Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Northern Ireland
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The three former senior officers, Chris Albiston, Raymond White and Freddie Hall, named by the hon. Gentleman were not formally interviewed in connection with any alleged offence in the course of the Police Ombudsman’s investigation. I am happy to put on record that these officers, in common with many colleagues, served with commitment and distinction in very demanding policing roles in Northern Ireland.
Solicitor-General
Departments: Consultants
I am answering this question on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office, Treasury's Solicitors Department and HMCPS Inspectorate.
It has not been possible to distinguish between expenditure on management consultants and other external consultants. The statistics are also dependent on individual budget holders allocating expenditure to the correct code.
Financial year CPS SFO RCPO TSol1 HMCPSI 2000-01 4,043 341 n/a 202 n/a 2001-02 7,126 298 n/a 195 153 2002-03 4,947 762 n/a 311 63 2003-04 7,139 672 n/a 278 51 2004-05 7,819 1,296 n/a 274 59 2005-06 3,784 1,919 127 658 66 2006-07 3,924 1,453 236 328 57 1 Including AGO
In addition the Treasury Solicitors’ department has incurred the following costs for externally procured legal advice for representation including expenditure which is recovered from client organisations through charges as part of the business operations of TSol.
£000 2000-01 17,531 2001-02 20,418 2002-03 27,089 2003-04 28,187 2004-05 22,981 2005-06 17,409 2006-07 (forecast) 20,254
Departments: Legislation
My Department is not generally responsible for the carriage of legislation. We are not aware of any legislative provisions within our responsibility and introduced since 1997, which have not yet been brought into force.
Public Sector: Misconduct
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of whether the defendants it prosecutes are public sector employees or whether the offences for which defendants are prosecuted relate to their official duties.
This information may be held on individual case files, but could only be obtained by locating and examining a huge numbers of individual case files and would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Information, part 2, clause 9).
Police Cautions
The joint Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)/Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) prosecution team is responsible for the implementation of and the day-to-day monitoring of the conditional cautioning scheme.
Monitoring of the use of the conditional cautions is undertaken at both national and local level. An information data set has been produced, which contains national and local performance data including the number of offenders being conditionally cautioned and the types of offences conditional cautions have been issued for. The information data set is issued by the national prosecution team on a monthly basis to all staff across areas with lead responsibility for conditional cautioning.
Information contained in the information data set is obtained from the CPS case management system and management information system as well as from local areas and Home Office research, development and statistics (RDS) data. Collating the data in this way allows for a consistent, national recording mechanism which does not require additional reporting from areas.
Conditional cautioning is being implemented across each criminal justice area in a phased approach. To date, conditional cautioning is operational in 93 police basic command units across 41 out of the 42 criminal justice areas. Full implementation of the scheme across 230 basic command units is expected to be achieved by April 2008. There have been 2,963 conditional cautions issued nationally since the first pilot schemes were introduced in 2005. A breakdown of the number of conditional cautions in each CPS area is also available from:
conditional.cautioning:cps.gsi.gov.uk
In Gloucestershire, conditional cautions were introduced on 25 June 2007 in the Cotswold and Stroud division. However, to date no conditional cautions have been issued in this division.
Scotland
Departments: Official Hospitality
Scotland Office hospitality expenditure is detailed in the following table:
Hospitality expenditure (£) 2002-03 41,882 2003-04 25,969 2004-05 18,420 2005-06 17,748 2006-07 23,411
Departments: Official Visits
I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 17 May 2006, Official Report, column 994W.
Departments: Racial Harassment
There have been no complaints of racial abuse in the last 12 months.
Dover House: Official Hospitality
The number of receptions held at Dover House is as shown in the following table. The receptions not funded by the Scotland Office were third party events organised and funded by organisations such as charities and trade associations.
Third party events Scotland Office funded events Total number of events 2002-03 21 7 28 2003-04 14 8 22 2004-05 24 7 31 2005-06 11 5 16 2006-07 25 5 30
Navy: Military Bases
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence on a range of subjects.
Wales
Departments: Official Visits
A total of £12,263.38 was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants in the 12 months to 31 March 2007, the latest period for which we have final figures. This reflects the increased travel requirements of Cardiff-based staff in support of the heavy parliamentary legislative programme delivered by the Wales Office.
Pipelines: Natural Gas
My hon. Friend the Member for Carmarthen, West and South Pembrokeshire (Nick Ainger), and I had regular discussions with Welsh Assembly Government ministerial colleagues, including about the health and safety considerations of both phases of the liquid natural gas pipeline (LNG), and I will continue to do so as necessary.
I am confident that stringent conditions are attached to the approval. All pipelines in the United Kingdom are designed, tested and operated in accordance with the strictest standards established by the Health and Safety Executive and the Institute of Gas Engineers.
Both the National Grid (NG) and the Milford Haven Port Authority have been working closely with Government and security services to make sure they have robust security arrangements.
The NG takes safety and security of people and assets extremely seriously and continually carries out thorough reviews of safety and security at its sites around the country based on potential risks, and has a number of procedures in place. In 35 years the UK’s high-pressure National Grid Transmission System has never experienced a serious incident affecting life or property, and I am sure that NG is doing its utmost to maintain this exemplary record.
Leader of the House
Members: Correspondence
The monetary cap on the use of pre-paid envelopes from 1 April 2007 was balanced by the introduction of the Communications Allowance, which provides extra resources to enable Members to engage proactively with their constituents.
The rules of the new allowance will be reviewed and if necessary revised by the Members Estimate Committee in the light of experience and on advice by the Advisory Panel on Members' Allowances.
There are no plans to commission any research on the postage and stationery rules.
Members: Cycling
As employers, Members may register for the scheme, which has costs as well as benefits for Members' staff. Any Member doing so would be responsible for administering the scheme and ensuring that the scheme rules were met.
Oral Questions
The Leader of the House confirmed the questions rota until the summer recess on 4 July for departmental Ministers. The rota, and related matters including the issue of question times for regional Ministers, will be considered during the summer recess.
International Development
Afghanistan: Reconstruction
Through the national solidarity programme, the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) have approved 697 reconstruction projects in Helmand of which 250 have been completed. These have taken place in Lashkar Gah, Nahr-e-Saraj, Kajki, Musa Qala, Baghran, Now Zad, Washer, Nad Ali, Nawa-i-Barakzai, Dishu, Garmsir, Sangin and Reg. Through DFID's support to GoA's rural water and sanitation programme, 229 wells to provide clean drinking water in Helmand have been completed. These are located in Lashkar Gah, Nahr-e-Saraj, Nawa and Nad Ali. Work is also being undertaken on 50 kilometres of DFID-funded roads in Lashkar Gah.
Since April 2006, the UK has funded 150 quick impact projects through the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) based in Lashkar Gah. Of these, 81 were reconstruction projects and 52 have been completed. These have taken place in Lashkar Gah, Gereshk, Sangin, Garmsir, Musa Qala and Nahr-e-Saraj.
In addition to this, the United States Government through USAID have completed 75 projects through their alternative livelihoods programme over the last two years in Helmand. These projects have covered every district in Helmand except for Dishu.
Over the past 30 years, infrastructure in Afghanistan, including Helmand province, has sustained substantial damage due to conflict, and neglect resulting from the collapse of governmental institutions. Since the UK assumed the lead of the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in April 2006, the security situation has not been suitably permissive to allow either the PRT or provincial authorities to undertake a full battle damage assessment, encompassing destroyed or delayed projects, across Helmand.
The PRT works closely with the provincial authorities to undertake consultations with communities across the province to enable them to compile a provincial development plan (PDP) that will address the reconstruction and development needs of Helmand. The civilian and military elements within the PRT are working in close partnership to minimise the future risk of damage to infrastructure and non-combatants.
Latin America: Overseas Aid
The Department for International Development's Latin America policy will be reviewed in the autumn in the light of consultations on a new DFID strategy for Latin America.
We expect to have the Latin America Regional Assistance Plan 2008-11 published by the end of 2007.
Palestinians: EC Aid
Any decision to extend the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) beyond September will need to be taken by the Quartet in consultation with the Palestinians. The EU is currently discussing with Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad how best to provide financial and practical assistance to the emergency government. He has welcomed the continuation of support through the TIM, but has not yet indicated how he would like it to evolve after September.
Defence
Afghanistan: Reconstruction
I have been asked to reply.
Through the national solidarity programme, the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) have approved 697 reconstruction projects in Helmand over the last two years, of which 250 have been completed. Through DFID’s support to GoA’s Rural Water and Sanitation Programme, 1,000 wells to provide clean drinking water in Helmand have been surveyed, and 229 have been completed. Since April 2006, the UK has funded 150 quick impact projects through the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) based in Lashkar Gah. Of these, 81 were reconstruction projects and 52 have been completed. Work is also ongoing on 50 kilometres of DFID-funded roads in Lashkar Gah.
In addition to this, the United States Government through USAID have completed 75 projects through its alternative livelihoods programme over the last two years in Helmand.
Armed Forces: Health
The MOD is responsible for ensuring the medical care of serving members of the armed forces. The actual delivery of health care is performed by a combination of the Defence Medical Services, the NHS, coalition forces or private medical providers, depending on the geographical location, circumstances and clinical need of the patient.
If service personnel require medical treatment when on leave in the UK away from their normal duty station, they should obtain it from local NHS facilities. If inpatient treatment is required, administrative arrangements are in place for the hospital to inform the relevant service authority, in order that the appropriate military medical and welfare processes can be set in motion, which may include transfer to facilities convenient to home or unit if necessary.
Armed Forces: Life Insurance
[holding answer 16 July 2007]: MOD already provides significant financial support for attributable death during service. This was improved under the 2005 Armed Forces Pension Scheme and the Compensation Scheme introduced on 6 April 2005.
As a matter of policy MOD leaves the decision whether to take out additional cover in the form of personal insurance to the individual as individual needs vary and personal insurance is a complex issue.
In the past, service personnel have sometimes encountered difficulties in obtaining affordable life insurance that provides cover for war risks such as chemical or biological attack.
One scheme currently available to all service personnel, including those deployed abroad is PAX which provides personal accident and life cover. PAX covers war risks, but has in the past imposed restrictions (such as closing the scheme or introducing war and terrorism risks) for new members.
In addition, MOD's Service Risks Insurance Premiums Refunds scheme currently contributes towards extra life insurance premiums incurred by personnel involved in certain high-risk activities such as flying. The compensation available is 90 per cent. of the extra premium up to a total sum assured, which is increased every year in line with service pay and is currently £157,000.
In addition, the MOD launched on 8 May a new life insurance scheme, aimed exclusively at service personnel, Service Life Insurance (SLI). The scheme is available to all service personnel—including those deployed abroad on operations—and guarantees affordable cover, including against the risks of war and terrorism throughout their service and civilian life. Premiums are comparable to those paid by civilians, with no premium loading for personnel deployed on operations—or those involved in high-risk activities.
Armed Forces: Nijmegen Marches
Around 1,060 UK armed forces personnel will be involved in the 2007 Nijmegen Marches.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
A manning pinch point is defined as a trade or area of expertise where there is insufficient trained strength (officers or ratings/other ranks) to perform directed tasks. This might be as a result of adherence to single-service harmony guidelines, under-manning, and/or levels of commitment that exceed the resourced manpower ceiling for the trades or areas of expertise involved.
The percentage shortfall for each pinch point trade is as follows:
Pinch point trade Percentage shortfall Ammunition Technician 19.41 Clerk of Works 16.28 Intelligence Operator 9.21 Vehicle Mechanic 7.85 Armourer 9.21 Recovery Mechanic 10.58 Mechanical Fitter 5.36 ITU Nurse 38.46 EM Nurse 45.28 Radiologist 80.00 Orthopaedic Surgeon 53.85 General Surgeon 50.00 UAV Operator Level 4 47.71 Anaesthetist 45.95 General Medical Practitioner 44.39 Radiographer 42.86 Registered General Nurse 36.04 ME Geographical 27.05 Explosives Ordnance Disposal 26.11 ODP 44.64 MEC3S 17.95 Postal and Courier Operator 9.36 Chef 7.15 Petroleum Operator 3.77 IS Engineer 3.44
Pinch point trade Percentage shortfall Merlin aircrew (pilots) 32 Merlin aircrew (observers) 43 Merlin aircrew (aircrew) 30 Harrier GR7 Flying Instructors 85 Leading Seaman (Warfare) 42 Ableseaman (Divers) 3 Royal Marine (Marine) 9 Royal Marine (Corporal) 11 Royal Marine (Sergeant) 13 Leading Air Engineer Technician 35 Petty Officer (Mine Warfare) 33 Leading Aircraft Controllers 36 Ableseaman Warfare Specialist (Sensor Submarine) 32 Ableseaman Warfare Specialist (Tactical Submarine) 32 Strategic Weapon System Junior Rates (Engineering Technician) 30 Strategic Weapon System Junior Rates (Leading Engineering Technician) 25 Marine Engineer Submarine Nuclear Watchkeepers—CatA2 28 Marine Engineer Submarine Nuclear Watchkeepers—Cat B 19
Pinch point trade Percentage shortfall Operations Support (Intelligence) 2.5 Operations Support (Regiment) 12.3 Operations Support (Provost) 5.2 PMRAFNS (Nurses) 19.8 Weapons Systems (Air Loadmaster) 10.2 Gunner 13.0 Registered General Nurse (Other Ranks) 11.7 Medical 28.8 Musician 13.1 Pharmaceutical Health Technician 15 Radiographer 15.4 RAF Police 6.2 Registered Mental Nurse 21.3
Armed Forces: Royal Engineers
[holding answer 11 July 2007]: On current plans 124 Field Squadron RE (V) and 129 Field Squadron RE(V) will begin to form up from 1 April 2009.
Arms Control
I refer my hon. Friend to the Global Partnership, UK Fourth Annual Report 2006, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
Army
The following table shows the number of trained soldiers who have outflowed to officer from the ranks for the period 1 April 2002 to 28 February 2007:
Date of flow Number of outflows to officer 2002-03 360 2003-04 330 2004-05 320 2005-06 340 2006-071 370 1 Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system for all three services, Army data shown at 1 April 2007 and 1 May 2007 are not available. Consequently Army data shown are for the latest 12 months available, comprising data from 1 March 2006 to 28 February 2007. Notes: 1. UK regular forces includes nursing services and excludes full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. 2. All data have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
Defence Agencies
(2) how many redundancies there were within (a) the Defence Housing Executive and (b) Defence Estates in each year since 1997, broken down by occupation.
Details of civilian full-time equivalent (FTE) strengths are given in the following table.
Defence Estates1 Defence Housing Executive2 As at April: 1997 1,230 — 1998 1,160 — 1999 1,240 1,020 2000 1,220 960 2001 1,350 990 2002 1,420 940 2003 1,550 880 2004 2,450 — 2005 2,820 — 2006 2,900 — 2007 2,860 —
Details of civilian FTE redundancies are given in the following table.
Defence Estates1 As at April: 1997 3— 1998 10 1999 3— 2000 15 2001 3— 2002 3— 2003 10 2004 10 2005 3— 2006 30 2007 60 1 Known as the Defence Estates Organisation until 1 March 1999 and subsequently merged with Defence Housing Executive on 1 April 2004; formally ceased to be a Defence Agency on 1 April 2007. 2 Defence Housing Executive was formed April 1999 and merged with Defence Estates on 1 April 2004. 3 Denotes less than 5. Notes: 1. These table use the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa.mod.uk for details). 2. Figures include values for part-time staff proportionate to those of full-time staff. 3. All figures are rounded to the nearest ten; as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts. For visibility rounding has only been applied to figures of ten and above. 4. For DHE strength figures are available for the first five years it existed, but redundancies are not separately identifiable.
Information relating to occupation is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Defence Export Services Organisation
The Ministry of Defence will continue to offer high quality support to UK-based defence manufacturers to help them win contracts for legitimate defence exports.
[holding answer 12 July 2007]: I have regular discussions with colleagues at the Treasury on issues of mutual interest.
Defence Export Services Organisation: Finance
(2) what future funding for the Defence Export Services Organisation was included in the 2007 Budget.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 24 April 2006, Official Report, column 845W, to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones). The net operating costs of the Defence Export Services Organisation in financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07 were £14.497 million and £15.015 million respectively.
Provision of £13.7 million has been made for the net operating costs of the Defence Export Services Organisation in 2007-08.
Departments: Early Retirement
The information in respect of the number, grade and percentage of staff who took early retirement is provided in the following tables:
Headcount 2002-03 700 2003-041 1,200 2004-05 790 2005-06 1,100 2006-07 1,100 1 The streamlining of Head Office prior to the reoccupation of main building in London led to 540 personnel taking early retirement on compulsory early retirement on structural grounds. Note: This table excludes Royal Fleet auxiliary and locally engaged civilian staff for whom no information on civilian early retirements is available.
Grade 2002-03 2003-041 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Band B Level 1 10 50 10 20 30 Band B Level 2 20 120 20 50 60 Band C Level 1 50 120 80 160 110 Band C Level 2 80 180 140 230 160 Band D 90 220 100 230 170 Band E Level 1 160 160 140 110 140 Band E Level 2 50 60 40 50 40 Other Non Industrial 20 20 10 20 20 Industrial 160 150 130 90 200 Trading Fund Personnel 70 120 110 160 180 Total 700 1,200 790 1,100 1,100 1 The streamlining of Head Office prior to the reoccupation of main building in London led to 540 personnel taking early retirement on compulsory early retirement on structural grounds. Note: This table excludes Royal Fleet auxiliary and locally engaged civilian staff for whom no information on civilian early retirements is available.
Grade 2002-03 2003-042 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Band B Level 1 1.9 9.2 1.7 2.2 4.6 Band B Level 2 1.2 6.2 1.1 2.4 2.7 Band C Level 1 1.1 2.4 1.5 2.8 1.8 Band C Level 2 0.7 1.6 1.2 1.9 1.4 Band D 0.6 1.6 0.7 1.6 1.3 Band E Level 1 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.7 Band E Level 2 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 Other Non Industrial 3.5 1.4 3.0 4.8 3.0 Industrial 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.6 1.4 Trading Fund Personnel 0.6 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.7 1 Percentage is based solely on early retirement data by grade compared against a 13-month average strength profile by grade for each financial year. Notes: 1 The streamlining of Head Office prior to the reoccupation of main building in London led to 540 personnel taking early retirement on compulsory early retirement on structural grounds. 2 This table excludes Royal Fleet auxiliary and locally engaged civilian staff for whom no information on civilian early retirements is available.
The information requested about costs is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Flags
Guidance is set out in Queen's Regulations and stipulates that all service and major commands and headquarters are required to fly the Union flag daily. In addition, these establishments are permitted to fly flags signifying the relevant single service and commander, corps, regimental, station and establishment.
Departments: Manpower
Numbers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Public Expenditure
No. Publication of such documents would be prejudicial to the conduct of public affairs.
Departments: Public Transport
The Department has not estimated the number of its staff using public transport to commute. MOD encourages the use of public transport and cycling to work by providing interest-free loans for the purchase of public transport season tickets.
Departments: Racial Harassment
The number of formal complaints of racial harassment in the Ministry of Defence and armed forces for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007, the latest period for which figures are available, was as follows:
Investigated Upheld Armed forces 15 6 MOD civil service 0 0
The Department’s Unified Diversity Strategy makes clear that harassment of any kind is not tolerated in the Ministry of Defence or the armed forces. Revised complaints procedures were published in January 2007. Ongoing internal communications keep personnel informed of their rights and responsibilities.
Ex-servicemen: Hearing Impaired
Advice regarding entitlement to priority treatment from the NHS is referenced in Leaflet 2 which is sent out by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency with the war pension disablement acceptance notification letter.
Regular reminders about priority treatment for war pensioners are circulated by the Health Departments to senior NHS managers who are tasked to ensure that relevant clinical staff are aware. Reminder action, due this year, will reference this issue. Priority for assessment, treatment, aids etc is decided by the clinician in charge based on clinical need.
MOD is working with the UK Health Departments regarding awareness of NHS priority treatment among health professionals. Later this year Health Departments will distribute reminders to the chief executives of trusts requiring them to ensure that general practitioners and hospital clinicians are aware of all those veterans who are eligible for priority treatment, including the group who have noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss accepted as caused by service. Priority refers to assessment, treatment and provision of aids. Allocation of priority is by the clinician in charge based on clinical need.
Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations
The total estimate figures for the net additional costs of operations in Iraq, included in Spring Supplementary Estimates for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07, were as follows.
Financial year £ million 2002-03 1,000 2003-04 1,539 2004-05 975 2005-06 1,098 2006-07 1,002
[holding answer 16 July 2007]: As of June 2007, around 5,500 UK armed forces personnel are deployed on operations in Iraq, although numbers do fluctuate due, for example, to roulements and rest and recuperation breaks.
Military Bases: Wales
No formal discussions have taken place between the Ministry of Defence and Airbus Cimpa regarding this matter.
Ministry of Defence Police: Overtime
I am unable to comment on security matters in detail as to do so would, or would be likely to prejudice national security. The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency is managing this reduction in overtime.
MV Bugaled Breizh
The Department has received indirect communication from the French Tribunal conducting the inquiry into the loss of the fishing vessel Bugaled Breizh via the Home Office (United Kingdom Central Authority) and the French embassy, London. This has been for additional information to assist with their inquiries and declassification of signal messages respectively. The Department has not received or had sight of any official reports from the investigation.
Navy: Drug Seizures
[holding answer 16 July 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 26 June 2007, Official Report, column 670W, to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans).
Project MoDEL
The approval for the Project MoDEL contract included £177 million for capital expenditure for the development of RAF Northolt. Project MoDEL is currently forecast to remain within its original approval.
A second contract including around £30 million for capital expenditure was awarded to a separate contractor to relocate the British Forces Post Office to RAF Northolt. This contract is also currently forecast to remain within its original approval.
Transport: AWE Burghfield
I am withholding the information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security.
The transportation of nuclear and other hazardous materials is governed by the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Great Britain) Regulations 2002 and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (as amended in 2005). Although the Department is exempt from the regulations, it is nevertheless MOD policy to comply with their principles although they place no obligation on a carrier to inform local authorities. The publicly available Local Authority Emergency Services Information (LAESI) document provides the emergency services, local and health authorities with information on contingency arrangements for the transport of special nuclear material.
Reserve Forces: Deployment
As at 31 March 2007, the latest figures available, reservists were deployed in joint operational areas (JOA) as follows:
Iraq: 451
Afghanistan: 359
Balkans: 44.
In addition, some 500 mobilised reservists were in the UK, predominantly undertaking pre-deployment training, post-deployment leave or receiving medical treatment. Finally, 35 sponsored reserves were on mobilised service and serving in or between the JOAs and the UK.
Weapons
The number of weapons and weapon parts lost, missing or stolen from the armed forces between 2002 and 2007 is shown in the table for each whole calendar year. This provides details of all cases reported to the Royal Military Police’s Service Police Crime Bureau and includes losses which have been investigated by the Ministry of Defence Police, Home Department Police Forces and other branches of the Service Police. The data cover a range of reported incidents, including weapons which have been lost or stolen in operational theatres and the loss of private firearms lodged in MOD armouries. The data are held by calendar year. To break them down in any other way could be done only at disproportionate cost.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20071 Air Rifle or Pistol 0 2 0 0 0 0 Automatic Weapon 0 2 0 1 0 0 Heavy Arms 0 0 0 0 1 0 Pistol 2 5 10 5 8 3 Rifle 2 17 15 9 14 4 Shotgun 0 0 0 0 0 2 Explosives and Pyrotechnics 2 4 3 6 2 1 Weapon component or attachment 0 6 0 1 6 2 Other 0 1 4 13 1 1 1 As of 1 July
Work and Pensions
Child Support Agency
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 17 July 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding 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 estimate he has made of the time taken by the Child Support Agency to secure a liability order, and what the key factors are in determining that timescale.
The current time taken to secure a liability order from the courts from first referral to the Child Support Agency enforcement teams is 115 calendar days in England and Wales and 171 days in Scotland. The key factors in determining this timescale are; primarily, the local availability of court services and the requirement to allow a period of time between the court summons and court date, to allow the non-resident parent time to prepare for the hearing.
In Scottish courts, the non-resident parent also has the ability to object to the courts, which can impact on the time taken to obtain the liability order.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
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 17 July 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 requests have been made by the Child Support Agency to HM Revenue and Customs in each (a) month and (b) quarter since January 2003 in respect of access to information on the incomes of non-resident parents; and if he will make a statement.
Such information as is available is set out in the attached table, which shows the number of requests dealt with by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) where the Child Support Agency has made a request for information on the non-resident parents income.
The information supplied relates to queries dealt with by two parts of HMRC, the Centre of Research and Intelligence (CRI) and the National Insurance Contributions Office.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Month 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 January 1,837 1,619 2,024 2,949 4,319 February 1,587 2,082 2,227 2,470 3,096 March 1,814 2,369 2,255 2,385 5,410 Quarter 1 (January-March) 5,238 6,070 6,506 7,804 12,825 April 1,576 2,727 2,581 2,257 3,315 May 1,887 2,130 1,942 2,819 4,178 June 2,072 2,030 1,930 2,420 2,657 Quarter 2 (April-June) 5,535 6,887 6,453 7,496 7,493 July 1,658 2,856 2,351 2,968 August 2,319 2,143 2,058 2,385 September 1,980 2,101 2,210 2,425 Quarter 3 (July-September) 5,957 7,100 6,619 7,778 October 2,877 2,714 2,219 3,779 November 2,225 1,919 2,355 2,852 December 1,444 1,810 1,467 1,927 Quarter 4 (October-December) 6,546 6,443 6,041 8,558 Total 23,276 26,500 25,619 31,636 20,318
Year 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 to date Totals 3,597 8,452 18,883 35,448 53,795 6,294 Note to table: The information on referrals to the National Insurance Contributions Office is only available annually
Child Support Agency: Debt Collection
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 17 July 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 limitations there are on the amount of Child Support Agency arrears which can be recovered by a deduction of earnings order from a non-resident parent; and if he will make a statement.
Regulation 11 of the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, requires the Agency not to exceed 40% of a liable person's net earnings when imposing a deduction from earnings order.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Child Support Agency: Fees and Charges
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 17 July 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, what the total expenditure by the Child Support Agency on solicitor legal costs is for each year since 2000-01.
The Agency’s accounting system does not report solicitor’s legal costs in a discreet expense account; as such I am unable to provide the information in the format requested.
Solicitors legal costs are grouped together with court fees and charges into a single expense account code. The total costs of solicitors and court fees in each of the last six financial years is shown in the table below.
Financial year £ million 2006-07 2.158 2005-06 1.408 2004-05 0.896 2003-02 0.606 2002-03 0.526 2001-02 0.498
The increase in legal costs in 2006-07 is a result of the increased legal enforcement action the Agency is undertaking as part of the Operational Improvement Plan.
Information for the 2000-01 financial year is not available as this year falls outside of the legislative requirement to keep accounting records for six years.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Children: Maintenance
(2) for what reasons the Child Support Agency parliamentary business unit in Birkenhead is unable to communicate via telephone with the CSA office in Bolton.
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 17 July 2007:
In reply to your recent parliamentary questions regarding 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, for what reasons the Child Support Agency offices in Birkenhead and Bolton have different criteria for determining eligibility for an advance payment of arrears, [146853] and
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and pensions, for what reasons the Child Support Agency Parliamentary Business Unit in Birkenhead are unable to communicate via telephone with the Child Support Agency office in Bolton. [146853]
All cases, including those being managed clerically at the Bolton office, are subject to the same legislative and procedural rules. This includes the decision to make an advance payment where maladministration has occurred and a range of pre-defined criteria are satisfied.
We actively encourage use of the telephone as the primary means of communication between offices to update or discuss particulars on a case. It is only in the case of a complaint being received in the Agency about a clerical case maintained by the Bolton office that, initially, the inquiry is emailed to Bolton. This is to ensure the Bolton office has all the necessary information to progress and resolve the client’s concerns. Subsequently, contact should be made by telephone.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Financial Assistance Scheme
(2) what the average processing time was for pension schemes applying to qualify for initial payments under the FAS in each month since the scheme began operating; and if he will make a statement.
The following table shows the months in which schemes have requested initial payments and the average time taken from the date of request to the date on which the scheme was accepted for initial payments.
Month of request for initial payments Average number of days between request and acceptance 2005 October 41 December 47 2006 January 19 February 42 March 47 April 48 May 41 June 32 July 20 August 42 September 20 October 4 November 12 December 11 2007 January 20 February 22 April 8 May 16 June 7
(2) what the average processing time for pension schemes applying to qualify for assistance under the financial assistance scheme has been since the scheme has been operating; and if he will make a statement.
In order to obtain a decision on qualification for assistance under the financial assistance scheme, a pension scheme must successfully go through the two stages of notification and qualification. This involves the trustees and administrators providing basic scheme information to the FAS operational unit.
As at 29 June 2007, the average time taken since operations started in September 2005 from receipt at FASOU of a correctly completed application form for qualification to a qualification decision being issued was 47 working days.
Equivalent information on a month-by-month basis is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Industrial Health and Safety: Coroners
[holding answer 12 July 2007]: Coroners are appointed and funded by the relevant local authority. Their officers are employed by the relevant local authority or police authority. Compliance with health and safety requirements for risk assessments relating to their work is a matter for the relevant employer. The Health and Safety Executive continues to work with employers to develop and implement sensible risk controls.
Industrial Health and Safety: Publicity
The HSE’s ‘Height Aware’ campaign 2006 cost about £1.7 million including publicity, promotional events and evaluation of its effectiveness. In 2005 the HSE ran some initiatives focusing on ladder safety costing around £17.500. The HSE is currently building on these with the current ‘Ladder Exchange’ initiative, for which final costs are not yet available. A falls from height campaign specifically targeting those working in the construction sector was run in 2003-04, costing £275,000. These campaigns were aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries arising from falls from ladders which cost the British economy more than £60 million a year.
Pensions: Financial assistance scheme
The FAS operational unit does not hold the precise information requested specifically for schemes in England and Wales as in many cases the principal employer of the underfunded pension schemes are no longer in existence. They have therefore been provided with the address of the scheme trustee, administrator or the official receiver which does not reflect the location of the sponsoring employer of the pension scheme.
A total of 682 schemes have qualified for FAS assistance. This is correct up to and including the 22 June 2007.
Pensions: Financial Assistance Scheme
As at 6 July 2007 there are a total of 38 pension schemes whose status for the FAS is yet to be decided. Of these, 10 schemes (26 per cent.) are being considered based on the initial information provided by the trustees; we are awaiting further information from the trustees of 15 schemes (40 per cent.) and the remaining 13 schemes (34 per cent.) have indicated that a compromise agreement is in place, so we are unable to progress the application until the legislation to implement the extension to cover these schemes is in place.
Social Security Benefits: Repayments
From 10 April 2006, apart from those in receipt of disability living allowance, attendance allowance and carer's allowance, patients receiving free in-patient treatment in NHS hospitals no longer have their benefits reduced to a flat rate figure.
The role of DLA is to help with the extra costs of disability-related needs. These needs are met free of charge by the NHS when someone is in hospital. Payment of DLA for adults therefore stops after four weeks to avoid duplicate provision. However, payment of DLA to children aged under 16 does not stop until after 12 weeks, regardless of their diagnosis. Carer's allowance would also normally continue to be paid to the carer for this 12-week period. The 12-week rule recognises that children may have special needs for support from their parents while they are adjusting to hospital life.
We have no plans to change the current rules.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Subsidies
As of 30 June 2007 5,745 claimants had been paid interest in respect of the single payment scheme for 2005. The total amount of interest paid was £1,203,619.97.
Carbon Emissions
For information relating to UK and EU emissions, I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer provided by my predecessor on 8 March 2007, Official Report, column 2184W.
Table 1 contains UK CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, and percentage changes, for each year between 1990 and 2005, the latest year for which data are available. Table 2 contains comparable figures for the EU-15, who have a collective target of -8 per cent. under the Kyoto protocol.
DEFRA does not hold the information requested for the US, China, Russia, sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries. Emissions estimates are submitted under the United Nations framework convention on climate change, which is the parent treaty for the Kyoto protocol and Montreal decisions. The United States and Russia are both Annex I parties, and are therefore required to submit annual estimates of emissions to the Convention. China, and all African countries, are non-Annex I parties to the convention, and are therefore not required to submit annual emissions estimates. All emissions data submitted to the convention are available on the UNFCCC website.
GHG emissions (with LULUCF) Percentage change on previous year Percentage change on 1990 Net CO2 emissions including land use, land use change and forestry Percentage change on previous year Percentage change on 1990 1990 773.0 — — 592.1 — — 1991 779.2 0.8 0.8 598.9 1.1 1.1 1992 754.4 -3.2 -2.4 581.9 -2.8 -1.7 1993 732.6 -2.9 -5.2 567.0 -2.6 -4.2 1994 720.0 -1.7 -6.9 559.2 -1.4 -5.6 1995 709.7 -1.4 -8.2 549.6 -1.7 -7.2 1996 730.7 3.0 -5.5 571.3 3.9 -3.5 1997 706.6 -3.3 -8.6 548.4 -4.0 -7.4 1998 701.6 -0.7 -9.2 550.1 0.3 -7.1 1999 670.4 -4.4 -13.3 540.8 -1.7 -8.7 2000 672.0 0.2 -13.1 548.8 1.5 -7.3 2001 674.9 0.4 -12.7 559.6 2.0 -5.5 2002 654.3 -3.1 -15.4. 543.2 -2.9 -8.3 2003 660.0 0.9 -14.6 555.1 2.2 -6.2 2004 657.0 -0.5 -15.0 554.6 -0.1 -6.3 2005 653.8 -0.5 -15.4 554.2 -0.1 -6.4
GHG emissions (with LULUCF) Percentage change on previous year Percentage change on 1990 Net CO2 emissions including land use, land use change and forestry Percentage change on previous year Percentage change on 1990 1990 4,040 — — 3,135 — — 1991 3,995 -1.1 -1.1 3,101 -1.1 -1.1 1992 3,921 -1.9 -2.9 3,041 -1.9 -3.0 1993 3,847 -1.9 -4.8 2,983 -1.9 -4.8 1994 3,826 -0.5 -5.3 2,963 -0.7 -5.5 1995 3,863 1.0 -4.4 2,993 1.0 -4.5 1996 3,930 1.7 -2.7 3,054 2.0 -2.6 1997 3,871 -1.5 -4.2 3,004 -1.6 -4.2 1998 3,898 0.7 -3.5 3,061 1.9 -2.4 1999 3,825 -1.9 -5.3 3,026 -1.1 -3.5 2000 3,846 0.5 ^-4.8 3,062 1.2 -2.3 2001 3,867 0.5 -4.3 3,105 1.4 -1.0 2002 3,829 -1.0 -5.2 3,084 -0.7 -1.6 2003 3,909 2.1 -3.2 3,175 3.0 1.3 2004 3,926 0.4 -2.8 3,203 0.9 2.2 2005 3,877 -1.2 -4.0 3,164 -1.2 0.9
Carbon Emissions: Cattle
For information relating to research into reducing methane emissions from livestock, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 10 July 2007, Official Report, column 1380W.
In addition to our work on reducing emissions from livestock through nutrition, husbandry, genetics, and nutrient management, we are also exploring the potential for the use of anaerobic digestion to reduce methane emissions. Anaerobic digestion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane from the decomposition of organic materials, such as livestock manures and slurries, sewage sludge and food wastes, to produce a biogas. The biogas can be used as a renewable energy source, both for heat and power, and as a transport fuel.
Departments: Lighting
DEFRA participated in the Lights out London campaign in order to raise awareness of the issue of climate change by encouraging people to change their behaviour both at work and at home. One of the actions people can take to reduce CO2 emissions is to turn off lights.
Eight departmental buildings in London complied with the initiative.
Departments: Private Finance Initiative
There are no private finance initiative projects completed since 1997 for which the Department or its sponsored bodies have responsibility. There are, however, currently three PFI projects under way for which DEFRA does have responsibility and the details of these are shown in the following table. The Department is not presently involved in any other PFI projects which are at the commissioning stage. The total costs shown in the table include unitary charge payments which are conditional on the performance of the private sector contractors.
Organisation Project description Projected cost (£ million) Natural England Office facilities at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge 92.89 Environment Agency Broadland flood alleviation project 169.93 Environment Agency Pevensey Bay sea defences 35.39 Total 298.21
The Department also gives support in the form of PFI credits to allow local authorities to enter into PFI contracts to provide waste recycling and management facilities. These projects are, however, managed by and the responsibility of the local authority concerned and not DEFRA itself.
Departments: Public Transport
The main incentive the Department offers are interest-free loans for season tickets for travel to work. Use of public transport is encouraged by departmental policies including limited car parking, flexible working, using public transport during the course of travel and making use of travel websites and information services, such as Transport Direct. Staff are also informed about local transport initiatives and promotions. Where the location or nature of the work makes public transport use impractical for staff, car sharing and the use of low emission vehicles is encouraged.
Fisheries: Italy
My ministerial predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), took the opportunity at the 11-12 June Agriculture and Fisheries Council, to raise our concerns about the continuing illegal use of drift nets in EU waters. The Commission made it clear that it took such illegal activity seriously and that it is currently investigating the activities of both Italian and French vessels in this regard. In addition, the regulation defining drift nets, to provide for more robust enforcement of the existing controls, has now been formally adopted.
Floods
For (a), the data available on deaths due to drowning do not give a sufficiently detailed breakdown to enable direct attribution to flooding to be made. However, we are aware that in recent years two deaths resulted from the flooding in Carlisle in 2005, for example, whilst a number of deaths have been reported during the recent floods.
For (b), the following estimates include homes flooded in England as a result of river or sea flooding only.
Homes flooded 1997 281 1998 5,796 1999 1,930 2000 9,916 2001 1,641 2002 786 2003 1,516 2004 1,139 2005 4,116 2006 746 Source: Environment Agency flood incident management teams, regional flood risk management teams and flood risk mapping and data.
For 2007, the current total of reports of recent flooding from all sources, including surface water as well as river flooding, is now over 37,000 residential properties and businesses affected.
For (c) and (d), full details for each year are not available. However, for the autumn floods of 2000—the most widespread floods in recent years—the total costs were then estimated at around £1 billion. In addition, the following data for major weather events in the last 10 years are from the Association of British Insurers.
Incident Cost estimate (£ million) December 1997 to January 1998 Heavy storms and flooding throughout Great Britain 270 April 1998 Heavy rain causing flooding 137 October 1998 Heavy rain causing flooding 100 October-November 2000 Heavy rain causing flooding 760 January 2005 Floods in Carlisle 243 January 2005 Storms in Scotland 124
For 2007, the ABI has estimated that claims total around £1.5 billion for the recent floods.
Floods: Lewes
[holding answer 16 July 2007]: The Environment Agency is developing a £2 million project to improve defences for the Cliffe area of Lewes, funded through a locally raised levy.
It is working closely with Lewes district council and private developers to identify opportunities to provide improved defences as part of redevelopment schemes within the town. Following completion of the Cliffe works, expected in late 2009, 166 residential and 58 other properties will benefit from improved protection.
No final decisions have been taken on the allocation of the £200 million of increased spending in 2010-11. Following the comprehensive review settlement, expected by the autumn, and a subsequent departmental allocations exercise, a separate prioritisation process will determine funding for individual flood risk management projects.
Sewers
My Department does not hold this information. Water and sewerage companies are responsible for assessing the capacity of public sewers in order to ensure the effectual drainage of their area.
Typically, the public sewerage system overall is designed to withstand a one-in-30-year storm event and waste water treatment works are designed to deal with six times dry weather flows without discharging excess water to a watercourse.
It has been estimated that up to 50 per cent. of the sewerage network may be in private hands (for example, householders) and information on capacity for this section of the network is not available. Earlier this year, the Government announced that existing private sewers and lateral drains that drain to public sewers would be transferred into the ownership of water and sewerage companies. This will significantly improve the integrated management of the sewerage network as a whole.
As well as private sewers, there is also an extensive network of surface water drainage associated with highways which is the responsibility of highways authorities. This frequently discharges and interacts with the public sewerage network.
DEFRA is also funding 15 pilot projects to test alternative approaches to the integrated management of urban drainage across the different organisations with responsibilities in this area.
The Office of the Water Services compiles figures on the numbers of properties at varying risk of flooding from overloaded public sewers. The price limits for 2005-10 allowed a programme of nearly £1 billion to safeguard homes against the risk of sewer flooding. By then, the proportion of properties at risk would reduce to 0.01 per cent. of households.
Tree Felling
A national survey of trees and woodland is carried out every 15-20 years by the Forestry Commission. The most recent inventory was published in 2001 and the next survey is planned to start next year. When completed this will enable an assessment of deforestation (i.e. the area of woodland lost between the two surveys) to be carried out. However, the Forestry Commission estimates that the current level of deforestation in England is running at between 500 and 1,000 hectares per year. This is almost entirely due to the removal of planted woodland to restore priority open habitats including lowland heath and upland peat bog.
New woodland creation has averaged almost 5,000 hectares per year over the last five years, outweighing the area lost to open habitat restoration.
Communities and Local Government
Adoption: Babies
The Department for Communities and Local Government and the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister before it has since 2000 provided a system of performance incentivisation for local authorities in England across a range of service areas. This system operated via the local public service agreements, which have since been merged with local area agreements. These agreements offered a reward grant to local authorities who could deliver outcomes over and above the level of performance Government would otherwise expect.
Sixty one local authorities chose to include in their LPSA or LAA a measure performance on adoption and/or stability of placements for looked-after children, though the targets would not refer specifically to babies under the age of six months. Reward would be payable to local authorities and their partners for achievement of these particular targets, and in a number of cases this has now been claimed. Details on each target have been made available in the Library of the House, though we do not have data on the age of the children adopted in local authority areas.
Community Development: Business
The Department launched a third sector strategy discussion paper on 7 June which includes consideration of the need of third sector organisations for more sustainable forms of investment. Our women and equality unit has commissioned a study to understand the barriers to ethnic minority women entering social enterprise and the support they need. Assistance for social enterprises is also available through the local enterprise growth initiative. So far, 29 local authorities have benefited from the first two rounds. Local authorities that have been successful may include projects to support social enterprises to encourage entrepreneur ship.
We will set out future proposals for supporting the third sector, including social enterprise, in the light of our assessment of responses to the discussion paper and the outcome of the 2007 comprehensive spending review.
The Department does not currently hold information on suppliers in a way that captures the identification of contracts held with social enterprises. The Department is, however, seeking to revise its financial systems to capture information on third-sector suppliers, including social enterprises, and is liaising with the Office of the Third Sector to ensure that we adopt a common approach with the rest of Government.
Community Relations: Holocaust
I believe that the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project makes an important contribution to the promotion of good relations between people from different ethnic, cultural and faith backgrounds, and in particular to ensuring young people appreciate the continuing lessons of the Holocaust for our society today. This is reflected in the Government’s recent response to the all-party parliamentary inquiry into anti-semitism. The Department has contributed £20,000 to the Searchlight Educational Trust’s ‘Young Citizen’ magazine, the first issue of which contains testimonies from students who have participated in the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project.
Departments: Common Purpose
Over the last five financial years the Communities and Local Government has spent the following with Common Purpose:
Financial year1 Spend (£) 2002 20,930 2003 53,874 2004 39,018 2005 58,846 2006 134,324 1 Commencing
The purpose of the expenditure was to procure management training in leadership for senior managers and others within the Department, with the objective of enhancing their capability as potential leaders, both within their own organisation and in society as a whole.
The outcome of the expenditure should be that participants will gain new skills and competencies for leadership development and the Department will benefit from stronger, more inspired leaders who are more outward looking and closer to the community.
Departments: Early Retirement
The numbers of staff taking early retirement from the Department for Communities and Local Government, and its main predecessor the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, are set out, analysed by grade, and at what cost, in the following table. This does not include departmental agencies or non-departmental public bodies.
The cost of the earlier years exits, less than 15 per cent. of the 492 exits’ total, and analysis by grade of 13 of the earliest staff exits, is not shown as it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Five years All grades 6 17 40 117 312 492 Comprising: Senior Civil Service—Director General — — 1 0 1 2 Senior Civil Service—Director — 4 1 1 3 9 Senior Civil Service—Divisional Manager 1 2 6 8 4 21 Senior Civil Service—Band Unknown — — — — — — Deputy Divisional Manager — 1 1 2 8 12 Principal — 6 8 16 32 62 Fire Inspector — — 3 — — 3 Senior Research Officer — — — — 1 1 Senior Professional Technical Officer — — — — 2 2 Senior Executive Officer — 1 6 16 31 54 Higher Professional Technical Officer — — — — 1 1 Higher Executive Officer — 1 4 26 75 106 Professional Technical Officer — — — — 3 3 Mapping and Charting Officer — — — — 2 2 Executive Officer — 2 6 23 63 94 Personal Secretary — — — — 6 6 Administrative Officer — — 4 19 49 72 Administrative Assistant — — — 6 9 15 Emergency Industrial Grade 4 — — — — 2 2 Emergency Industrial Grade 3 — — — — 8 8 Emergency Industrial Grade 1 — — — — 12 12 Grade unknown 5 — — — — 5 Proportion of central Department and Government office staff at start of year (percentage) — — 1 3 9 — Cost (£ million) Total first year payments 1— 1— 1— 4.6 26.7 — Forecast total future years’ payments 1— 1— 1— 2.4 15.5 — 1 Obtaining information for earlier years would entail disproportionate cost.
Departments: Private Finance Initiative
The Department has responsibility for 46 signed PFI projects, of which all but one are contracts entered into by local authorities. The total level of capital investment being supported is £1,154 million. The projected annual payments, up to 2033-34, are £4,015 million. These payments cover the whole contract, including services, as well as payment for the capital investment, and are conditional on the performance of the contractor.
Costs for individual projects are available on the HM Treasury website, at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private__partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm.
Flood Control
I have been asked to reply.
Early estimates outlined in the Government's Foresight report on future flood risk suggested that investment of £100 million-£400 million per year may be required to limit damages caused by urban drainage flooding to levels similar to today under some scenarios for several decades. However, the authors of this report acknowledged that these estimates were based on very limited data.
Floods: Milton Keynes
I have now replied to the hon. Member’s question.
Homelessness
Information about local authorities’ actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level, in respect of households rather than people.
Information reported each quarter by local authorities about their activities under homelessness legislation includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
This data is published in our quarterly statistical release on statutory homelessness, which includes a supplementary table showing the breakdown of key data, including acceptances and temporary accommodation, by each local authority. This is published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 11 June 2007 and contains data for the period January to March 2007:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2438
Since 1998, information has also been collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night—and these are also published on our website, by local authority:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/705/NationalRoughSleepingEstimate2006_id1502705.xls
Housing: Leeds
The draft regional spatial strategy for Yorkshire and the Humber (the “Yorkshire and Humber plan”) was submitted to the Government in December 2004. This gives a net housing delivery target for Leeds of 2,260 per annum up to 2016 and 2,950 per annum between 2016 and 2021.
In May 2007 the examination in public panel report on the plan was published. This report states that Leeds should accommodate more housing growth than currently set out in the draft RSS, but does not specify a number. Ministers are currently considering the panel report and the Secretary of State will publish proposed changes to the draft RSS later in the summer.
How these target numbers will be divided into various tenures is a matter which will be determined by both the housing market and regional and local planning processes and functions.
Housing: Low Incomes
We continue to have discussions with the Housing Corporation and housing associations on RSLs’ borrowing capacity. In March 2007, the corporation published ‘Unlocking the Door’, analysing how past investment locked up in stock could be released to finance more affordable housing. The corporation has concluded that there is unused capacity and that housing associations can borrow more against their existing businesses. There is therefore scope for efficiency savings to be secured for new affordable housing.
The Housing Corporation is currently considering the responses it has received to its consultation document on recycled capital grants and links to property values.
Members: Correspondence
I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to the correspondence, which was due to an administrative oversight. We attach great importance to the prompt and efficient handling of correspondence, particularly from hon. Members. Earlier this year, Communities and Local Government introduced new arrangements for the handling of ministerial correspondence and early indications are that the changes have significantly improved our performance.
Mobile Homes: Surveys
Of the eight respondents that supported option 3, five were individuals and three were organisations. I am not able to disclose the identity of the individuals as we have given a commitment to individual respondents that their personal details will not be disclosed outside of the Department. However, the three organisations were Basingstoke and Deane borough council, Arun district council and South Norfolk district council.
Ordnance Survey: Copyright
Revenue from commercial enterprises including licensed partners and distributors, from licenses for digital data and map copying and from sales of mapping for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07 were £50,475,353, £51,250,715, £51,930,385, £54,772,770 and £57,804,021 respectively.
Travelling People: Eastern Region
The single issue review of its Regional Spatial Strategy, “Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation in the East of England” currently being carried out by the East of England Regional Assembly reflects the important role that “Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Circular 1/06, Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites” gives to Regional Spatial Strategies in addressing the shortage of authorised accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers.
The main steps in the process are:
Local authorities assess needs through their Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments;
The regional planning body (i.e. the Regional Assembly) defines the total level of need in the region and the level of additional pitch provision at district council level through its regional spatial strategy;
The regional spatial strategy is confirmed by the Secretary of State, following an examination in public conducted by an independent panel if necessary;
Local planning authorities define the locations for new sites through their local development documents and ensure delivery through their strategic housing role.
The Regional Assembly gave a commitment to carry out such a review in early 2006 at the examination in public into the main review of the East of England regional spatial strategy, where it admitted that its policy did not meet the requirements of the Circular.
We are grateful to the Regional Assembly for its work on the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation review, which is the first in the country to fully reflect the requirements of circular 1/06.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: Finance
Discussions on the CSR are continuing between DCMS and HM Treasury.
Cultural Heritage: Iraq
My Department has not provided direct funds to the Department of Antiquities in Iraq to counter looting or archaeological sites. Instead, the UK’s response to the heritage crisis in Iraq has been led by its sponsored bodies. In particular the British Museum has:
provided expertise and training on conservation and site management;
sent two archaeologists to Iraq who were instrumental in co-ordinating the quick supply of a wide range of desperately needed materials and equipment to the Baghdad Museum; and
arranged and managed (with additional funding of £15,000 from the DCMS) a project that allowed three interns coming from the Iraqi Ministry of Culture to learn the skills necessary for the future management of the Babylon archaeological site.
Departments: Early Retirement
As numbers of staff by grade are so small, five or less, we are unable to provide the breakdown of early retirements as requested, on the grounds of confidentiality. The information relating to the overall early retirements numbers and costs in the last five years is contained in the table.
Number of staff Proportion of staff as a percentage of the headcount Overall cost to Department until the minimum pension age of 60 (£) 2002-03 0 n/a n/a 2003-04 1 0.204 1— 2004-05 0 n/a n/a 2005-06 5 0.956 847,469.49 2006-07 6 1.138 912,624.54 n/a = Not applicable 1 Confidentiality applies
Departments: Publicity
DCMS ensures that the most appropriate newspapers, publications and websites are used when advertising its job vacancies and public appointments, and monitors carefully the costs involved in placing these advertisements. My Department is co-operating fully with the central initiative of sharing recruitment advertising space and costs with other Government Departments where this is possible.
Departments: Racial Harassment
There have been no formal complaints of racial abuse from DCMS employees in the last 12 months.
The Department is fully committed to equal opportunities and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment or victimisation. There is an equal opportunities complaints procedure available on the Departments’ intranet which provides a mechanism for staff to raise and have addressed problems or concerns.
Digital Switchover Help Scheme
In order to take into account the continuing development of the technology, an emerging technologies group will be established. This group will consider such developments and, where appropriate, will make recommendations to the BBC and DCMS to amend the help scheme’s core receiver requirements accordingly.
The scheme will be platform-neutral and will therefore allow those eligible to choose from the range of options where they are available. Those opting for cable, satellite or digital TV via a phone line, will have to pay any difference in cost.
The digital switchover help scheme will be available to households where at least one person is 75 years or over, severely disabled or is registered as blind or partially sighted during the eligibility period, which starts eight months before switchover in their region. The scheme will provide equipment to convert one TV set to the most cost-effective digital platform in the relevant area. Where necessary, there will also be an in-home service to help with the installation and use of equipment, or the upgrading of an aerial. Those eligible for the scheme will also be able to opt for an integrated digital television or personal video recorder. It will also be possible to opt for a different digital platform (broadband, cable, satellite or terrestrial) from the one proposed by the scheme. The scheme will make a financial contribution towards these alternative options, but the eligible household would need to meet the cost of any shortfall or continuing subscription.
Where the eligible household opts for the digital terrestrial platform, the scheme will provide a set top converter box which meets the scheme’s core receiver requirement. This incorporates a number of features, such as audio description, which are intended to be beneficial to the targeted groups.
There will be a £40 charge for the help scheme, but where the qualifying person is also in receipt of certain benefits, the assistance will be provided free of charge. Eligibility for the scheme will be based on Department for Work and Pensions data, which enables the scheme to target communications thus avoiding complex application forms and the need for complex and costly verification procedures.
Listed Buildings
No central record is maintained, either by the Department or English Heritage, to show the number of occasions on which advice provided by English Heritage on listing applications is overruled. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Olympic Games: Greater London
(2) which Minister is responsible for elite athlete training for the London 2012 Olympics; which Minister will have responsibility for the sports legacy of 2012; and which Minister will have responsibility for the National Lottery statutory instrument due to be laid before the House after the summer adjournment.
The Minister for the Olympics is responsible for the Government's overall Olympic Programme and legacy plans, to which a number of Departments will contribute. As such, she will co-chair (with the Mayor of London) the Olympic Board and exercise statutory and other functions with respect to the London Organising Committee, the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Olympic lottery distributor.
The Government Olympic Executive, which remains part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will report to the Minister for the Olympics through the Permanent Secretary of the Department.
As part of his wider responsibilities, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for:
Elite athlete training for the London 2012 Olympics;
The sports legacy for 2012;
Laying before the House the National Lottery statutory instrument transferring funds to the Olympic lottery distributor.
To ensure close co-ordination, the Minister for Sport will continue, as previously, to attend the Olympic Board.
The Secretary of State and the Minister for the Olympics have joint responsibility for the Cultural Olympiad. This recognises the importance of the cultural programme to London 2012, and of seeing the Olympiad as a key opportunity for the cultural sectors, with a lasting legacy.
The Secretary of State will continue to exercise statutory and other functions in respect of the various established sporting, cultural and other bodies including UK Sport and Sport England.
Playing Fields: Planning
(2) when his Department plans to bring forward the changes recommended in the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 announced in his Department’s press release “Planning to Safeguard Open Spaces and Playing Fields” of July 2002.
I have been asked to reply.
We are strongly committed to reducing the threshold for statutory consultation on the sale of playing fields from 0.4 ha to 0.2 ha and this will be reflected in the consultation paper on the review of statutory consultees due later this year.
Public Buildings: Plymouth
English Heritage provides advice to the Secretary of State on listing applications once they have consulted owners and local planning authorities and completed a full assessment of the building. English Heritage provided their advice on the listing of the civic centre in Plymouth to the then Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Tessa Jowell) on 12 June 2007.
Between receipt by English Heritage of the application to list the building in April 2006 and the decision to list being taken in June 2007, the Department received two representations objecting to the possible listing. These representations were made by my hon. Friends the Members for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy) and for Plymouth, Devonport (Alison Seabeck). The then Minister for Culture, my hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (David Lammy) was advised that objections to the possible listing had been received, but that the application to list was with English Heritage pending the completion of an adviser’s report.
All relevant evidence is taken into account in determining listing applications. For evidence to be relevant it must relate to the statutory criteria of special architectural or historic interest set out in planning policy guidance note 15. These are the only factors that the Secretary of State may take into account in making listing decisions. State of repair, cost of maintenance and unsuitability for modern needs are matters which are not relevant to the assessment of a building’s qualifications for listing—but they are all things which can be taken into account by the planning authority in considering any application to demolish or alter a listed building.
English Heritage administers the listing system on behalf of the Secretary of State, but it is the Secretary of State who decides whether a building should be added to the statutory list. The decision to list the civic centre in Plymouth was made on 21 June 2007.
Government funding for the historic environment in England is channelled through English Heritage. Grants are available for structural repairs to listed buildings that English Heritage considers to be of outstanding historical or architectural interest. Grants are usually restricted to buildings listed Grade I or Grade II*—rather than Grade II listed—but all applications are dealt with on their individual merits. There are a number of charitable trusts that make grants towards the preservation and upkeep of historic buildings. In addition, the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) has powers to provide financial assistance towards the repair and maintenance of buildings of importance to the national heritage, through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Decisions on applications are made by the NHMF trustees, who seek advice from English Heritage and other professional bodies.
There have been no discussions between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the chief executive of English Heritage on the decision to list Plymouth civic centre.
Radio Frequencies
Spectrum planning is primarily a matter for Ofcom as the regulator. However, the Government note the proposals made in Ofcom’s ‘Future of Radio Review—Phase 3’ about alternative uses for the FM and AM bands, on which they have recently consulted.
Radio: Digital Broadcasting
None. The Government have no current plans to switch-off either the FM or AM analogue radio signals, but will keep this under review as required by section 67 of the Broadcasting Act 1996.