a combination of DWP administrative and survey data.
Information for other years and other levels of disregard are not currently available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
The estimated cost of extending the £10 benefit disregard to cases on the original child support scheme, assuming that the introduction takes place towards the end of 2008 is shown in the following table:
Estimated cost (£ million) 2008-09 (part year) 10 2009-10 20 2010-11 15 Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
Precise costs for years after 2010-11 are not currently available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria are planned to be used to identify those described on page 25 of the White Paper. A new system of child maintenance as those non-resident parents who are most a risk of not paying maintenance. [113535]
The section of the White Paper quoted refers to the commitment in the Child Support Agency Operational Improvement Plan to develop risk profiles to enable the Agency to focus its efforts on those who are unlikely to pay. The analytical model and operational procedures to support such a process are still under development. As such, it is not currently possible to say what criteria will be used to identify those non-resident parents most at risk of non-payment.
The Agency is exploring which of the data it holds and which other available information including Credit Reference data can be used to risk profile non-resident parents and predict the likelihood of compliance.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Ending the requirement that parents with care claiming benefits be treated as applying for child maintenance will free up resource in Jobcentre Plus, allowing Jobcentre Plus staff to apply the £10 disregard as an integral part of processing the benefit application, using the existing IT. We do not expect there to be full-time manual processing of the disregard.
The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many child maintenance applications were received by Job Centre Plus in each year since 2001.
Child maintenance applications are received by the Child Support Agency, not by Jobcentre Plus. However, new applicants for Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based) where there is a child support interest are obliged to make a child maintenance application under section 6 of the current legislation and, as such, their details are referred by Jobcentre Plus to the Child Support Agency in order to facilitate this.
The number of applications that the Child Support Agency has received each month can be found in table 2.1 of the September 2006 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS), which shows all applications received by the Agency as well as those potential applications received directly from Jobcentre Plus. A copy of the QSS is publicly available, and can be found in the House of Commons Library, or on the internet via the following link: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_support/csa__quarterly_sep06.asp.
This information is only available since March 2003 when the new scheme was introduced.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
(2) whether legislation will be required to gather the information required to assess families on the current child support system in order to focus transitional arrangements on the poorest families first as described on p.53 of the White Paper ‘A new system of child maintenance’; and what the resource implications are of the carrying out of these assessments;
(3) if he will consider both families of parents with care and families of non-resident parents when considering the prioritisation of the poorest families as described on p.53 of the White Paper ‘A new system of child maintenance’.
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) will be responsible for developing the detailed proposals for the transition of existing cases to the new system for child maintenance. The principles guiding this, as set out in the White Paper, ‘A new system of child maintenance’ (Cm 6979), will be to ensure that the transition to the new regime is driven by child poverty considerations. This may mean focusing efforts initially on parents with care who have yet to receive a maintenance assessment to allow them opportunity to secure maintenance payments.
The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the funding which will be made available to support the Child Support Operational Improvement Plan discussed on page 54 of the White Paper A new system of child maintenance in each year from 2007-08 to 2013-14.
On 9th February 2006, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton announced that an additional £120 million could be made available to fund the three year Operational Improvement Plan.
The breakdown of the projected spend of this £120 million is included in the table below separated by year:
£ million 2006-07 5.9 2007-08 66.8 2008-09 47.3 Total 120
The Operational Improvement Plan concludes in the year 2008/09, and as such no further funding is expected to be available beyond this point.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Latest tax year information can only be used in calculating the income of a non-resident parent if gross income is used, rather than net. The primary legislation currently in force for all child support cases requires that net income be used. Therefore the use of latest tax year information can only begin after primary legislation has altered the basis for calculating income and this has been followed by secondary legislation setting out detailed rules. In addition to these legislative issues, an effective operational system for the transfer of information will need to be developed, once Parliament has approved the use of gross income as the basis of liability. For all of these reasons, introduction by the end of 2007 is not possible.
As stated at paragraph 4.18 of the White Paper ‘A new system of child maintenance’ (Cm 6979) published on 13 December, further detailed work is needed to determine how the new system of assessing liability will treat pension contributions, because the tax system handles different types of pension contributions differently.
As part of the policy development process, we will consider compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights of the proposals announced in the White Paper, ‘A new system of child maintenance’, including administrative Deduction Orders.
Child Poverty
The information is in the following tables.
(a) Children in poverty (defined as those households with income below 60 per cent. of the GB median) whose parents were in work1, 1997-98 to 2004-05Number (million)1997-981998-991999-20002000-012001-022002-032003-042004-05Before housing costs1.51.51.51.31.31.31.31.2After housing costs1.92.01.91.81.81.71.71.7 1 In work has been defined as where the economic status of the family unit is one of the following:one or more self-employedsingle/couple all in full-time workcouple/one in full-time, one part-timecouple, one full-time, one not workingno full-time, one or more part-time.Source:Family Resources Survey 1996-97 to 2004-05.
Number (million) 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Before housing costs 3.1 3.1 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.4 After housing costs 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.3 Source: Family Resources Survey 1996-97 to 2004-05.
Analysis of data from the 2003-04 Family Resources Survey suggests that if no one received any maintenance, then 100,000 extra children would be living in poverty.
Notes:
Poverty is defined here as living in a household which has income below 60 per cent. of equivalised median income before housing costs.
Figure is rounded to nearest 10,000.
Child Support
Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education and Skills meet frequently on a range of issues of common interest, including child maintenance reform where both Departments are working together to ensure that parents are supported to realise their responsibilities to support their children.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 December 2006, Official Report, columns 1984-7W.
Child Support Agency
As we announced in the White Paper, we will establish a Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) to replace the Child Support Agency. C-MEC will be led by the new position of Commissioner for Child Maintenance.
We expect to make key C-MEC appointments in 2007-8. These appointments will be on a provisional basis (pending Royal Assent of a Bill to reform the child maintenance system). New senior appointments will follow guidelines from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).
The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to right hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in each Child Support Agency call centre were assigned to the legacy Child Support computer system at the end of each month since January 2006; and how many staff were assigned to the new CS2 system during that period. [112925]
Agency people at each of the National Helpline sites have access to both the Child Support Computer System (CSCS) and the new computer system (CS2), except the Silkhouse Court site in Liverpool which has access to CSCS only and has primary responsibility for calls relating to this system. The other National Helpline teams have access to both computer systems in case any calls are diverted from the Liverpool office, or calls are received regarding cases with links between the two computer systems. However, the primary responsibility of these sites is the CS2 system.
The attached table shows the number of Agency people working on the National Helpline who have access to both computer systems and those who have access to CSCS only.
I hope you find this information helpful.
January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 Child Support computer system only Full-time equivalent 97 99 114 108 119 118 Individuals 115 123 134 134 141 140 CS2 and Child Support computer system Full-time equivalent 332 357 350 341 347 345 Individuals 415 417 434 446 446 438
July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 Child Support computer system only Full-time equivalent 111 111 117 118 115 115 Individuals 133 133 142 147 142 142 CS2 and Child Support computer system Full-time equivalent 350 349 361 357 351 349 Individuals 447 435 451 452 445 443
The Child Support Agency is currently able to apply to the magistrates court, seeking an order to disqualify the non-resident parent from driving (for a maximum of two years) or to commit the non-resident parent to prison (for no longer than 42 days).
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deduction from earnings orders were applied through the Child Support Agency in each year for which figures are available.
Such information as is available is presented in the attached table.
The number of cases which have a deduction from earnings order (DEO) or a deduction from earnings request (DER) as an agreed method of maintenance collection at yearly intervals from November 1995 to September 2006:
Month ending Cases with DEO or DER as method of maintenance collection November 1995 41,000 November 1996 64,000 November 1997 91,000 November 1998 119,000 November 1999 136,000 November 2000 141,000 November 2001 139,000 November 2002 139,000 November 2003 — November 2004 136,000 November 2005 153,000 September 2006 165,000 Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. The table includes deduction from earnings orders (DEOs) and deduction from earnings request (DERs). DERs are the equivalent method of collection when the non-resident parent is a member of the armed forces. 3. November 1995 is the earliest month for which data is available and September 2006 is the most recent. Data on the old scheme prior to March 2003 are only available quarterly for irregular quarters (February, May, August, and November). As such, figures are shown at yearly intervals from November 1995 onwards except for September 2006. 4. Robust information covering the period March 2003 to February 2004 is not currently available, so no figure is available for November 2003. 5. The table includes those old scheme cases with a full maintenance assessment, and those new scheme cases with either a full maintenance calculation, or a default maintenance decision. Old scheme cases with a punitive interim maintenance assessment (an imposed assessment due to the non co-operation of the non-resident parent), a small number of which would have deductions from earnings orders in place, are excluded from this analysis in line with the Agency’s target definitions, as are new scheme cases being processed clerically.
(2) what definitions his Department uses for unpaid Child Support Agency maintenance that is (a) probably uncollectable and (b) possibly collectable; and if he will make a statement.
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:
what definition his Department uses for (a) uncollectable and (b) collectable Child Support Agency arrears; and if he will make a statement. (102240)
what definitions his Department uses for unpaid Child Support Agency maintenance that is (a) probably uncollectable and (b) possibly uncollectable; and if he will make a statement. (102242)
The Agency undertakes an annual debt analysis exercise to establish the collectability of amounts outstanding. This analysis produces three categories of amounts outstanding – collectable, possibly uncollectable and probably uncollectable, which are the equivalents of good, doubtful and bad debts in commercial organisations. As stated in the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06, note 5.7, these are defined as:
Collectable
Amount outstanding that the debt analysis exercise revealed is likely to be collected. This takes into account factors such as regular contact with the non-resident parent, where regular payments are being made or an arrears agreement has been set up.
Possibly Uncollectable
Amounts outstanding that the debt analysis exercise revealed some uncertainty over whether it will be collected. The amounts are considered doubtful where, for example, payments have been infrequent or it has not been possible to establish an arrears agreement or impose a deduction of earning order.
Probably Uncollectable
Amount outstanding that the debt analysis exercise revealed, is likely to be very difficult to collect due, for example, to the lack of contact with, or the personal circumstance of, the non-resident parent.
The amount of debt categorised a probably uncollectable in the Agency Annual Report and Accounts also includes the value of suspended debt, which is classified as probably uncollectable for this exercise.
I hope this information is helpful.
Definitions of Poverty
The Department does not have a single official measure of poverty for older people. Specific information regarding low income is available in “Households Below Average Income 1994-95 -2004-05”. The threshold of below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
Indicators of material well being, including income and wealth, are reported on as part of the Government’s “Opportunity for All” strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion, and as part of “Opportunity Age”, its strategy for an ageing society.
The agreed EU definition of the risk of poverty among the elderly is the proportion of people aged 65 and over with an equivalised income of less than 60 per cent. of the overall median equivalised income, calculated separately for each member state. This differs from the Department’s measure of low income which takes into account all pensioners, that is, includes women aged 60-64, and looks at income both before and after housing costs.
The EU also reports on a number of other indicators of income and living conditions, reflecting the fact that having an income below the 60 per cent. of median income threshold is not the only indicator of poverty.
Job Vacancies
The available information is in the following table.
Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus in the Peterborough parliamentary constituencyMonth of notificationNumber of vacanciesApril 2004680May 2004690June 2004560July 2004660August 2004660September 2004690October 20041,240November 2004780December 2004630January 2005500February 2005670March 2005530April 2005700May 2005540June 2005530July 2005580August 2005630September 2005900October 2005870November 2005790December 2005510January 2006510February 2006520March 2006610April 20061,070May 2006880June 2006610July 2006830August 20061,020September 20061,220October 2006980November 2006850 Notes:1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.2. Jobcentre Plus boundaries do not match directly to parliamentary constituency boundaries. Therefore, figures quoted are aggregate totals for vacancies notified in the Peterborough parliamentary constituency.3. Figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in the labour market.Source:DWP Information Directorate Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System
National Insurance Numbers
There were 1,486,312 National Insurance numbers issued in 2005. There have been 1,369,652 National Insurance numbers issued up to 31 October 2006.
The number of National Insurance numbers issued includes the following:
1. children who reach 16 years of age (the juvenile registration process);
2. UK adults who missed out on the juvenile registration process and;
3. foreign nationals who enter the UK and require a NINO for benefit, tax credit or employment purposes (adult NINO allocation process). Possession of a NINO does not in itself give any automatic right to benefit, tax credits or employment. Any claims to benefit or tax credits would be subject to normal entitlement rules.
The latest data available from the Labour Force Survey estimates that the number of people in employment has increased from 28.79 million to 28.99 million, an increase of around 192,000 over the last year.
Note:
Data compares July-September 2006 and July-September 2005.
Source:
Labour Market Statistics First Release, November 2006.
New Deal
The information is in the following table.
Participants on New Deal for Young PeopleNew deal for young peopleTotalPercentage of totalParticipants as at May 200695,120100Of which:Participating for the first time61,35064Participating for the second time21,77023Participating for the third time8,5409 Notes:1. Latest participant data is to May 2006.2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.Source:Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate
Pension Credit
The answer is set out in the following table.
Ward name Number of household recipients May 2006 Annual pension credit expenditure 2005-06 (£ million) Bretton North 410 1.0 Bretton South 110 0.3 Central 525 1.8 Dogsthorpe 620 1.6 East 570 1.6 North 440 1.1 Park 375 0.9 Paston 380 1.0 Ravensthorpe 320 0.9 Walton 230 0.5 Werrington North 260 0.7 Werrington South 265 0.5 West 285 0.6 Peterborough parliamentary constituency total 4,770 12.4 Notes: 1. Expenditure figures are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2006 and are rounded to the nearest 100,000. 2. The number of households in receipt are rounded to a multiple of five. 3. As a result of 1. and 2. ward totals may not sum to area totals. 4. Caseloads and average weekly amounts for May 2006 have been used to calculate the annual expenditure figures for each ward in Peterborough parliamentary constituency. 5. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household. 6. Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries. Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data
As at August 2006 2,460 households in the St. Albans constituency were receiving pension credit.
Notes:
1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest ten.
3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory and are therefore based on the 2005 parliamentary boundaries.
4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
Source:
DWP 100 per cent data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.
The information is not available.
As at August 2006 the number of households in receipt of pension credit for (a)Bexley local authority was 7,350 and (b) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency was 2,810.
Notes:
1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest ten.
3. Parliamentary constituencies and local authority areas are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. Constituencies are therefore based on the 2005 parliamentary boundaries.
4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
Source:
DWP 100 per cent data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.
As at August 2006, 4,160 households in the Chorley constituency were receiving pension credit.
Notes:
1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory and are therefore based on the 2005 parliamentary boundaries.
4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
Source:
DWP 100 per cent. data from the generalised matching service (GMS) pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.
Pensioner Poverty
The law relating to social security benefits currently requires the Secretary of State to review pension levels each year to see if they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices. If they have not, the Secretary of State is required to increase them.
We gave a guarantee that the basic state pension would increase by 2.5 per cent. or the retail prices index, whichever is higher, during the life of this Parliament.
Between 1997-98 and 2006-07 pensioners have benefited from above-inflation increases in the basic state pension, with pensioners better off by 9 per cent. in real terms than if the basic state pension had been increased only by prices over the same period. Under reform the basic state pension will be uprated in line with average earnings. Our objective, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, is to do this in 2012 but in any event at the latest by the end of the next Parliament. We have said that we will make a statement on the precise date at the beginning of the next Parliament.
Different groups and individuals will face different inflation rates because of their different spending patterns. There is, however, little evidence to suggest the rates of inflation pensioners face are substantially different from, or higher than, the rates of the population as a whole over the long term. If anything, published ONS statistics show that over the last 18 years all pensioners have—on average—faced slightly lower inflation than working age people.
Fuel prices have risen since 2003, but this follows a period of no change between 1997 and 2003. Across this period pensioners have seen improvements in their incomes; between 1996-97 and 2004-05 pensioners' net incomes increased by 25 per cent. in real terms, compared with a 15 per cent. real terms increase in utility bills between 1996-97 and 2006. It is important to note that whilst pensioner incomes tend to increase on a linear basis, utility prices tend to fluctuate.
At the time the earnings link is restored, the proportion the basic state pension represents in terms of earnings will remain constant and it will continue to hold its value over time, relative to earnings.
Pensioners Overseas
Information about people in receipt of public service pensions who live abroad is not available. The information about state pension paid to people living outside of Great Britain is in the following table.
Country Number of pensioners in receipt of state pension Afghanistan — Albania — Algeria — Andorra — Anguilla — Antigua — Antilles (Netherlands) — Arab Emirates — Argentina — Ascension Island — Australia 245,000 Austria 5,000 Bahamas — Bahrain — Bangladesh 3,000 Barbados 5,000 Belgium 5,000 Belize — Bermuda — Bolivia — Botswana — Brazil — Bulgaria — Canada 153,000 Cayman Islands — Chile — China Peoples Republic — Columbia — Costa Rica — Cyprus 11,000 Denmark 2,000 Djibouti — Dominica Commonwealth 1,000 Dominican Republic — Ecuador — Egypt — Federal Republic of Yugoslavia — Fiji — Finland — France 35,000 Gambia — Germany 34,000 Ghana — Gibraltar — Greece 3,000 Grenada 1,000 Guam — Guinea — Guyana — Hong Kong 1,000 Hungary — Iceland — India 5,000 Indonesia — Iraq — Isle of Man — Israel 4,000 Italy 33,000 Jamaica 22,000 Japan — Kampuchea — Kenya — Kuwait — Lebanon — Lesotho — Liechtenstein — Luxembourg — Malagasy Republic — Malawi — Malaysia — Maldive Islands — Malta 4,000 Mauritius — Mexico — Monaco — Montserrat — Morocco — Namibia — Netherlands 8,000 Nevis St. Kitts Nevis — New Caledonia — New Zealand 47,000 Nigeria 3,000 Norway 1,000 Oman — Pakistan 6,000 Panama — Paraguay — Peru — Philippines 1,000 Poland 2,000 Portugal 6,000 Qatar — Republic of Belarus — Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina — Republic of Croatia — Republic of Ireland 104,000 Republic of Kyrgyzstan — Republic of Latvia — Republic of Lithuania — Republic of Slovenia — Republic of Turkmenistan — Republic of Uzbekistan — Republic of Yemen 3,000 Rumania — Saudi Arabia — Senegal — Seychelles — Sierra Leone — Singapore — South Africa 38,000 South Korea — Spain 76,000 Sri Lanka — St. Helena and Dependencies — St. Lucia 1,000 St. Vincent and Grenadines — Swaziland — Sweden 2,000 Switzerland 5,000 Syria — Taiwan — Tanzania — Thailand 1,000 The Czech Republic — The Russian Federation — The Slovak Republic — Tours — Trinidad and Tobago 1,000 Tunisia — Turkey — Turks and Caicos Islands — Uganda — Ukraine — Uruguay — USA 127,000 USSR — Vanuatu — Venezuela — Vietnam — Virgin Islands (British) — Virgin Islands (USA) — Yugoslavia — Zambia — Zimbabwe 3,000 Total 1,027,000 Note: Figures rounded to the nearest 1,000. Case loads less than 1,000 are denoted by ‘—’. Source: March 2006 DWP Retirement Pension administrative data.
Pensioners: Wales
The information requested is not available.
Pensions
(2) pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2006, Official Report, column 1578W, at what percentage of average earnings he expects to restore the earnings link to the basic state pension;
(3) how much the basic state pension is expressed as a percentage of national average earnings.
The following table sets out the value of the basic state pension as a percentage of national average earnings in the years requested.
Value of basic state pension as a percentage earnings of national average 1981 23.7 1991 18.3 1997 17.0 2006 15.7 2012 14.2 Notes: 1. The Average Earnings figure is for full-time employees in the April of that year and has been taken from the New Earnings Survey prior to 1998 and from Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings since 1998. 2. 2012 figures are consistent with assumptions underlying pre-Budget report 2006. Source: ONS
Our objective is to restore the earnings link to the basic State Pension, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, in 2012 but in any event at the latest by the end of the next parliament.
At the time the earnings link is restored, the proportion the basic State Pension represents in terms of earnings will remain constant and it will continue to hold its value over time, relative to earnings.
However, it is important not to focus on the figure that the basic State Pension represents as a percentage of average earnings in isolation.
As a result of the measures we have introduced since 1997 pensioner incomes have risen by about 25 per cent. compared to 15 per cent. for earnings. These measures have made pensioners on average £17 a week better off and the poorest third of pensioners around £30 a week better off (in 2006-07 prices) than if an earnings link had been applied to the basic State Pension from 1997.
Earnings uprating of the basic State Pension is only one part of the complete reform package. It should be considered alongside the reforms to the State Second Pension and the introduction of personal accounts for which the restoration of the earnings link provides a firm underpin.
For instance, a median earner who works from age 25 to state pension age could expect a gross income (including from a Personal Account) of just under £220 per week1 (in 2005-06 earnings term) in 2053 under the reformed system. This equates to 43 per cent. of average earnings2 (also in 2005-06 earnings terms).
1 The gross retirement income figure comes from DWP modelling, assuming weekly earnings of £440 (in 2005-06 earnings terms) for a median male earner.
2 The Average Earnings figure is for all full-time employees, taken from the 2005 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and is equal to £516.40.
Personal Capability Assessments
[holding answer 6 December 2006]: Limited early testing of the revised personal capability assessment (PCA) has been carried out to ensure that the new assessment accurately identifies those with limited capability for work. The evaluation of these tests is being discussed with the technical working groups and the consultative groups which comprise largely of representatives from a number of disability organisations, who advised on the transformation of the PCA. A list of the groups' membership has been placed in the Library.
Further evaluation of the revised PCA will take place in January and February 2007. During this time, we will continue to consult with the technical working groups and consultative groups who advised on the transformation of the PCA.
State Pension
The information requested is not available. Such information as is available indicates that 98 per cent. of pensioner benefit units were in receipt of some state pension in 2004-05. Those not in receipt may include pensioners who are deferring their state pension and those who have misreported the source of their income.
Source:
Pensioner Income Series based on Family Resources Survey.
Unemployed: Background Information
The information requested is not available.
Winter Fuel Payments
Last winter 2005-06, 11,370 households in Leicester South constituency received a winter fuel payment. We expect the number to be similar this winter.
Notes:
1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
Information Directorate 100 per cent. sample.
In the winter of 2005-06, 15,220 people in Livingston constituency received a winter fuel payment. Figures for this winter are not yet available but we expect the number to be similar.
Notes:
1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
Information Directorate 100 per cent. sample.
The qualifying week is set in legislation as the third full week in September. We use this date to establish entitlement so that payments can be made before Christmas. The Government think that making payments by Christmas every year is helpful in reassuring pensioners that they will have cash available to pay for heating their homes during the coldest part of the year. We have no plans to change the qualifying week.
Health
A and E Facilities
No recent formal representations on the future of accident and emergency (A and E) facilities have been received. However, two separate proposals for changes to A and E facilities were referred to the Secretary of State by overview and scrutiny committees in 2005.
The Secretary of State receives a very large number of letters and other correspondence from hon. Members which may mention, wholly or in part, the future of A and E facilities.
Abortions
The available information is set out in the table.
Gloucestershire1 PCT Age under 16 Age 16 to 18 2002 28 159 2003 34 224 2004 52 237 2005 46 210 1 Gloucestershire PCT is made up of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, Cotswold and Vale, and West Gloucestershire PCTs as published between 2002 and 2005. 2 Information by PCT is not available prior to 2002
The information requested is shown in the table as follows.
Age 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Under 14 162 148 168 148 157 137 14 886 918 907 1,023 877 946 15 2,700 2,592 2,658 2,796 2,722 2,703 16 5,439 5,652 5,633 5,768 5,734 5,733 17 7,895 7,963 8,083 8,387 8,402 8,504 18 9,455 9,465 9,182 9,765 10,294 10,119 19 10,429 10,351 10,087 10,327 10,956 10,957 Total 36,966 37,089 36,718 38,214 39,142 39,099
Civil Emergencies
It is a matter for the local national health service to ensure that there is appropriate provision of urgent and emergency care services to meet people’s needs. In planning local provision of urgent and emergency care services, health communities are expected to observe the general principle that all urgent and emergency care should be delivered as close to home as is compatible with clinical safety. There is a requirement for trusts to involve and consult the public on the planning for provision of health services.
Dentistry
It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) to assess local health needs and develop services to reflect those needs. The dental reforms introduced in April 2006 mean that, for the first time, PCTs have integrated responsibility for all national health service orthodontic services across both primary and secondary care and have much greater ability to shape these services to reflect local needs.
Departmental Event: Russell Hotel
[holding answer 23 January 2007]: The Chief Scientific Officer’s conference, incorporating the healthcare scientist awards, was held at the Russell Hotel London on 27 and 28 November 2006. The total cost of this event was £130,000.
The event was designed and delivered to meet the objectives set down by the Chief Scientific Officer, as part of the Department’s remit to provide professional leadership to healthcare scientists in England.
The purpose for the event was to bring the various disciplines of healthcare sciences together across the various national health service trusts and related organisations, presenting the latest scientific developments and their application to the delivery of healthcare in England. It was an opportunity to reinforce the critical role healthcare scientists play in supporting delivery of the 18-week target and to showcase world-class scientists working in cutting edge fields.
The event was designed for senior healthcare scientists and healthcare scientist leads from NHS trusts, primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, university faculties, independent sector and healthcare science advisors, workforce planners and special health authorities such as the Health Protection Agency, National Blood Service.
Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 and in the context of the published privacy policy on the conference registration website, which has been placed in the Library, we will not be making the list of invitees and attendees available.
Depression
This information is not collected centrally.
Disabled Children
[holding answer 22 January 2007]: This information is not collected centrally.
European Health Insurance Card
The only information on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is the face readable information. There is no electronic data stored. The face readable information is as follows:
name;
given names;
date of birth; and
identification numbers used for administrative purposes (not linked to national insurance numbers, NHS numbers or any other personal data).
The cost of implementing the EHIC was approximately £13.2 million and this includes all publicity costs and the issue of 17 million cards.
Health Appointments
The Appointments Commission is directed by the Secretary of State for Health to appoint people to national health service boards with a range of skills and experience, including those with a strong community service and/or voluntary sector background. They are also required, where possible, to appoint people from across the geographical area served by the body.
The appointment of chairs and non-executive directors of the primary care trusts and strategic health authorities has been delegated to the Appointments Commission and I have asked Sir William Wells, chair of the commission, to respond to my hon. Friend's question in relation to these bodies. Appointments to the boards of the foundation trusts are a matter for the board of governors.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
(2) what her Department’s definition is of basic research in the context of its proposals to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; what types of research are covered by the definition; and what representations she has received on the definition;
(3) what factors were taken into consideration when deciding to bring forward proposals to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to remove the restriction (a) on altering the genetic structure of a cell while it forms part of an embryo and (b) on replacing the nucleus of a cell of an embryo for research purposes only; and what representations she has received on the proposals.
A wide range of factors were taken into consideration in bringing forward proposals for revision of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, preceded by public consultation in 2005. With regard to embryo research, these factors included, “inter alia”, recommendations from the House of Lords Stem Cell Committee (session 2001-02, HL Paper 83(i)), and the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (session 2004-05, HC 7-1), relevant legislation enacted since 1990, and the scope of delegated powers already within the 1990 Act itself.
The proposals include revisions both to the purposes for which research projects using embryos may be licensed, and the scope of activities that may be authorised by a licence. These include the proposal to make clear that basic embryo research is permissible subject to controls. Basic research, in this context, refers to research that underpins or enables applied research into, for example, serious diseases.
The Government’s proposals and supporting rationale are set out in the command paper “Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: Proposals for revised legislation (including establishment of the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos)”, published on 14 December (Command Paper 6989). Copies of which are available in the Library.
Intermediate Care
The term intermediate care describes services that meet all the following criteria:
are targeted at people who would otherwise face unnecessarily prolonged hospital stays or inappropriate admission to acute in-patient care, long term residential care, or continuing NHS in-patient care;
are provided on the basis of a comprehensive assessment, resulting in a structured individual care plan that involves active therapy, treatment or opportunity for recovery;
have a planned outcome of maximising independence and typically enabling patient/users to resume living at home;
are time-limited, normally no longer than six weeks and frequently as little as one-two weeks or less; and
involve cross-professional working, with a single assessment framework, single professional records and shared protocols.
Mixed Wards
The information is not available in the format requested.
Between 1998 and 2005, the provision of single-sex accommodation was measured as compliance at national health service trust level with three objectives set by the Department. These objectives have been superseded by the core national standards presented in standards for better health.
The core standards require that:
(C13) “Staff treat patients, their relatives and carers with dignity and respect”; and
(C20b) “Health care services are provided in environments which promote effective care and optimize health outcomes by being... supportive of patient privacy and confidentiality”.
Currently, five trusts report that they do not meet standard C13a and 15 trusts report that they do not meet standard C20b.
Previously, compliance was measured annually at trust level. The results of the most recent compliance survey in December 2004 show that:
99 per cent. of NHS trusts provided single-sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and had robust operational policies in place to protect patients’ privacy and dignity;
99 per cent. of NHS trusts met the additional criteria set to ensure the safety of patients who are mentally ill; and
97 per cent. of NHS trusts provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women.
The small number of hospitals who did not achieve these objectives are building new hospitals.
The 2004 position of each NHS trust was published on 26 May 2005 and is available on the Department’s website at www.dh.gov.uk and in the Library.
Mosaic Project
The Department provided £60,000 funding for the Mosaic project to deliver programmes developing, through pilot sites, good practice on race equality and procurement for dissemination within the national health service and providing procurement guidance on compliance with legal duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
National Breast Working Group
The going further on cancer waits breast working group was established to consider the commitment set out in the Government’s 2005 election manifesto to go further on cancer waiting times, in particular to consider how all patients with breast problems might be seen within two weeks of general practitioner referral to a specialist.
The first meeting of the group was on 10 May 2006 and there have been two further meetings. The group reports to the National Cancer Director, and has made no reports to Ministers to date.
Proposals for going further on cancer waits, including recommendations from the breast working group about seeing all patients with breast symptoms within two weeks, will now be taken forward as part of the cancer reform strategy being developed by the National Cancer Director, as announced on 30 November 2006.
NHS Pay and Workforce Strategy
The total cost of the research conducted by Aberdeen university was £35,000.
NHS Recruitment
Responsibility for raising the profile of careers and working in the national health service is undertaken nationally by NHS Employers on behalf of the Department. The Department also provides non-repayable NHS bursaries and pays the tuition fees in full for the majority of NHS professional students undertaking programmes leading to professional registration.
NHS Redundancies
Strategic health authorities have provided an assessment of how many redundancies there have been in the six months to 30 September 2006. Returns for each region were submitted to the Department by 23 October 2006. These figures are available in the Library.
NHS Staff
It is not possible to divide the total number of national health service staff between the acute and community sectors as some staff groups overlap in both sectors.
The non-medical workforce census does not show if staff are hospital or community based.
Physiotherapy
This information is not collected centrally.
PSA Targets
[holding answer 15 January 2007]: The Department’s public service agreement (PSA) incorporates technical notes which contain information about the statistics used to monitor progress towards meeting the Department’s PSA targets. The technical notes are available on the Department’s website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4133321&chk=xbJnjl
A report by the independent Statistics Commission entitled “PSA Targets: the Devil in the Detail”, which was published on 20 March 2006, contains an independent analysis of each Department’s PSA targets, including notes on National Statistics classification. Copies of this report are available in the Library and can be accessed on the internet at:
http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_467.aspx
Social Services
The provision of social services in the Tunbridge Wells area is the responsibility of Kent county council. Funding for local authorities' social service responsibilities are paid through formula grant (revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates) and specific grant. Formula grant is unhypothecated provision and decisions on the use of that grant are for local authorities to make, bearing in mind their statutory responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate. Under the provisional local government finance settlement 2007-08, Kent county council receives a formula grant of £228.685 million, which is an increase of 2.7 per cent. on a like for like basis. In addition, Kent will receive the following revenue grants for adult social care amounting to £42.591 million:
£ million Access and systems capacity 13.386 Child and adolescent mental health services 1.786 Carers grants 4.353 Commission for Social Care Inspection 0.017 Delayed discharge 2.477 HR development strategy 1.082 Improving management information 0.479 Mental health grant 2.870 National training strategy 2.335 Preserved rights 12.217 Preventative technology grant 1.245 Mental Capacity Act and the independent mental capacity advocate 0.344
Statistics
A list of the titles of all of the National Statistics produced by relevant Departments and agencies was placed in the Library on 8 January 2007 to accompany the second reading of the Statistics and Registration Bill. An equivalent list, which includes other statistical products not designated as National Statistics, was also placed on the National Statistics website at:
www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ns_ons/nsproducts/default.asp
These lists include all regular statistics released by the Department and by the information centre for health and social care, and they include National Statistics produced by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and by the commission for social care inspection.
In addition to the regular statistics shown in the list on the National Statistics website, the Department and its associated agencies publish a wide range of other statistical information in a variety of forms including other data produced from the management and administration of the Department and in research reports. There is no centrally held information on the total published.
We will keep under review the case for including more individual health and social care statistics in National Statistics scope.
Waiting Lists
At the end of November 2006, there were six patients waiting more than six months for in-patient treatment in Lancashire. These six patients are all in the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust area.
The tables show the average time waited for cardiac, kidney transplant and liver transplant operations in the Barking, Havering and Redbridge National Health Service Trust and each NHS trust in London for 2005-06. These are the latest figures available. Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust has never undertaken organ transplants.
Average (median) time waited in days Cardiac transplants Kidney transplants Liver transplants Barking, Havering and Redbridge Trust — — — All other London trusts Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust — 8 — Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust — 8 — St. Mary’s NHS Trust — — — St. George’s Healthcare NHS Trust — 2 — King’s College Hospital NHS Trust — — 119 Barts and The London NHS Trust 67 — — Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 169 — — Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust — 19 — Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 281 — —
Average time waited for all cardiac operations in the Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust and each NHS trust in London NHS hospitals, England 2005-06NHS trustAverage (median) time waited in daysBarking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust109Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust1Barts and The London NHS Trust66Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust23Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust—Ealing Hospital NHS Trust6 Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust52Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust54Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust41Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust72Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust12 King’s College Hospital NHS Trust42Kingston Hospital NHS Trust67London Bridge Hospital81Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust85Newham University Hospital NHS Trust—North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust—North West London Hospitals NHS Trust6Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust36Queen Mary’s Sidcup NHS Trust24Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust45Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust92St. George’s Healthcare NHS Trust47St. Mary’s NHS Trust69The Harley Street Clinic—The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust85The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust—The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust—University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust65West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust—Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust154 Notes:1. Main operationThe main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for “all operations count of episodes” give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.The OPCS-4.2 codes for liver transplant are as follows:J01.1 Orthotopic transplantation of liverJ01.2 Heterotopic transplantation of liverJ01.3 Replacement of previous liver transplantJ01.8 Other specified transplantation of liverJ01.9 Unspecified transplantation of liverThe OPCS-4.2 codes for kidney transplant are as follows:M01.1 Autotransplantation of kidneyM01.2 Allotransplantation of kidney from live donorM01.3 Allotransplantation of kidney from cadaverM01.8 Other specified transplantation of kidneyM01.9 Unspecified transplantation of kidneyThe codes for cardiac transplants in OPCS-4.2 are as follows:K01.1 Allotransplantation of heart and lungK01.2 Revision of transplantation of heart and lungK01.8 Other specified transplantation of heart and lungK01.9 Unspecified transplantation of heart and lungK02.1 Allotransplantation of heart necK02.2 Xenotransplantation of heartK02.3 Implantation of prosthetic heartK02.4 Piggy back transplantation of heartK02.5 Revision of implantation of prosthetic heartK02.6 Revision of transplantation of heart necK02.8 Other specified other transplantation of heartK02.9 Unspecified other transplantation of heartThe codes for all cardiac operations in OPCS-4.2 are as follows:All chapter K: K01-K712. Time waited (days)Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension. 3. Ungrossed dataFigures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).Source:Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care
Communities and Local Government
Agency Staff
I have been asked to reply.
Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 is the primary measure for combating illegal working. It provides employers with a statutory defence from conviction if they check and record certain specified documents belonging to potential employees. All employers in the UK, including councils, have a responsibility to ensure that they do not employ anyone who does not have leave to be in the UK and undertake the work in question.
Where an employment agency employs people and provides their services to a user, then it is the responsibility of the employment agency to carry out proper document checks. Where an employment agency is simply recruiting people to be employed by a client, then it is the client’s responsibility to carry out checks. Where there is any doubt about the employment relationship, we advise that both the employment agency and client should carry out checks.
Barker Report
The White Paper will be published in spring 2007. It will set out the Government's detailed proposals, including in relation to primary and secondary legislation.
The Government will set out in a White Paper, in spring 2007, their proposals in response to Kate Barker's recommendations for improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency in land use planning, and for taking forward Kate Barker's and Rod Eddington's proposals for reform of major infrastructure planning.
Building Valuations
(2) whether the property attribute of ratio of plot size to area used in the Valuation Office Agency’s Multiple Regional Analysis models measures (a) the plot size of the footprint of the domestic building and (b) the total floor space of the domestic building in relation to the area.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not have Multiple Regional Analysis models.
Conservation Areas
Information on the number of dwellings within conservation areas is not held centrally.
Conservation areas are designated by local planning authorities to English Heritage. The number of conservation areas was 9,374 at 30 September 2006 as published by English Heritage in “Heritage Counts 2006”.
Correspondence
I have now replied to the hon. Member’s letter.
Council Tax Revaluation
Since January 2005 the Valuation Office Agency has issued two council tax instructions and advice (IA’s):
CT IA 010905—Council tax completion notice. This was issued on 1 September 2005.
CT IA 241005—Recording and inputting property details as part of council tax maintenance and appeals work. This was issued on the 24 October 2005.
The VTS estimated that there might be 1 million appeals from the revaluation, of which it was estimated 50,000 would require a hearing before a formal valuation tribunal panel.
The Valuation Tribunal Service estimated at around £l million the cost of developing their systems to handle appeals arising from the revaluation and for additional training for valuation tribunal members on the revaluation.
Egan Review of Skills
The Government gave a full response to the 24 recommendations of the Egan Review in August 2004, setting out how each would be taken forward and to what time scale. The Government have taken the actions to which it committed in respect of all the recommendations.
Where target dates were set these have been met, with the exception of guidance for planning councillors (recommendation 12), which was published in 2005 rather than 2004, and the recommendation that Government and the Local Government Association review during 2006 the need for compulsory training of elected members (recommendation 20). This issue will be taken forward as part of the preparation of a national strategy for local improvement, as set out in the Local Government White Paper “Strong and Prosperous Communities”.
The Egan Review’s major recommendation was to establish a National Centre for Sustainable Community Skills. In response to this, the Government have established the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC), which is currently delivering a number of key Egan recommendations, including promoting generic skills, cross sector working and encouraging entrants into the core occupations. In December, the ASC launched a set of joint commitments with major national institutions, influencing the learning and professional development of 100,000 core professionals.
English Regional Chambers
I have arranged for copies of the latest regional assembly accounts to be placed in the Library of the House.
EU Directive 2002/91/EC
This question is a matter for the European Commission and the European Parliament.
Home Information Packs
PA Consulting Group have been used across a wide range of activities associated with the delivery of HIPs, primarily on the design and procurement of the HCR Register, the Certification Scheme, the Dry Run and the area trials. We anticipate that a total of £2.5 million will be paid to PA Consulting.
The payment to Xansa has been £69,000. No further payments are anticipated.
Home Inspectors
Figures on the number and status of candidates are reported regularly by the individual assessment centres on a voluntary basis.
The definition of ‘in training’ is taken from the information they provide. These are candidates who are reported by the assessment centre as having been registered with them to undertake the qualification and have not yet been assessed successfully against all the required modules of their course.
Housing Targets
The most recent guidance we have issued on meeting Decent Homes standard targets is the written statement that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, made to the House on 7 June 2006, Official Report, columns 27-29WS. On the same day we also published “The Decent Home : Definition and guidance for implementation” to update guidance published in February 2004; a “Supplement to Guidance on Arms Length Management”, supplementing guidance published in October 2004 for local authorities wishing to apply for places on the ALMO programme; and a discussion paper entitled “From Decent Homes to Sustainable Communities”. Ministers and officials also correspond frequently with individual or groups of ALMOs about their Decent Homes plans and have continued to do so over the last six months.
Language Services
The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made a recent estimate of the amount of money spent on interpreters by local authorities. Local authorities are accountable for this spend, but the Secretary of State is committed to working with them to look at the issue and consider balancing this to give a greater focus on promoting community cohesion. My right hon. Friend has therefore asked the Commission on Integration and Cohesion to consider this issue as part of its report due in June 2007.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made any recent estimate of the amount spent by local authorities on providing information in foreign languages. Local authorities are accountable for this spend, but the Secretary of State is committed to working with them to look at the issue and consider balancing this to give a greater focus on promoting community cohesion. My right hon. Friend has therefore asked the Commission on Integration and Cohesion to consider this issue as part of its report due in June 2007.
This information is not available as the Department’s statistical data collections from local authorities do not separately identify expenditure on translation services and therefore the information could be collated only at disproportionate cost. The Secretary of State has asked the Commission on Integration and Cohesion to consider this issue as part of its report that is due in June 2007.
Local Government
Notify is a voluntary scheme unique to London developed by the GLA and London councils. 23 London boroughs are loading information about their homeless households in temporary accommodation onto the notify system. This accounts for 72 per cent. of the households placed in temporary accommodation. The remaining 10 boroughs— Bromley, City of London, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Kingston upon Thames, Newham, Redbridge, Sutton and Wandsworth have formally signed up to participating in notify—and are providing sample information for testing and are using the system to view information about homeless households placed in temporary accommodation in their area by other London local authorities, or intend to load information once their boroughs’ new IT systems are fully operational.
Lyons Review
Yes. He will receive an additional fee of £40,000 (plus VAT).
Ministerial Travel
All ministerial visits are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 and the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2005-06 was published on 24 July 2006. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year in the Library of the House.
ODPM Hospitality
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2006, Official Report, column 867W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman).
Parish and Town Councils
The total amounts of local precepts issued for each financial year since 1997-98 are shown in the following table. The figures represent the amounts issued by local precepting authorities, or anticipated by the relevant billing authority. Local precepting authorities comprise parish and town councils and similar bodies, such as parish meetings and charter trustees. The information collected by the Department is not detailed enough to allow amounts precepted by parish councils and by town councils to be separately identified. Such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Financial year £ million 1997-98 144 1998-99 154 1999-2000 165 2000-01 181 2001-02 193 2002-03 210 2003-04 226 2004-05 242 2005-06 260 2006-07 282 Source: BR1 returns from billing authorities.
Property Sales Information
Recycled Water
On 13 December we published a consultation paper on water efficiency. The standards which it proposes will not usually require facilities for recycling water. However, savings from recycling could be used to balance the effects of appliances that use a large amount of water.
On the same day we published the Code for Sustainable Homes. The code sets out six levels of performance, with minimum standards for water and energy efficiency at each level. It does not prescribe which technologies are needed to achieve each level—allowing home builders the flexibility to innovate.
We are currently carrying out a study on the sustainability of existing buildings. We expect to report on this in the summer.
Telecommunications Masts
[holding answer 23 January 2007]: All ground-based masts are already subject to planning control. For masts under 15 m in height, a prior approval application is required. If the local authority considers that the development will pose a serious threat to amenity, it is able to refuse approval. For masts over 15 m in height, a full planning application is required. In reality, the prior approval and full planning application processes are very similar. The prior approval for masts under 15 m simply means the local planning authority has only eight weeks in which to decide the application. In addition, when the Government published the revised planning policy guidance 8, we strengthened public consultation requirements for prior approval so that they are exactly the same as applications for planning permission.
Network operators estimate that only around a third of installations are under their permitted development rights. These installations are, by definition, the smallest and most discreet of developments. The current arrangements also encourage network operators to install smaller apparatus on existing buildings and structures wherever possible, which minimises the environmental impact of such developments. Furthermore, simply because these small developments do not need planning permission does not mean that there is no public consultation. The Code of Best Practice that was produced jointly by central and local government and the mobile phone industry is clear that operators will assess every potential site and rate it using the “Traffic Light Model”. The Traffic Light Model allows a site to be rated according to its likely sensitivity in terms of environmental, planning and community considerations. This model determines the level of public consultation that will be required if the site is selected for the installation.
Each autumn, the Mobile Operators Association sends every local planning authority the details of the five operators’ network development plans for their area. These are called roll-out plans. Roll-out plans are the principal means for the operators to inform local planning authorities of their network development plans for the forthcoming year. It is good practice for local planning authorities to have discussions with respective operators. These discussions can ensure that local issues are addressed at an early stage and make sure that the most appropriate solutions are found for individual developments. I wrote to all MPs at the end of last year to bring their attention to the latest round of roll-out plans and to encourage them to find out whether their local planning authority has had discussions with operators following receipt of these plans.
It is important that local planning authorities focus their attention on those developments that will have the greatest impact. We believe that, in this case, we have the balance between impact and scrutiny right. Nevertheless, we are keeping this under review in consultation with the operators and other key stakeholders.
Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority
(2) if she will provide retrospective funding to Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority to make up for the shortfall in funding for the concessionary bus travel scheme.
I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Transport the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 9 January 2007, Official Report, column 474W, which sets out the discussions our Departments have had on this issue. The Government have provided significant additional funding for local authorities in 2006-07 and 2007-08 for all local services including local authorities’ responsibilities for concessionary travel schemes. The Local Government Finance Settlement 2007-08 provides for an increase in Government grant of£3.1 billion or 4.9 per cent. on a like for like basis.
Valuation Office Agency
The information is as follows:
(a) The Valuation Office Agency has supplied samples of the non-domestic rating list and addresses drawn from the valuation list, followed by compilations of similar data covering the whole of England and Wales.
(b) The data received from Ordnance Survey by the Valuation Office Agency is:
Land Line;
MasterMap;
1:10,000 Scale Black and White Raster Map;
1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:250,000 Scales Colour Raster Map;
Postcode Map; and
Boundary-Line.
The Valuation Office Agency pays for access to Ordnance Survey's digital mapping products. This is the only material purchased by the agency.
The total amounts paid by the Valuation Office Agency for these products provided by Ordnance Survey for the years 1997-98 to 2002-03 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The amounts paid in subsequent years are:
£ 2003-04 375,000.00 2004-05 375,000.00 2005-06 375,000.00 2006-07 405,750.00
The Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA’s) “Guide to Measuring for Council Tax Purposes”, which is based on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Code of Measuring Practice, has been placed in the Library of the House.
Variography and Pictometry Techniques
The information requested is as follows.
(a) None.
(b) None.
Zero-carbon Homes
The Government do not collect this information centrally. The number of zero carbon homes built is currently very small. The code for sustainable housing and the new planning policy statement are designed to cut carbon emissions from new homes, and promote far more zero carbon homes until within 10 years all new homes built are zero carbon.