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Written Answers

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

Written Answers to Questions

Monday 21 July 2008

Scotland

Departmental Sick Leave

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years; (218709)

(2) how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

All staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice. The Office does not maintain a central record of sick absences; such records are held by the parent Departments.

Domestic Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visits he has made to each Scottish parliamentary constituency over the last two years. (212893)

As of 30 June 2008, in the previous two years my predecessor and I have visited the following Scottish parliamentary constituencies in a ministerial capacity as detailed in the following table:

Constituency

Visits

Aberdeen, South

1

Argyll and Bute

1

Central Ayrshire

1

Dundee, East

1

Dunfermline and West Fife

2

East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow

1

East Lothian

1

Edinburgh, East

8

Edinburgh, North and Leith

7

Edinburgh, South-West

4

Edinburgh, West

4

Falkirk

2

Glasgow, Central

19

Glasgow, East

2

Glasgow, North

6

Glasgow, South-West

3

Gordon

2

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

2

Kilmarnock and Loudoun

2

Livingston

1

Midlothian

1

Moray

1

Ochil and South Perthshire

2

Paisley and Renfrewshire, North

2

Paisley and Renfrewshire, South

2

Stirling

1

Visits to constituencies in a political capacity are not included as records of these are not held by the Scotland Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visits have been made by the Minister of State for Scotland to each parliamentary constituency over the last two years. (212894)

As of 30 June 2008, in the previous two years I have visited the following parliamentary constituencies in a Scotland Office ministerial capacity as detailed in the following table:

Constituency

Visits

Aberdeen, North

2

Aberdeen, South

1

Argyll and Bute

4

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

3

Banff and Buchan

1

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

2

Central Ayrshire

1

Dundee, East

2

Dundee, West

3

East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow

1

East Lothian

1

Edinburgh, East

3

Edinburgh, North and Leith

6

Edinburgh, South

2

Edinburgh, South-West

6

Edinburgh, West

2

Falkirk

1

Glasgow, Central

14

Glasgow, North

2

Glasgow, North-East

2

Glasgow, South-West

3

Glenrothes

1

Gordon

1

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

1

Kilmarnock and Loudoun

1

Lanark and Hamilton, East

1

Linlithgow and East Falkirk

1

Livingston

2

Midlothian

3

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

1

Ochil and South Perthshire

2

Paisley and Renfrewshire, North

2

Perth and North Perthshire

2

Rutherglen and Hamilton, West

1

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

1

Cities of London and Westminster

4

Kensington and Chelsea

1

Salford

1

Visits to constituencies in a political capacity are not included as records of these are not held by the Scotland Office.

Government Communications

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network. (215113)

Lost Working Days

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997. (218051)

The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. All staff in the Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice; the Office does not maintain a central record of absences due to industrial action; such records are held by the parent Departments.

Olympic Games 2012

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the last 12 months on securing benefits to Scotland from the 2012 Olympic Games. (220550)

I attend various meetings with ministerial colleagues where matters surrounding the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are discussed. I also recently discussed this matter in the House during Scottish Questions when I encouraged all businesses, Scottish-based or otherwise, to bid for contracts in relation to the games

Olympics

Departmental Official Cars

To ask the Minister for the Olympics which make and model of car she has chosen as her ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. (217755)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar & Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 414W.

London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games: Manpower

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people are employed by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG); what the staffing costs of LOCOG will be in 2008-09; and how many of LOCOG's staff work on (a) project management, (b) legacy planning and (c) financial oversight. (219272)

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is a company limited by guarantee that relies almost entirely on private funding. As such, LOCOG files its annual report and accounts at Companies House and publishes them on its website at:

www.london2012.com

LOCOG's last annual report for the 12 months up to 31 March 2007 shows that on average in that year the company employed 102 staff, including directors; and staff costs, including pensions and social security costs, totalled £9.48 million. Since that date, LOCOG has put in place more of its work force as it develops all its plans across the complex London 2012 project.

The next set of annual report and financial statements will be published shortly. During the London 2012 games themselves, it is envisaged that LOCOG will employ around 2,600 permanent staff, in addition to volunteers and contractors.

Olympic Games 2012

To ask the Minister for the Olympics on what date invitations will be sent to prospective competing nations for the London 2012 (a) Olympic and (b) Paralympic Games. (219990)

Invitations to take part in the Olympic games are normally sent out by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around one year before the opening ceremony of the games.

Invitations to take part in the Paralympic games are normally sent out by the Organising Committee in co-operation with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) around one year before the respective Paralympic games.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent estimate she has made of the number of nations that will compete in the London 2012 (a) Olympic and (b) Paralympic Games. (219991)

Based on participation in recent Olympic games and Paralympic games, we expect over 200 National Olympic Committees and about 150 National Paralympic Committees to take part in 2012.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the funding of Olympic developments from funds released by the establishment of unitary authorities. (220163)

Olympic Games 2012: Halifax

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how the London 2012 Olympics will assist regeneration and sports projects in Halifax. (219086)

The Legacy Action Plan (LAP) which was launched in June outlines how Government will deliver a sustainable legacy for the whole of the UK from the London 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games.

This includes a target to get two million people more active through sport and physical activity by 2012. Sport England will seek to get one million more active through sport; they will do this through new engagement with national governing bodies and through county sports partnerships. Calderdale are already working with other Yorkshire and Humberside authorities and primary care trusts to drive participation. This has led to a 3.5 per cent. increase in participation across the Yorkshire and Humberside region since 2005. Additionally, the Government have announced a new national free swimming programme for those aged 60 plus and under-16s. Local authorities in England will be invited to participate in the scheme and will receive funding towards the costs. The scheme will start in April 2009.

Olympic Games 2012: West Midlands

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps the Government has taken to promote the use of sporting venues in the West Midlands for pre-games training for the London 2012 Olympics. (218534)

[holding answer 16 July 2008]: The Pre-Games Training Camp guide will be published at the Beijing games this summer by LOCOG.

The West Midlands has 33 Olympic and 14 Paralympic sites in the guide. A seminar for all these facilities was held recently by the West Midlands Nations and Regions Group to offer them advice on marketing their facilities. A regional strategy will be developed by the Nations and Regions Group to promote the region and its facilities to assist the region in securing teams.

In addition, £25,000 will be made available by LOCOG to help attract National Olympic and Paralympic Committees to use the facilities in the guide.

Olympic Lottery Distributor: Manpower

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people are employed by the Olympic Lottery Distributor; and at what cost in 2008-09. (219271)

The Olympic Lottery Distributor currently employs six people. As well as a chief executive, the organisation employs two senior staff members—a Director of Policy and a Head of Finance and Corporate Services. The total staff costs budget for 2008-09, including pension costs and employers' national insurance, is up to £556,878.

Northern Ireland

Alcoholic Drinks: Smuggling

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the resale value of untaxed spirits intercepted in Northern Ireland was in each of the last three years. (219613)

I have been asked to reply.

Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown spirits seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.

Cigarettes: Smuggling

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the resale value of illegal cigarettes intercepted in Northern Ireland was in each of the last three years. (219615)

I have been asked to reply.

Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown, cigarettes seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed, thus they have no resale value.

Departmental Information Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average cost to his Department of employing a press and media officer was in 2007-08. (215262)

The following table details average salaries paid to information officers in the Northern Ireland Office. These figures include allowances, national insurance and pension contributions.

Average FTE as at August 2007 (including ERSNI, ASLCS and allowances) (£)

Grade A Information Officer

51,738

Grade B1 Information Officer

45,617

Grade B2 Information Officer

38,990

Departmental Manpower

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials work in his Department. (215790)

Within the Northern Ireland Office the actual number of staff employed in May 2008, which is the latest date for which figures are available, is 2,089. This figure excludes staff currently on career break or secondment.

Departmental Official Cars

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. (217748)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Department for Transport on 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Secondment

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department. (214725)

The NIO equal opportunities policy is applied to all staff working in the Northern Ireland Office including staff secondments.

Departmental Trade Unions

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which trades unions represent members of staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies. (212476)

The Northern Ireland Office attaches importance to ensuring effective consultation and involvement of its staff. It is a personal decision whether or not to join a trade union, but the Department encourages staff to join an appropriate trade union and to play an active part in it, ensuring that their views are represented.

Members of staff in both the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies are currently represented by the following trade unions:

NIPSA—Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance;

CSPOA—Civil Service Professional Officers Association;

FDA—First Division Association;

PCS—Public and Commercial Services Union.

Departmental Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what training courses were (a) available to and (b) taken by civil servants in his Department in the last 12 months. (210583)

The Business Improvement Team (BIT) in the Northern Ireland Office arranges and delivers learning and development opportunities for NIO staff. The learning and development opportunities available to NIO staff are linked to the Professional Skills for Government requirements and, for the period 1 June 2007 to 31 May 2008, these were set out in BIT's learning and development prospectus. The courses set out in the following table were selected by BIT as meeting PSG requirements. Each member of staff in the NIO has a Personnel Development Plan which records their individual development needs, and BIT will advise which of the courses in the prospectus are appropriate to meet those needs. The following table lists all the courses available in the prospectus and indicates which were attended and which were not required during the year.

Courses available

Taken/not taken

Leadership Programme

Attended

Strategic Thinking

Attended

Personal Power and Influencing Skills

Attended

Preparing for Top Management

Attended

Leading Change

Not required

People Management

Attended

Stress Management

Attended

Introduction to Coaching and Mentoring

Not required

Negotiating and Influencing

Attended

PSG Financial Management

Attended

Government Finance/Resource Accounting/Resource Budgeting and In year Control

Attended

General Finance Awareness

Not required

Business Case Guidance

Attended

Capital Asset Guidance

Not required

Corporate Governance Guidance

Not required

Prince 2 Foundation Certificate

Attended

Prince 2 Practitioner Certificate

Not required

Managing Small Projects

Attended

Prince 2 Overview

Attended

Project Management Overview

Attended

Benefits Management Masterclass

Attended

Programme Management Overview

Attended

Managing Successful Programmes Foundation Certificate

Not required

Managing Successful Programmes Intermediate and Practitioner Certificate

Not required

Introduction to Risk Management

Not taken

Management of Risk (MOR) Foundation

Not taken

Management of Risk (MOR) Practitioner

Not taken

Gateway Reviewer

Attended

Microsoft Project basic and advanced

Attended

Risk Analysis in the Policy Area

Not required

Microsoft Word basic and advanced

Attended

Microsoft Excel basic and advanced

Attended

Microsoft PowerPoint basic and advanced

Attended

Microsoft ECDL

Attended

Analysis and Use of Evidence

Attended

Effective Speech Writing

Attended

Communications and Marketing

Attended

Writing Dynamics

Attended

Think on your feet

Attended

Strategy

Attended

Mind Mapping

Attended

Chairing Meetings

Attended

Basic Finance Process

Attended

Gateway Awareness

Attended

Working With Ministers

Attended

Secretaryship of meetings

Attended

Gateway Programme

Attended

Leading In A Crisis

Not required

Peoplebank

Not required

Interchange

Not required

Work Shadowing

Not required

Developing Style and Presence

Not required

Overview of the Financial Cycle

Not required

SRO Executive Briefing

Not required

Making Policy that Happens

Not required

Delivering Policy Workshop

Not required

Microsoft Excel Basic

Not required

Microsoft Excel Advanced

Not required

Microsoft Project Basic

Not required

Microsoft Project Advanced

Not required

Preparing Business Cases

Not required

Proactive Media Management: How To Get Your Story in the News

Not required

Appearing Before Select Committees

Not required

Communications in the Public Sector

Not required

Lateral Thinking

Not required

One-Day Strategy Workshops

Not required

Building a Balanced Scorecard

Not required

Managing People Problems

Not required

Managing Conflict

Not required

Managing Time

Not required

Stress Management

Not required

Managing Change

Not required

PSG Financial Management

Not required

Business Cases and Investment Appraisal

Not required

Government Finance/Resource Accounting/Resource Budgeting/In Year Control

Not required

PSG Resource Budgeting and Forecasting

Not required

Corporate Governance Guidance

Not required

Project Management Introduction Certificate

Not required

Project Management Overview

Not required

Gateway Reviewer (OCG Accredited)

Not required

Microsoft Project Advanced

Not required

How to do a Bill

Not required

Policy Delivery Workshop

Not required

Risk Analysis in the Policy Area

Not required

Microsoft ECDL Basic

Not required

Appearing Before a Select Committee

Not required

Writing Dynamics Effective Briefing

Not required

Think On Your Feet

Not required

PSG Financial Management

Not required

Project and Programme Support

Not required

PPSO Foundation Certificate

Not required

Project Management Introduction Certificate

Not required

Project Management Overview

Not required

Introduction to Evidence-Based Policy Making

Not required

Working with Ministers

Not required

Secretaryship of Meetings

Not required

Project and Programme Support

Not required

Project Management Certificate

Not required

Project Management Overview

Not required

Pathway Programme

Attended

District Policing Partnerships: Standards

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which district policing partnerships did not meet the key performance indicator targets set by the Policing Board in 2006-07; and by how much they missed each target. (207673)

For the 2006-07 reporting period, District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) carried out a self-assessment of their effectiveness against the targets set out in the DPP Monitoring Framework. The targets for DPPs reflect their statutory functions, as set out in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with details of those DPPs that did not achieve set targets. The Northern Ireland Policing Board recognises the importance of DPP effectiveness and was pleased that the 2006-07 assessment found the majority of targets set were met by most DPPs. The Board reviewed the performance management system for DPPs, and introduced a new effectiveness framework in April 2008.

Elections: Fraud

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the changes in the levels of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland as a result of the introduction of individual electoral registration. (219069)

The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 introduced a number of measures—including individual registration—to address the perception of electoral fraud, which was seen to be undermining the democratic process in Northern Ireland. Both the Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland believe that since these measures were introduced the potential for fraud has been reduced and confidence has been largely restored. Successive Electoral Commission reports have affirmed this.

The Commission’s report on the March 2007 Assembly elections stated that while some perceptions of fraud persist among a proportion of the public in Northern Ireland, these

“are not borne out by experience of recent elections.”

Fairtrade Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2008, Official Report, columns 567-68W, on the Fair Trade initiative, how much his Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this expenditure was on Fair Trade products. (211571)

The Northern Ireland Office does not separately record the amount of expenditure on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements, nor do we record the amount spent on Fairtrade goods.

Homicide

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many murders committed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1978 remain unsolved. (207740)

The following table details the information requested.

Number

1978

96

1979

134

1980

96

1981

116

1982

111

1983

96

1984

73

1985

59

1986

88

1987

117

1988

114

1989

71

1990

82

1991

118

1992

111

1993

104

1994

80

1995

22

1996

39

1997

42

1998

50

1999

32

2000

42

2001

55

2002

35

2003

33

2004

4

2005

9

2006

2

2007

3

Lost Working Days

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997. (218052)

The information held within the Northern Ireland Office relates only to days lost due to industrial action by current staff. Staff who have left the Department or transferred out of the Department are not included in the figures and so we are unable to provide total figures for days lost due to industrial action.

Maze Prison

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has had discussions with the Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister in Northern Ireland on the former Maze site (a) before and (b) since his recent public comments on the future use of the site. (220159)

During the course of his duties, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State naturally has discussions with members of the devolved administration from time to time.

Speed Limits: Cameras

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much revenue has been generated from fines imposed as a result of offences detected by speed cameras in each council area in Northern Ireland in each year since 2003. (215736)

The following table outlines the amount of revenue from fixed penalty notices for excess speed in each police District Command Unit. Data cover the calendar years 2003 to 2007.

Amount of revenue received for fixed penalty notices for excess speed by district command unit (DCU) 2003-07

£

DCU

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Antrim

660

0

0

0

0

Armagh

54,540

3,000

3,180

11,220

19,080

Ballymena

45,360

6,960

3,960

3,600

8,220

Ballymoney

16,860

1,920

1,080

12,540

52,980

Banbridge

67,560

58,500

104,760

80,040

58,740

Belfast East

82,260

104,520

55,320

27,900

30,480

Belfast North

25,080

63,960

42,480

32,280

40,080

Belfast South

17,760

18,720

16,860

14,280

9,720

Belfast West

5,520

13,860

12,240

8,160

5,880

Carrickfergus

11,520

2,940

600

1,920

720

Castlereagh

201,600

171,900

114,480

136,980

139,140

Coleraine

10,560

3,180

5,880

5,580

5,160

Cookstown

1,560

2,160

9,720

10,380

16,080

Craigavon

26,340

2,400

660

7,200

960

Down

5,820

14,340

14,040

3,360

9,480

Dungannon

10,860

11,640

20,160

49,500

42,540

Fermanagh

20,880

2,700

4,320

600

4,800

Foyle

23,340

29,640

28,860

15,120

18,780

Lame

5,460

0

0

1,980

1,380

Limavady

11,580

960

7,620

4,260

38,760

Lisburn

1,740

120

0

0

2,220

Magherafelt

16,020

11,100

18,540

11,040

22,740

Moyle

8,460

2,460

540

600

1,380

Newry and Mourne

36,180

83,820

65,160

72,120

81,120

Newtownabbey

1,860

420

60

180

0

Newtownards

33,180

8,220

12,240

9,120

8,700

North Down

33,960

76,860

45,900

56,100

62,880

Omagh

7,320

18,000

21,540

6,420

37,200

Strabane

8,880

0

0

0

0

Total

792,720

714,300

610,200

582,480

719,220

Treasury

Alcoholic Drinks: Smuggling

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the resale value of untaxed spirits intercepted in England and Wales was in each of the last three years, broken down by region. (219614)

Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown spirits seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.

Banks: Finance

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the proposal to allow major banks to translate certain mortgage debts into Government bonds was first considered by his Department; and what the reasons are for the timing of the implementation of the proposal. (201903)

The special liquidity scheme announced by the Bank of England on April 21 is designed to provide liquidity support to participating banks and building societies by allowing them, for a temporary period, to swap mortgage backed securities and other assets for highly liquid assets in the form of Treasury Bills. The credit risk on the value of the mortgage backed securities or other assets remains with the banks and building societies.

As set out by the Chancellor in his statement to the House on April 21, the scheme announced by the Bank of England is a further step towards tackling the liquidity issues in the financial markets which became increasingly acute during the preceding weeks. The scheme was developed following extensive discussions with the Treasury and the Financial Services Authority.

Banks: Government Securities

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Special Liquidity Scheme in meeting its objectives. (220094)

The Special Liquidity Scheme is operated by the Bank of England. In its Quarterly Bulletin issued on 16 June, the Bank noted that

“Feedback on the Scheme from market contacts suggested that it has achieved its objective of improving the liquidity position of, and hence confidence in, the UK banking system”.

Cash Dispensing: Wales

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of access to free-of-charge cash withdrawals in Mid and West Wales. (221388)

As I announced on 17 July, excellent progress has been made towards the goal of providing around 600 new free ATMs across 1,707 low-income target areas identified by the ATM working group as lacking convenient access. I am pleased to say that of the 198 low-income target areas in Wales, 119 are now expected to benefit from convenient access to free cash withdrawals as a result of free new cash machines already in operation or under contract to be installed by the end of 2008.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to date has been of (a) the investigation into the loss of data discs by HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the planning and implementation of new procedures to avoid a future loss. (220152)

Kieran Poynter identifies the costs of his investigation into the chain of events leading to the loss of child benefit data in October 2007 at Appendix A of the final report of his “Review of information security at HM Revenue and Customs”. A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.

With regard to the costs associated with data security enhancements at HMRC, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on 25 June 2008, Official Report, column 287.

Cigarettes: Smuggling

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the resale value of illegal cigarettes intercepted in England and Wales was in each of the last three years, broken down by region. (219616)

Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown cigarettes seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.

Corporation Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected (a) oil and (b) gas price used in the assumptions for modelling the North Sea oil and gas element of corporation tax was in each Budget since 1997. (215732)

The National Audit Office has audited the oil price assumption underlying public finance projections since the 1997 pre-Budget report. The current assumption is outlined in box C1 of Budget 2008.

Council Tax: Wales

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2008, Official Report, column 1622W, on council tax: Wales, what the timetable is for the Valuation Office Agency's updating of its website to show changes to the 2005 council tax lists in Wales since 1 April 2005 as a result of inquiry or appeal. (218314)

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes. (219587)

The Treasury's expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money, as well as the Department's own internal guidelines, which state that expenditure on official entertainment (including alcohol) should be incurred in moderation and also be compatible with the occasion and the standing of guests.

Departmental Compensation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 10 highest payments made by his Department were under property compensation cases brought against it over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of the cases were (a) contested and (b) uncontested by his Department; and what the nature of each incident was. (216703)

There were two uncontested compensation payments made in 2007-08. Both related to personal property lost during office moves and amounted to £146 and £75 respectively.

Departmental Conferences

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the conferences hosted by his Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference. (211697)

The following table shows details of conferences attended by more than 100 delegates that were hosted by HM Treasury in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Date

Conference title

Cost (£000)

2006

April

Financial Inclusion Taskforce

19

May

Launch of the Third Sector Review

77

May and November

Special Investigations Group of government financial investigators (costs recovered from delegates)

June to July

Third Sector Review Regional consultation (six events)

59

July

Enterprise and Growth Unit Summer Reception

10

2007

May and November

Special Investigations Group of government financial investigators (costs recovered from delegates)

June

Young Black Entrepreneurs

5

June

Financial inclusion in developing countries (funded by DFID)

July

Tripartite Business Continuity

4

July

Enterprise and Growth Unit Summer Reception

12

October

Financial Stability and the Challenge of Globalisation in the UK

10

Departmental Consultants

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on consultancy fees in 2007-08. (215319)

[holding answer 30 June 2008]: Details of the Treasury’s unaudited spending on consultancy in 2007-08 is shown in table A3 on page 111 of the annual report (CM 7408) available from

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/deptreport_index.cfm.

Departmental Expert Groups

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expert groups his Department has set up in each year since 1999. (213198)

Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual “Public Bodies” publication. “Public Bodies” also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of “Public Bodies” dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from:

http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp

Copies are also available in the Library for the reference of Members.

Details of Treasury's NDPBs for 2007-08 are published in Treasury's Annual Report, which can be downloaded from:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/annual_report08.cfm

Copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members. Further details on Treasury short-term advisory groups and task forces can be found on the Treasury website:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/

Departmental Furniture

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) chairs, (b) desks and (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case. (211756)

The Treasury's expenditure on furniture and fittings over the last five years was:

Amount (£000)

2007-08

51

2006-07

4

2005-06

557

2004-05

518

2003-04

69

The provision of furniture purchase volumes and analysis of expenditure into the categories identified in the question are available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department’s IT (a) systems and (b) services conform to the ISO 27001 standard. (216054)

None of the Department’s IT systems and services are accredited as conforming to the ISO 27001 standard, although in all cases our aim is to adhere to the main principles of the standard.

Departmental Manpower

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many permanent staff within (a) his Department and (b) its agencies are classed as (i) staff without posts and (ii) part of a people action team. (210867)

There are no “staff without post” in the Treasury or any of its agencies. “People action teams” do not exist in HMT or any of its agencies.

Departmental Marketing

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of (a) internet and website design and hosting, (b) print media design and (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997. (214711)

Departmental Official Cars

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) which make and model of car the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has chosen as his ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency; (217752)

(2) which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar & Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July, 2008, Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Planning Permission

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what planning applications were made by his Department between May 1997 and May 2001; and for what purpose in each case. (217445)

The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Procurement

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. (220422)

The Treasury seeks prompt payment discounts in situations where such a discount will improve the total value for money from the contract; and where the potential saving from such a discount will outweigh the additional contract administration costs necessary to realise the discount.

HM Treasury aim to pay off all valid invoices (including T & S) within 30 days.

Departmental Sick Leave

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years. (218973)

Departmental Wastes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years. (215886)

HM Treasury has a waste strategy that has over the past two years reduced waste sent to landfill, by removing general waste bins and putting recycling facilities in place, and in Rosebery Court introducing composting of organic waste. In 1 Horse Guards Road, since February 2008, food waste has been separated in the staff restaurant and sent to a biogas plant, to generate electricity.

These measures reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by 33 tonnes from 1 Horse Guards Road in 2007-08. Further offsite sorting by the waste contractor, removing recyclables from the waste will have further reduced the amount sent to landfill, although no figures are available. Data showing annual change in waste sent to landfill are not currently available for Rosebery Court, but the rate has also fallen.

Detailed information on waste arising and recycling information can be found in the HM Treasury annual report 2007-08.

Devolution: Finance

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will conduct a needs-based analysis of Government funding of the devolved administrations. (220048)

The devolved funding arrangements are set out in the ‘Statement of Funding Policy’, which was updated and published by the Treasury in October 2007. Under these arrangements the devolved administrations are able to allocate their block budgets to devolved spending programmes to reflect their own assessment of their priorities and needs.

Economic Stability Team

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers and (c) members of the Council of Economic Advisers were members of the Economic Stability team in his Department in each of the last 11 years, broken down by pay grade. (220072)

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenues that will arise from the auctioning of emissions permits in Phase 111 of the European Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement. (219753)

The framework for future phases of EU ETS are currently under discussion and as such the final structure for auctioning in future phases has not yet been decided. The revised EU ETS directive is due to be finalised later this year.

The amount of revenue from auctioning in Phase 111 of the EU emissions trading scheme will be influenced by the market price of carbon at the time of the auctions. The Government do not comment on carbon price, as it would be improper for Government to speculate on how the market will function in the future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans the Government has for spending revenues raised through the auctioning of allowances from the (a) second and (b) third phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement; (219957)

(2) what proportion of the revenues generated by auctioning of allowances from the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will be spent on (a) research and development for renewable energy, (b) carbon capture and storage development and (c) energy efficiency improvements.

The framework for future phases of EU ETS is currently under discussion and as such the final structure for auctioning in future phases has not yet been decided. The revised EU ETS directive is due to be finalised later this year.

Any revenue raised through the use of auctioning would be considered part of general revenue streams, and the spending review process ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to deliver Government objectives.

Comprehensive spending review 2007 launched the domestic Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) of over £400 million. Budget 2008 announced the full allocation of funding under the ETF, including offshore wind, carbon capture components, wave and tidal, hydrogen fuel cells and microgeneration, as well as support for energy efficiency in small businesses, households and the public sector.

EU External Trade: Israel

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proof of origin certificates HM Revenue and Customs has accepted under the 1 February 2005 technical arrangement enabling companies operating inside Israel to maintain trade preferences under the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and what the value of this trade has been. (219744)

Between 1 February 2005 and 30 June 2008 HM Revenue and Customs received 99,757 customs import declarations which were accompanied by proofs of preferential origin issued in Israel. The total value of the trade was £1,350,690,522.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has made an assessment of the effects on public houses of (a) past and (b) future increases in levels of taxes on alcohol; (218436)

(2) whether he has conducted or evaluated research on the possible relationship between levels of duty on alcohol and the rate of closure of public houses.

As part of the Budget process, I met representatives from the trade, including the British Beer and Pub Association, to listen to their views on the current situation and the cost pressures in the industry.

As with all tax policy decisions, we will be monitoring the impact of alcohol duty increases on a range of factors.

Excise Duties: Diesel Fuel

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of receipts from duty paid on diesel by the rail industry in 2007-08. (216410)

[holding answer 3 July 2008]: No estimate has been made for 2007-08.

Energy statistics from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, available at www.berr.gov.uk, indicate that 654 thousand tonnes (775 million litres) of gas oil ('red diesel') was consumed by the rail industry in 2006.

Applying the duty rate for rebated oils to this figure gives an estimate of revenue in 2006 of approximately £50 million.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people paid vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate in 2007-08 in respect of cars of engine size (a) 1549cc and below and (b) above 1549cc; what estimate his Department has made of the number of vehicles in each category in low-income households; and if he will make a statement; (208268)

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people who will pay vehicle excise duty (VED) at the pre-graduated rate in 2008-09; how many will pay VED at (a) a lower rate, (b) a higher rate and (c) the same rate in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what estimate he has made of the revenue from vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate from vehicles with engine sizes of (a) 1549cc and below and (b) above 1549cc in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what estimate he has made of the number of cars with engine sizes (a) 1549cc or below and (b) above 1549cc liable for vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the number of cars in each category in low-income households in each year; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new vehicles were registered in each year from 2001 to 2006, broken down by each of the new vehicle excise duty (VED) bands to be applied to cars registered in those years; what the net tax take will be from the applications of these new bands to those vehicles; and what the net tax take for those vehicles would have been had VED continued to be applied as previously. (210709)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the evidential basis was for his statement of 4 June 2008, Official Report, column 765, that the majority of drivers will benefit from the proposed changes to vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement. (210664)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposed changes to vehicle excise duty on disabled people; (219729)

(2) what assessment he has made of the likely effect of proposed vehicle excise duty increases on vehicle owners rural areas with limited public transport.

The Budget 2008 included proposed reforms to the system of CO2-based VED, aimed at strengthening the incentive to develop and use cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars. The reforms build on the system of banding by CO2 emissions introduced in 2001 in response to rising concern over the impact of vehicle emissions.

While CO2 emissions from new cars have dropped by 13 per cent. since 1997, overall emissions from road transport still account for over 20 per cent. of the UK's total emissions and it is clear that we must go further to ensure we meet our environmental targets.

Proposed EU targets supported by the Government mean the CO2 emissions of an average new car will need to be cut to 130 grams per kilometre by 2012. In addition, the King review, published alongside the Budget, showed that carbon emissions could be reduced by 25 per cent. if motorists shifted to the lowest carbon car within a particular class.

The Budget 2008 reforms to VED will increase the number of bands from seven to 13 in 2009-10. From 2010-11, new cars will be taxed differently in the first year to influence purchasing choices at the point of sale. Overall these measures will ensure that drivers of the lowest emitting cars will benefit from a reduced VED rate and those who drive higher emitting cars will pay more.

The following tables are based on the new VED bands published on page 122 of the Budget Red Book and set out estimates for the number of cars that will sit within each new VED band in both 2009 and 2010. They also show how the amount that these cars pay will compare in real terms to the rate in 2008. Those who are eligible for the higher mobility element of disability living allowance are exempt from VED. In addition, there is also an exemption for organisations that operate passenger vehicles for the benefit of disabled people. In total, over 1.1 million disabled motorists are exempt from VED.

Furthermore, Government continue to support the long established motability scheme, set up by the Government in 1977 to provide disabled people with safe, reliable and affordable cars.

By 2010, 55 per cent. of motorists will pay less or the same in real terms as a result of these reforms. In addition, excluding first rates for new vehicles, the reforms mean that:

80 per cent. will pay no more than £55 extra;

95 per cent. will pay no more than £100 extra; and

5 per cent. will pay between £100 and £245 extra.

2009-10

Band

CO2 (g/km)

2009-10

Percentage pay less

Percentage pay the same

Percentage pay more

A

Up to 100

400

0

100

0

B

101-110

217,000

100

0

0

C

111-120

470,000

100

0

0

D

121-130

670,000

100

0

0

E

131-140

2,394,000

100

0

0

F

141-150

3,087,000

100

0.

0

G

151-160

3,256,000

0

100

0

H

161-170

2,400,000

0

50

50

I

171-180

1,785,000

0

0

100

J

181-200

2,577,000

0

0

100

K

201-225

2,550,000

0

0

100

L

226-255

277,000

0

0

100

M

Over 255

311,000

0

0

100

All bands

19,994,400

34

22

44

2010-11

Band

CO2 (g/km)

2010-11

Percentage pay less

Percentage pay the same

Percentage pay more

A

Up to 100

9,000

0

100

0

B

101-110

266,000

100

0

0

C

111-120

565,000

20

80

0

D

121-130

822,000

100

0

0

E

131-140

2,813,000

100

0

0

F

141-150

3,393,000

0

100

0

G

151-160

3,560,000

0

100

0

H

161-170

2,558,000

0

40

60

I

171-180

1,912,000

0

0

100

J

181-200

2,714,000

0

0

100

K

201-225

1,535,000

0

0

100

L

226-255

1,002,000

0

0

100

M

Over 255

766,000

0

0

100

All bands

21,915,000

18

39

43

The graduated VED rate will apply to all cars for which emissions data are available, i.e. those first registered after March 2001. For cars purchased pre-March 2001, different rates apply.

There are also separate arrangements in place for alternative fuel cars which are defined as ‘gas-propelled vehicles, and those capable of being propelled by petrol and gas or electricity and petrol/diesel’.

These cars will receive a discount on their graduated VED. In 2008-09, alterative fuel cars in bands A to E receive a £20 discount from the standard graduated VED rate, and cars in bands F and G receive a £15 discount. In 2009-10, the discount for cars in new bands A to I will be £20, and £15 for cars in bands J to M. In 2010-11, all alternative fuel cars will receive a £10 discount from the standard rate.

As has been the practice under successive Governments, the VED rates will apply to all cars, including second-hand ones, where emissions data are available. Since the number of used cars sold is three times that of new cars, it is important to provide an environmental incentive to the used car market as well as the new car market.

The new rates will include a transitional period for cars registered between March 2001 and March 2006 that emit 225g/km or higher. These cars have been charged at a lower rate since 2006. They are currently charged the rate for current band F (£210), when the correct band for their emissions is band G (£400).

In order to reduce the financial impact on these motorists in any one year, these vehicles will be charged a lower transitional rate of £300 in 2009, before moving into band L or M in 2010—bringing them in line with all other vehicles with the same emission levels. This group represents the 5 per cent. of motorists in graduated VED who will pay between £100 and £245 extra in non first year rates from 2010.

The graduated VED rates do not apply to cars purchased before March 2001, as there are no comprehensive emissions data available for these vehicles. Motorists who bought their cars before March 2001 will continue to pay VED based on the size of the engine. Cars with engines below 1549 cc will have their VED rate frozen at £120 in 2009—a fall in real terms—while cars with engines above 1550 cc will see their VED rate increase by £15. Having different rates depending on the engine size ensures that there is an environmental signal for VED taxation for pre-2001 cars, taking account of the data available.

The following table is based on the categories for pre- March 2001 cars published on page 123 of the Budget Red Book and sets out the current Treasury estimate of the number of cars that will sit within each category.

Estimated number of pre-2001 cars by band

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

1549cc and below

4,198,000

3,771,000

3,322,000

2,851,000

1550 cc and above

7,091,000

6,403,000

5,687,000

4,934,000

In 1997 the rate of VED was £145. Had the Government simply uprated the duty in line with inflation then all motorists would have to pay £200 in 2009. Therefore, all cars purchased prior to 2001 will pay no more in real terms in 2009 than in 1997. The single VED band meant that all car owners were taxed the same amount, regardless of the type of car that they drive. By introducing and then reforming graduated VED since 2001, the Government have made the system less regressive, as well as ensuring that the most polluting cars pay more than the least polluting.

Statistics for the number of the vehicles in low-income households are not available for 2007-08, and has not been forecast for 2008-09 onwards. The Government do not collect data from drivers when purchasing tax discs according to their household income. The best available relevant data on the impact of VED on low income households are set out in my PQ answer of 4 June.

The Treasury does not hold information on the specific impact of proposed vehicle excise duties on rural areas. Working vehicles that do not use public roads other than for travelling no more than 1.5 kilometres between different areas of land owned by the same person are exempt from VED.

Financial Services Authority: Northern Ireland

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish an office of the Financial Services Authority in Northern Ireland. (220748)

The Financial Services Authority conducts a range of events to ensure effective communication with firms based in Northern Ireland. These are an operational matter for the FSA, which is independent of Government.

Fish

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species. (217896)

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost by the PFI provider of catering services to the Treasury.

Fruit: Scotland

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount the Exchequer received from the Scottish fruit industry in each of the last five years. (218429)

Fuels: Prices

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relationship between speculation on futures markets and prices of crude oil and gas. (219851)

The Government published their latest assessment of the relationship between speculation on futures markets and commodity prices, including crude oil and gas, in “Global Commodities: a long-term vision for stable, secure and sustainable global markets” on 12 June 2008.

Insurance: Unfair Practices

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department proposes to take on overcharging in relation to payment protection insurance policies as reported by the Competition Commission. (220868)

The Competition Commission's report of 5 June 2008 on payment protection insurance is a provisional findings report. Her Majesty's Treasury will maintain a close dialogue with industry and the independent Financial Ombudsman Service, Financial Services Authority, Competition Commission, and the Office of Fair Trading.

Members: Correspondence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 12 May regarding a constituent, reference 96705. (220321)

I understand the correspondence referred to, initially sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is being dealt with by DCMS.

Minimum Wage: Hampshire

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged (a) under 18, (b) under 21 and (c) over 60 years were found to be paid below the minimum wage in (i) Hampshire and (ii) Southampton in each of the last five years. (218621)

Minimum Wage: Tamworth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies in Tamworth have been (a) fined and (b) required to cease trading for non-compliance with national minimum wage provisions since 2005. (220127)

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many homes have been repossessed by Northern Rock since nationalisation. (220078)

During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm's length from the Government on commercial principles. It is a matter for the company's management to release specific business updates or provide any required disclosures in their audited annual report and accounts.

Non-Domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for exemption from business rates have been submitted to the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last five years. (220801)

The numbers of proposals received by the Valuation Office Agency over the last five years, seeking removal from the non-domestic lists, including those where it is claimed the property is now wholly domestic is:

England and Wales

2003-04

1,397

2004-05

1,338

2005-06

931

2006-07

654

2007-08

731

Total

5,051

Northern Rock

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) he and (b) another of the tripartite authorities has conducted an inquiry into the leak of the offer of emergency assistance to Northern Rock on 13 September 2007. (217624)

As the Chancellor told the Treasury Committee on 25 October 2007, the Treasury did not conduct a leak inquiry. Nor have the Bank of England or the Financial Services Authority.

Occupational Health: Costs

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) the economy and (b) the Exchequer of stress-related illnesses in the last year. (220749)

Dame Carol Black's review of the health of Britain's working age population estimated that the cost to the economy of sickness absence and worklessness associated with working age ill-health are over £100 billion a year, which includes stress related illness.

Olympic Games

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost. (212117)

I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid-Kent (Hugh Robertson), the Shadow Sports and Olympics Minister on 19 May 2008, Official Report, columns 5-6W.

The number of Government officials attending has not yet been finalised.

Public Expenditure

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has set a date for the publication of the Government's factual paper on the Barnett Formula. (220077)

Public Sector: Pay

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) economic models and (b) mechanisms his Department uses to estimate the effect of average public sector pay increases on inflation. (203567)

Government policy is to ensure that public sector pay settlements:

Reflect the individual labour market position of workforces, particularly their recruitment and retention position;

Are consistent with the achievement by the Bank of England of its CPI inflation target of 2 per cent.;

Are affordable for departments; and

Represent value for money for taxpayers.

Consistency with the inflation target does not mean that there is a specific number which is the target for pay awards. But it does mean that pay awards need to support low and stable inflation.

A wide range of factors can potentially impact on inflationary pressure. These factors are considered by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank England when setting interest rates to meet the inflation target. An assessment of inflationary pressures is available in the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report. The Treasury publishes its own inflation forecast in the Budget and the pre-Budget report.

Public Transport: Rural Areas

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on spending on public transport in rural areas. (220311)

Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with their colleagues in other Departments and with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Revenue and Customs: Leave

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff or call centre staff have been asked to postpone leave arrangements in the last six months; how many have agreed to do so; and what (a) financial and (b) other compensation has been offered to them. (219866)

Revenue and Customs: Salisbury

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when in 2009 HM Revenue and Customs' lease on Alexandra House, Salisbury terminates; whether the office will be co-located with Jobcentre Plus officials at Summerlock House, Salisbury following the termination of the lease; and if he will make a statement. (219553)

HMRC currently occupies Alexandra House, Salisbury under an agreement with HM Court Services who own the building but there is no lease arrangement. Court Services are seeking to sell the building and have recently given HMRC notice to leave by 29 May 2009. The sale of the building will not prejudice the outcome of a national review currently being carried out on the Department's property needs to match future business requirements. HMRC is seeking alternative accommodation in Salisbury to meet its future business requirements and is considering the suitability of a number of options, including the availability of Summerlock House. No decision about HMRC's future location in Salisbury has been taken yet.

Revenue and Customs: Vacancies

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which HM Revenue and Customs operational areas in Wales there are staff shortages, broken down by role. (219970)

Work is in progress through HMRC's Workforce Change Programme to address staff distribution requirements aligned to business transformation.

There is an ongoing recruitment exercise for a number of HMRC contact centres including Cardiff. In Wales specifically HMRC currently have 15 vacancies and these breakdown into the following grades: 11 higher officers, four officers.

These vacancies are in a number of business areas and are being advertised to existing staff, with priority given to pre-surplus staff.

Smuggling: Wildlife

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many products made from endangered wildlife sources have been seized by HM Revenue and Customs in 2008 to date. (220039)

HM Revenue and Customs made the following seizures of endangered species between 1 January 2008 and 31 March 2008:

Number of seizures

Number of items seized

Weight of items seized (kg)

Live animals and birds

8

23

Parts and derivatives of endangered species

24

453

0.62

Ivory

6

75

Plants

1

55

Other species listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (including coral, caviar and ginseng)

19

685

8.42

Preparations of oriental medicines which include parts or derivatives of endangered species

14

5,748

57.11

CITES seizures are recorded by number of items seized or by weight, whichever is the most practical. Apart from the live specimens, all of the above categories may include products of endangered species.

The total number of seizures of endangered species items for the financial year 2007-08 can found at Annex F of HMRC's Departmental Report 2008 at:

www.hmrc.gov.uk

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Tax Allowances

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dwellings in (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and (b) Leeds West constituency have been subject to stamp duty tax relief on zero carbon homes. (220759)

Since the stamp duty land tax relief for zero carbon homes was introduced in October 2007 nobody in the Leeds Metropolitan District or the Leeds West constituency has claimed the relief.

Taxation: Aviation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of levels of taxes on passengers and flights in other European Union member states. (217988)

The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government will of course assess the level of taxes on passengers and flights in other European Union states.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of aviation taxation systems in other European Union member states which generate revenue other than on an individual flight or passenger basis. (217989)

The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government will of course assess systems of aviation taxation in other European Union states.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent studies he has commissioned on the economic effects of aviation duty on the aviation industry. (217990)

The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Treasury is working with the Department for Transport and with key industry stakeholders to assess the economic effects of the aviation duty on the aviation industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent studies he has commissioned to evaluate the effect of UK aviation taxation on UK businesses competing with other businesses in Europe and globally. (217991)

The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government are working with key stakeholders to assess the likely effects of the aviation duty on the wider economy.

Taxation: Wales

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many compliance enquiries following the receipt of a P810 form were carried out in Wales in each of the last five years. (219968)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer arising from (a) unprocessed and (b) destroyed P810 forms in each of the last five years. (219969)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many P810 forms have been received from people resident in Wales in each month of the last five years; on how many of these forms action has not been taken; how many such forms have been destroyed; and on what date the destroyed forms were (a) received and (b) destroyed. (219971)

The requested information on the numbers of Welsh residents who have received or completed a form P810 is not available.

Once a form P810 (Tax Review Form) has been dealt it is retained for the tax year it was received plus two full tax years.

Valuation Office

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2008, Official Report, column 1629W, on the Valuation Office, how many households in England received a visit from a Valuation Office Agency official in the most recent (a) year and (b) other period for which figures are available. (218268)

For the last year, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 April 2008, Official Report, column 1688W. The approximate number of visits in other periods for which figures are available are 110,000 in 2005 and 125,000 in 2006.

Working Tax Credit

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centres are piloting the face to face interviews in working tax credit take-up. (219759)

HMRC’s Enquiry Centres at Belfast, Cosham (near Portsmouth), Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Newport (Gwent) participated in a pilot during May and June 2008 designed to encourage the take-up of working tax credit.

Working Tax Credit: Halifax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Halifax received working tax credit in 2007-08. (220148)

HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards in 2006-07 in each constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are available in the HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2006-07. Geographical Analyses”. This publication is available on the HMRC website at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm

The same information for 2007-08 is not yet available because awards have not yet been finalised.

Written Questions: Government Responses

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Questions (a) 208270, (b) 208268, (c) 208271 and (d) 208269 on vehicle excise duty, tabled by the hon. Member for Putney on 30 May 2008. (220811)

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Aggregates Levy

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to reach conclusions following his Department’s aggregates levy consultation; and whether he plans to publish the outcome of the consultation. (219342)

The outcome of the consultation on the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund was put on the consultations section of DEFRA’s website on 10 July.

Agriculture: Foreigners

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of foreign workers participating in the seasonal farm workers scheme in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the number in 2008. (216788)

I have been asked to reply.

The annual quota for the number of foreign workers who were permitted to enter the United Kingdom under the auspices of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme in 2005, 2006 and 2007 was 16,250. The quota was met in each year. The quota for 2008 is also 16,250.

The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Agriculture: Subsidies

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to make the Single Farm Payment for 2007 to the constituent of the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, Mr. Robert Philipson-Stow of Pendock Estates. (218600)

[holding answer 14 July 2008]: The Rural Payments Agency has made the single payment scheme payment for 2007 to Mr. Robert Philipson-Stow.

Animal Welfare: Research

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on the sharing of funding for animal health and welfare research between Departments; and if he will make a statement. (216558)

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funds a wide range of animal health and welfare research projects. The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is the Government Department which funds the BBSRC.

I have not had specific discussions with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on this issue. I consider that good working links exist between DEFRA and BBRSC, who keep each other informed about research funding plans and aim to have well co-ordinated research programmes. Regular interaction takes place between DEFRA, the BBSRC and other UK research funders through various media such as the UK Animal Disease Research Funders' Forum, the Microbial Safety of Food Funders' Group and the UK TSE Research and Development Co-ordination Group. Joint activities such as scientific workshops and research calls have been organised by these groups.

DEFRA has observer status at meetings of the BBSRC Animal Sciences and AgriFood Committees. Both DEFRA and BBSRC are involved in the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research, the Collaborative Working Group on Animal Health and Welfare Research and the ERA-NET on emerging and major infectious diseases of livestock.

In addition to this close interaction, the BBSRC and DEFRA have jointly funded projects on viral disease of livestock. DEFRA also co-fund a number of projects identified from the BBSRC responsive mode grant applications under the Government Partnership Awards scheme.

Bees

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department provided to (a) the National Bee Unit and (b) the Bee Inspectorate in 2001-02. (218692)

Expenditure on the National Bee Unit, which includes the Bee Inspectorate, by DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government in 2001-02 was £1,583,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on bee health research in each of the last 10 years. (218703)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much per annum is contributed to the agricultural economy by the honey bee sector. (218704)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1324W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent trends in the honey bee population in England. (218708)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1324W.

Bees: Disease Control

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the threat of the Varroa mite to the honey bee population. (218705)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 20 May 2008, Official Report, columns 171-72W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent studies he has commissioned on tackling the Varroa mite. (218706)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of exotic threats to the honey bee population, with particular reference to the small hive beetle. (218707)

The possibility of the small hive beetle arriving in the UK is a recognised threat to the health of honey bees and the National Bee Unit remains vigilant for the arrival of this and other exotic pests and diseases. To promote early detection, publicity material has been distributed to help raise individual beekeepers’ awareness of the risk. Plant health import inspectors and horticultural marketing inspectors have also been alerted, as one possible entry pathway is imported fruit. To help mitigate this threat, DEFRA has developed a contingency plan in consultation with stakeholders and is also pressing the European Commission to introduce tighter contingency arrangements to reduce the risk of spread should the small hive beetle be introduced into another member state. Additionally, DEFRA is funding research into a “lure and kill” monitoring system for rapid deployment should the small hive beetle be detected.

The relative priorities that should be given to the various pest and disease threats to bees are addressed in the draft bee health strategy that is currently out for public consultation.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has commissioned on the role of maize and trace element deficiency in the spread of M.bovis. (218918)

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: While the role of maize in the spread of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) has not been specifically investigated by any DEFRA funded research projects, the case-control studies carried out as part of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) did investigate associations between a number of feed types and risk of a herd TB breakdown. Studies TB99 and CCS2005, found an association between feeding silage and the use of grass feeding types for grazing/forage and an increase in risk of TB breakdown, respectively. The findings of these studies are in the final report of the Independent Scientific Group report on cattle TB. In addition TB99 also identified not using feeding supplements as a risk factor for confirmed cases of TB.

The association between M. bovis infection and trace elements such as selenium, copper and vitamin B12 status of cattle was investigated as part of the DEFRA funded project “Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Cattle—Complementary Field Studies” (project SE3013), carried out at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). While little evidence was found for a difference by TB status in copper or B12, associations were found between low levels of selenium and a higher risk of an animal being infected with M.bovis. However, given the design of the study and the evidence that the action of some micro-nutrients can be substantially influenced by the levels of others it was not possible to conclude that the observed associations were causal. The full report can be downloaded from DEFRA’s website.

I remain open minded about the possibility of a nutritional link but because of the number of variables involved and the likelihood a causal link could never be proven I am not inclined to fund further research into this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the cattle testing regime in preventing cattle-to-cattle transmission of bovine tuberculosis; and what representations he has received on the frequency of the tests under the regime. (218919)

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: The underlying principle of our bovine TB test and slaughter programme is to identify infected cattle as early as possible and minimise the risk of the transmission of the disease within and between cattle herds. Many countries where infection is maintained solely through spread between cattle have eradicated bovine TB through the systematic testing and reactor slaughter programme that we use today.

DEFRA has funded, and is currently funding, a number of research projects modelling the potential impacts of various cattle movement control scenarios on the spread of TB—final reports are published on the DEFRA website. We recognise the importance of monitoring the effectiveness of the TB control programme—and we will enhance controls in the light of emerging evidence. New policies introduced in recent years include: zero tolerance for overdue TB tests (i.e. herd movement restrictions applied immediately a test becomes overdue); mandatory pre-movement testing of cattle in high risk areas; and increased use of the gamma interferon blood test. These measures increase our ability to identify infected cattle, thereby reducing the risk of disease spread. We have also been working with stakeholders to raise awareness of simple biosecurity measures to further reduce transmission risks between animals.

Increasing the frequency of bovine TB testing in some areas was one of the additional measures recommended by the Independent Science Group (ISG). Initial cost benefit analysis of increasing the frequency of cattle testing suggests that they would come at a high cost with limited benefits—and so would be difficult to justify in terms of Government expenditure. Decisions about the value of such measures, and how they might be funded, are as much, if not more, a question for industry as for Government and will need to be discussed by the Bovine TB Partnership Group.

Our current approach to determining the minimum levels of routine testing for cattle herds is risk-based and consistent with the requirements of EU Council Directive 64/432/EEC. Parish Testing Intervals reflect the local level of bovine TB prevalence, and are reviewed each year to take account of any change in the disease situation. An increase in the levels of disease in an area triggers more frequent testing. Divisional Veterinary Managers (Animal Health) are already empowered to increase testing if local or individual herd circumstances indicate that such action is required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates he has made of the number of cattle likely to be slaughtered under the bovine tuberculosis regime in the next three years. (218920)

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: My Department has not attempted to estimate the numbers of cattle likely to be slaughtered under the bovine tuberculosis control regime in the next three years.

It is very difficult to make such forecasts due to the chronic, multifactorial and insidious nature of bovine TB. The number of cattle slaughtered as tuberculosis (TB) test reactors and direct contacts largely depends on (i) the underlying prevalence of the infection in the cattle (and badger) population and (ii) the intensity and accuracy of the TB screening programme for cattle herds. The former is subject to cyclical changes in the endemic TB areas that are difficult to predict, whereas the latter is subject to annual changes as TB herd testing frequencies are reviewed every year in response to the incidence of herd breakdowns in the previous years. Furthermore, the enhancements to the TB testing regime introduced over the last two years (such as pre-movement testing and gamma-interferon blood testing) are expected to result in higher numbers of reactors being identified each year, at least in the short to medium term.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Statement of 7 July 2008, Official Report, columns 1157-8, on bovine TB, if he will publish the evidence which underlay his evaluation of the PCR test reported to the House on 7 July 2008. (219028)

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: A number of diagnostic tests for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in badgers have been developed through DEFRA funded research projects at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). The final reports of completed research projects have been published on the DEFRA website.

Bovine TB is currently confirmed by culture of M. bovis in the laboratory. However, M. bovis grows very slowly so culture results can take six weeks to several months to come through. DEFRA funded VLA project SE3008 (April 1999-December 2004), ‘Detection and enumeration of M. bovis from clinical and environmental samples’, aimed to develop PCR-based methods that may allow rapid screening of samples from infected cattle and monitoring of the environment and badger populations for the presence of M. bovis. This research showed that while the PCR test specific for M. bovis was found to be only 50 per cent. as sensitive as the gold standard of culture, the sensitivity of the M. tuberculosis complex PCR test (i.e. a less specific PCR able to detect mycobacteria that are members of the M. tb complex) was increased from 70 per cent., to 90 per cent., by the end of the project. While such low sensitivities for M. bovis detection rules out the use of this PCR test for use on environmental samples and excretions collected from badgers, with further development and evaluation this test could be used in the laboratory to achieve faster confirmation and subsequent tracing of bTB infection in slaughterhouse cases.

Work funded by DEFRA to validate the PCR test developed by Warwick University to detect M. bovis in the environment is ongoing (Project SE3231: ‘Validation and epidemiological application of molecular methods for monitoring M. bovis survival and dissemination into the environment’). This is a joint project between the VLA, Warwick University and University College, London and includes validation of the test using field samples. A full project description is available on the DEFRA website. A final report on the work will be published following its completion in April 2010.

If it is shown to be usable as a robust practical field test, consideration of its potential use in any bTB control policy will need to take account of the results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, which showed that localised culling was associated with an increase in cattle herd TB breakdowns due to the perturbation effect on badgers and increased transmission of bTB.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will give a breakdown of his Department's expenditure on bovine tuberculosis expenditure in 2007-08 by main budget heading; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for the rest of the current comprehensive spending review period; and what assumptions underlay that estimate. (219029)

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: GB expenditure on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in 2007-08 was £79.8 million. However, we are unable to provide an accurate forecast of expenditure on bTB in the period of the 2008-11 comprehensive spending review as budgets have not yet been finalised.

The following table shows the breakdown expenditure on bovine TB in 2007-08;

Activity

2007-08

Cattle Testing

32.6

Compensation

29.7

RBCT

0.03

Surveillance activity by the VLA

7.9

Other Research1

8.5

HQ/Overheads

1.2

Totals

79.93

1 Figure does not include research into culling methods or the badger population survey.

Notes:

1. Cattle testing—the cost of carrying out the testing of cattle for TB by arranging, assessing and monitoring tests, conducting investigations of incident herds and diagnostic testing by local veterinary inspectors on behalf of DEFRA. Note: These costs include Scotland and Wales (funded by DEFRA).

2. Compensation—includes payments for ‘reactors’ and ‘contact animals’ which are compulsorily slaughtered. This includes ‘salvage’ money received by the Government for those carcasses which are permitted to go into the food chain or are eligible for over 30 month scheme payments. Note: These costs include Scotland and Wales and are funded by their respective Governments.

3. Surveillance activity by the VLA—includes all DEFRA-funded work carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency relating to TB in cattle and badgers including the supply of tuberculin.

5. HQ/overheads—includes staff costs for veterinary advice and administration of TB policy in England, Scotland and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) under what budget heading expenditure on vaccination against bovine tuberculosis will be incurred over the next three years; (219030)

(2) what estimate he has made of the expenditure from the (a) bovine tuberculosis budget and (b) animal health budget required for the vaccination policy announced on 7 July 2008 which is additional to original allocations under those headings.

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: Of the £20 million identified as funding for vaccine research by the Secretary of State, £10.4 million has already been contracted from the existing tuberculosis programme research budgets. The additional £9.6 million has not yet been contracted and will be funded from an expanded research budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost-benefit analysis his Department has undertaken of pre-movement testing of cattle. (219032)

[holding answer 15 July 2008]: The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) that supports pre-movement testing has been reviewed and updated in light of phase one experience. The reviewed RIA is available on the DEFRA website.

A review of pre-movement testing will be carried out following the period of peak cattle movements in autumn 2008. By then, a full year of normal trading data should be available to assess. This will allow an analysis of cattle movements in spring and autumn, which are the most challenging delivery periods, thereby providing sufficient data for a comprehensive review.

In the meantime, monitoring of the impacts of the policy is ongoing and statistics continue to be published on the DEFRA website.

Climate Change

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement in the Climate Change Bill Committee of 3 July 2008, Official Report, column 252, by the Minister for the Environment, the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Mr. Woolas) if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter to Lord Turner on the publication of interim findings by the independent Climate Change Committee. (219963)