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Written Answers

Volume 495: debated on Wednesday 8 July 2009

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 8 July 2009

Culture, Media and Sport

Departmental Carbon Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from offices in his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff. (280951)

The estimate from carbon dioxide emissions from offices is as follows:

Tonnes of carbon dioxide

In total

2006-07: 4,615

2007-08: 2,251

Per full-time equivalent member of staff

2006-07: 5.560

2007-08: 3.19

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from road-based transport of administrative operations by his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff. (281003)

The Department has made the following estimate of carbon dioxide arising from road-based transport of administrative operations.

Total

2006-07: 3.309 tonnes of CO2

2007-08: 4.39 tonnes of CO2

Per full-time equivalent member of staff

2006-07: .005 tonnes of CO2

2007-08: .006 tonnes of CO2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel by staff in his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff. (281004)

The Department has made the following estimate on the amount of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel from staff:

Total

2006-07: 172 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions

2007-08: 125.78 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions

Per full-time equivalent member of staff

2006-07: 0.207 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions

2007-08: 0.16 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Departmental Energy

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on energy efficiency measures for his Department's estate in each year from 2004 to 2009; what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of that expenditure; and what plans he has for future energy efficiency measures. (280548)

The Department has not collected data on the amount of expenditure spent on energy efficiency measures on its estate.

Details of the Department’s future plans for energy efficiency measures can be found in the August 2008 Sustainable Procurement and Operations on the Government Estate Delivery Plan and the December 2008 Delivery Plan Update.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the energy consumed per full-time equivalent member of staff in his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. (280952)

The Department’s estimate of energy consumed per full-time equivalent member of staff is as follows:

2006-07: 16,343 kwh/FTE

2007-08: 8,109 kwh/FTE

Departmental Official Hospitality

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by his Department (a) on drink, (b) on food and (c) overall in relation to the departmental function held on 23 June 2009; and if he will list the people invited by his Department. (283695)

[holding answer 2 July 2009]: The Department spent £243.25 on drinks and £600.00 on food (the overall cost was £1,251.25 which includes catering staff, equipment hire and delivery) for the function held on 23 June 2009. The people invited were journalists covering DCMS sectors.

Departmental Recycling

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) volume and (b) percentage of waste his Department recycled in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. (281002)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport produced the following volume and percentage of waste:

2006-07

Figures are not available

2007-08

Volume: 60 tonnes

Recycled: 80 per cent.

Departmental Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the amount of waste arising from his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff. (281001)

The Department has made the following estimate of the amount of waste arising:

Total

2006-07: 2,070 tonnes

2007-08: 187.32 tonnes

Per full-time equivalent member of staff

2006-07: 2.49 tonnes/FTE

2007-08: 0.27 tonnes/FTE.

Departmental Water

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of water consumption on his Department's office estate in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07, (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff. (280950)

The Department has made the following estimate of water consumption on the office estate:

Estimated water consumption (m3)

Total

2005-06: 8,423

2006-07: 7,424

Per full-time equivalent member of staff

2005-06: 15

2006-07: 10.52

Defence

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment was made of the appropriateness of the Vector armoured vehicle for use in Afghanistan before its acquisition in 2006. (284853)

The Vector Light Protected Patrol Vehicle passed a variety of appropriate tests and trials prior to its entry into service to ensure it met the threat as it was assessed at the time. Due to the way that the threat has evolved since 2006, it is the intention to withdraw Vector from operations in Afghanistan .

Armed Forces: Higher Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many doctorates of philosophy studies his Department funded for military students attending a civilian university in each of the last four years. (284522)

During the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, 983 post graduate qualifications, specifically related to military training and education requirements, were funded for military personnel. The statistics held do not distinguish between the types of qualification, although future returns will identify PhDs and Masters Degrees separately.

The specific information requested on PhDs could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

European Fighter Aircraft

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the operational deployment of the third tranche of Typhoon; and how many squadrons the third tranche of Typhoon will comprise when the delivery is completed. (284595)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 July, Official Report, column 558W. The placement of Tranche 3 aircraft across the current planned Typhoon Squadrons has not yet been decided and as such there has been no decision about their operational deployment.

Gurkhas: Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average pension payment to a member of the (a) Gurkha Pension Scheme and (b) Armed Forces Pension Scheme was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (284418)

The latest available figures for the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) relate to financial year 2007-08. This period has therefore been used for the figures given for the average monthly payments made under both schemes:

Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS): £122.64

AFPS: £578.41

These figures are based upon average pensions paid to former members of the armed forces, their spouses, and dependants. These averages are not comparable because of different lengths of service, different rank structure between the Brigade of Gurkhas and the wider Army and, chiefly, because Gurkhas begin drawing on their pensions much earlier than British soldiers with equivalent service. For example, a Gurkha Rifleman or Corporal with 15 years service (approximately 85 per cent. of those receiving GPS payments) can claim an immediate pension after 15 years service (from age 33) whereas equivalent service under the AFPS would not attract pension payments until age 60.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department calculated its estimate of the £1.5 billion required to give Gurkhas on the Gurkha Pension Scheme a retrospective pension equivalent to their UK counterparts. (284419)

£1.5 billion is an estimate of the capitalised cost of providing retired Gurkhas with Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) equivalent pension benefits for all pensionable service before 1 July 1997.

The estimate was calculated by the Government Actuary’s Department and identifies the additional capitalised cost that would be incurred if benefits of equivalent value to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme were granted for all pensionable service before 1 July 1997, on the same terms as provided for post-1 July 1997 service in the Gurkha Offer to Transfer exercise. The estimated cost is based on the assumptions and methodology applied in the Gurkha Offer to Transfer, and assumes that the profile of Gurkha pensioners and dependants who retired before 1 July 1997 is similar to those that retired post 1 July 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the Gurkha pension scheme to extend eligibility to those veterans who left the Brigade prior to 1997; and if he will make a statement. (284651)

Gurkha veterans who left the Army before 1 July 1997 are already eligible for benefits from the Gurkha Pension Scheme.

The hon. Member may have in mind the question of whether such individuals should be eligible for benefits from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme in the same way as those who left the Army on or after 1 July 1997. The High Court agreed in July 2008 that it was fair and reasonable for the Department to use this date as a cut-off point for eligibility for the pensions offer in 2007-08.

Although annual payments to British soldiers will eventually be higher than Gurkhas, with the same 15 years service, Gurkhas pensions begin paying out much earlier (as young as 33) whereas the British soldiers preserved rights do not become payable until age 60.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many unexploded improvised explosive devices were discovered by UK troops in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008. (283549)

I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Met Office: Cost Effectiveness

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether officials of his Department have met officials from the Shareholder Executive to discuss opportunities for private sector partners to develop specific services to complement those of the Met Office. (284770)

The Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP) Met Office Review Group is comprised of officials from the Ministry of Defence, Shareholder Executive, HM Treasury and the Met Office and meets regularly in undertaking the review.

This group is responsible for taking forward all aspects of the Met Office review as set out in the OEP Final Report published in April 2009. While exploring all options and opportunities, initial discussions began regarding opportunities for engaging with private sector partners. However, this aspect of the work is at an early stage, and more detailed work on this topic will be taking place over the coming months. A further update on progress of the review will be provided with the pre-Budget report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the reference in the Operational Efficiency Programme to the greater involvement of the private sector with the Met Office includes involvement by (a) the private weather sector and (b) private equity. (284771)

An update on progress of the Met Office Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP) review was provided in the OEP Final Report published April 2009. The update included reference to the potential expansion of commercial operations at the Met Office, possibly through the introduction of private capital in some areas, as well as seeking opportunities to develop specific services with private sector partners to complement Met Office's business. The private weather sector were involved in the Trading Fund Assessment work. Further involvement of the private sector, which could in principle include involvement by the private weather sector and private equity, will be considered as we develop more detailed work over the coming months. A further update on progress of the review will be provided with the pre-Budget report.

Military Aircraft

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times each type of aircraft has (a) come under fire and (b) been damaged by enemy fire in Afghanistan in each of the last five years. (284536)

I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many military bases his Department have closed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998; (283321)

(2) how many military bases his Department has in Northern Ireland; and how many such bases it (a) owned and (b) operated in each year since 1998.

The information requested on the number of operational and closed military bases in Northern Ireland and the terms on which they were occupied, in each year since 1998, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However, the Government’s Security Strategy Paper published in December 1999 recorded 72 open and 34 closed military sites including regular military bases, training areas, joint Police Service Northern Ireland/military bases, communication sites, and observation towers.

Further information on open and closed military sites from 31 May 2004 is included in the second, ninth, eleventh, fourteenth and sixteenth reports of the International Monitoring Commission (IMC), copies of which are available in the Library of the House. These reports can also be found on the IMC website:

http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org

In particular, the sixteenth report explains the terms on which the military occupied the sites and the arrangements for their disposal.

The current regular Northern Ireland Garrison bases and the terms on which they are occupied are as follows:

RAF Aldergrove (Freehold)

Abercorn Barracks, Ballykinler (Freehold)

Ballykinler Training Camp (Freehold)

Divis Key Point (on Divis Mountain) (Freehold)

Duke of Connaught Unit, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast (Leasehold)

Massereene Barracks, Antrim (Freehold)

Kinnegar Station, Holywood (Freehold)

Palace Barracks, Holywood (Freehold)

Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn (Freehold)

Magilligan Training Camp (Freehold)

Trident

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned lifespan is of the existing generation of Trident missile warheads; what recent consideration he has given to the practicability of extending that lifespan; and if he will estimate the likely savings to the public purse of undertaking such an extension instead of procuring a replacement system. (284420)

The UK’s existing nuclear warhead design is likely to last into the 2020s, although we do not yet have sufficient information to judge precisely how long we can retain it in service. We are currently undertaking detailed studies to assess this and potential options for replacement should that be necessary. It is too soon to estimate the precise timing and the potential costs of any options beyond the £2-3 billion estimate, at 2006-07 prices, given in the 2006 Defence White Paper.

Wales

Departmental Databases

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what categories of personal information on members of the public are contained on each database which contains such data managed by his Department and its agencies; when each category of information was first collected; and if he will make a statement. (284899)

Departmental Manpower

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are based at each of his Department’s offices. (285407)

The Wales Office is split between two locations, London and Cardiff Bay. There are 41 staff based in London and 16 staff based in Cardiff Bay. A number of staff divide their time between the two offices.

Home Department

Asylum: Tibet

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date his Department amended its procedures for the description on asylum applications of applicants of Tibetan origin; and for what reasons the procedures were amended. (264119)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written ministerial statement of 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 30WS, from my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary (David Miliband).

Crime: Alcoholic Drinks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Merseyside aged (a) under 18 and (b) between 18 and 24 years old have been (i) cautioned and (ii) prosecuted for alcohol-related offences in each of the last five years. (283189)

Data showing the number of offenders cautioned for alcohol related offences in Merseyside Police Force Area, broken down by age, from 2003-07 can be viewed in Table 1. The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts can be viewed in Table 2 and the number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) can be viewed in Table 3.

2008 data will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Table 1; Number of offenders cautioned for alcohol related offences1 in the Merseyside Police Force Area, broken down by age, 2003-072,3,4

Age

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

10 to 17

199

178

79

19

48

18 to 24

763

340

48

41

54

1 Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s. 12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 ss. 1 (2)(3)(4) & 1 A(2)(3)(4), 2(1 )(2), 5B(2)(3), 5C(3)(4), 5D(2)(3), 6(2); Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 s. 1; Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 ss.12, 17, 25(3)(a)(b), 25(4)(5), 32; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 ss. 5C(5), 6, 6, 19, 28(3), 34, 36, 39(1)(2)(3)(4), 45, 48, 51(4), 53, 59(1)(a)(b), 71(4), 72, 84, 85(2), 89, 155(1)(a), 157(1)(a)(b), 157(1)(b), 159, 160,(1 )(a)(b), 161(1)(2), 162, 163, 164(1)(2), 165, 166(1)(a)(b), 167, 168A, 168(1)(2), 169A, 169B, 169C(1)(2)(3), 169E(1), 169F, 169G, 170, 171A(1), 172, 172A, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179A(6), 179B(5)(6), 179E(8), 179H(2), 181A(1)(2)(3), 183(1)(2)(3), 184, 185, 186, 187(3)(4), 188, 193(7) Sch.8 Appendix C s. 6, Appendix D; Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 s.1; Licensing Act 2003 ss. 33, 40, 41, 46, 49, 56, 57, 59, 82, 83, 93, 94, 96, 108, 109, 123, 127, 128, 132, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 147A, 148, 149(1)(3)(4)(7(a)(b), 150(1)(2), 151, 152, 153, 156, 157, 158, 160, 161, 165, 168, 179, 197, Sch.8 paras 1 and 22; Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 ss. 11, 27; Road Traffic Act 1991 s. 3; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 ss. 7(2), 8, 9(1)(4), 10; Town Police Clauses Act 1847 ss. 35, 61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 ss.2, 6(2)(a)(b); Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 ss. 3A, 7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52; Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 s.3 [Sch. Para. 2, 3(a)(0), 4(1)(2)(3), 5, 6, 7, 8(2), 9(2)]; Licensing Act 1988 s. 17, 18; Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, s. 19; Children and Young Persons Act 1933 s. 5; Criminal Justice Act 1996 s. 6.

2 The cautions statistics cover simple and conditional cautions, reprimands and warnings. They relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.

3 From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.

4 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Source:

Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence and Analysis Unit

Table 2: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for alcohol related offences, in Merseyside Police Force Area1, broken down by age, 2003-072,3

Age

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

10 to 17

241

195

137

127

148

18 to 24

1,453

1,174

860

785

910

1 Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 ss.1(2)(3)(4) and 1A(2)(3)(4), 2(1)(2), 5B(2)(3), 5C(3)(4), 5D(2)(3), 6(2); Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 s. 1; Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 ss.12, 17, 25(3)(a)(b), 25(4)(5), 32; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 ss. 5C(5), 6, 6, 19, 28(3), 34, 36, 39(1)(2)(3)(4), 45, 48, 51(4), 53, 59(1)(a)(b), 71(4), 72, 84, 85(2), 89, 155(1)(a), 157(1)(a)(b), 157(1)(b), 159, 160,(1 )(a)(b), 161(1)(2), 162, 163, 164(1)(2), 165, 166(1)(a)(b), 167, 168A, 168(1)(2), 169A, 169B, 169C(1)(2)(3), 169E(1), 169F, 169G, 170, 171A(1), 172, 172A, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179A(6), 179B(5)(6), 179E(8), 179H(2), 181A(1)(2)(3), 183(1)(2)(3), 184, 185, 186, 187(3)(4), 188, 193(7) Sch.8 Appendix C s. 6, Appendix D; Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 s.1; Licensing Act 2003 ss. 33, 40, 41, 46, 49, 56, 57, 59, 82, 83, 93, 94, 96, 108, 109, 123, 127, 128, 132, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 147A, 148, 149(1)(3)(4)(7(a)(b), 150(1)(2), 151, 152, 153, 156, 157, 158, 160, 161, 165, 168, 179, 197, Sch.8 paras 1 and 22; Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 ss. 11,27; Road Traffic Act 1991 s. 3; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 ss. 7(2), 8, 9(1)(4), 10; Town Police Clauses Act 1847 ss. 35, 61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 19g5 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 ss.2, 6(2)(a)(b); Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 ss. 3A, 7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52; Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 s.3 [Sch. Para. 2, 3(a)(b), 4(1)(2)(3), 5, 6, 7, 8(2), 9(2)]; Licensing Act 1988 s. 17, 18; Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, s. 19; Children and Young Persons Act 1933 s. 5; Criminal Justice Act 1996 s. 6.

2 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Source:

Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence and Analysis Unit

Table 3: Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) issued for alcohol related offences1 in Merseyside Police Force Area, broken down by age, 2004-072,3

Age

2004

2005

2006

2007

16 to 17

223

391

395

354

18 to 24

1,295

1,731

1,547

1,780

1 Includes offences under the:

Criminal Justice Act 1967 s. 91;

Licensing Act 2003 s. 141, 146(1)(3), 149(1)(3)(4), 150(1)(2), 151;

Licensing Act 1872 s. 12;

Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s. 12;

2 The offence of being 'drunk and disorderly' moved from the lower tier (£50) to the upper tier (£80) on 1 November 2004;

Sale of alcohol to a person under 18, Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18, Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery, Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises, Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises, were added to the scheme on 1 November 2004; Sale of alcohol to a drunken person, Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18, were added to the Scheme with effect from 4 April 2005.

3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Source:

Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence and Analysis Unit

Crimes of Violence: Hertfordshire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) crimes of burglary, (b) violent crimes and (c) vehicle crimes were reported in (i) Hemel Hempstead, (ii) Dacorum and (iii) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years. (284319)

The available information relates to offences recorded by the police and is given in the table. Hemel Hempstead comes within the Dacorum Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area and separate figures for Hemel Hempstead are not available centrally.

A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to suggestions in the two reviews of crime statistics. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics and figures for violence against the person are now provided.

Selected offences recorded by the police in the Dacorum Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area and the Hertfordshire police force area

Number of offences

Area and year

Burglary1

Violence against the person

Vehicle crime2

Dacorum

2003-04

1,446

1,440

2,539

2004-05

1,314

2,073

2,033

2005-06

1,108

1,939

1,535

2006-07

1,149

2,155

1,540

2007-08

924

1,617

1,576

Hertfordshire

2003-04

12,783

12,356

16,885

2004-05

11,471

16,845

13,548

2005-06

10,656

16,206

12,965

2006-07

9,764

16,890

11,914

2007-08

9,534

13,348

11,366

1 Includes burglary in a dwelling and other burglary.

2 Includes theft of or from a vehicle and interfering with a motor vehicle.

Fraud: Credit Cards

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to reduce the level of credit card fraud in the last 12 months. (285197)

A great deal of fraud can be prevented if organisations have proper fraud prevention measures in place and if individuals protect their cards and financial details. Prevention initiatives complement fraud investigation and prosecution. The Home Office therefore works closely with the payments card industry and actively supports fraud prevention initiatives introduced by the finance and retail sectors such as the Be Card Smart Online campaign introduced by the payment card industry last year with support from Vernon Coaker. I (Alan Campbell) most recently met with representatives of the payments card industry in March this year to discuss issues around card fraud.

The Government publish fraud prevention advice on the Home Office, Crime Reduction and Consumer Direct websites.

Homophobia: Crime

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle homophobic crime. (284110)

The ‘Saving Lives, Reducing Harm, Protecting the Public; An Action Plan for Tackling Violence 2008-11’ committed us to producing a dedicated cross-Government action plan to assist local partners in developing their responses to hate crime. This strategic action plan involves a number of actions that will aim to increase victim and community confidence in the criminal justice system, help prevent hate crimes from occurring or escalating in seriousness; and improve access to and take up of victim support. The action plan will be published over the summer.

The Government have also introduced an offence of inciting hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. We expect the provisions on incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation to come into force in the autumn.

Offensive Weapons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of offences related to possession of a knife in each police force area in each of the last 10 years. (281895)

Information showing the number of persons found guilty at all courts for having an article with a blade or point in a public place or on school premises, in England and Wales, broken down by police force area for 1998 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table. Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

Number of persons found guilty at all courts for having an article with a blade or point in a public place or on school premises, England and Wales, 1998 to 2007, broken down by police force area1,2

Police force area

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Avon and Somerset

69

113

87

105

144

152

146

128

168

163

Bedfordshire

36

23

40

32

40

57

68

78

61

62

Cambridgeshire

35

31

15

27

46

34

62

57

67

54

Cheshire

63

52

51

36

54

54

48

82

84

108

City of London

8

4

8

9

17

19

20

18

11

9

Cleveland

31

31

21

42

69

70

81

71

76

90

Cumbria

27

37

27

28

37

45

46

50

41

46

Derbyshire

31

36

40

53

68

82

100

79

77

99

Devon and Cornwall

78

75

70

71

110

129

126

143

120

138

Dorset

41

32

32

32

55

49

59

61

67

63

Durham

30

35

43

35

76

64

68

89

91

92

Essex

97

96

100

99

103

146

201

176

175

160

Gloucestershire

34

18

17

24

26

32

42

39

39

41

Greater Manchester

242

207

222

281

298

304

344

349

393

394

Hampshire

111

93

106

114

113

153

177

162

161

169

Hertfordshire

29

28

27

25

53

83

84

92

84

68

Humberside

45

65

55

46

69

65

106

115

125

147

Kent

73

84

77

76

33

35

13

12

6

5

Lancashire

120

97

87

106

98

136

161

150

144

151

Leicestershire

69

62

54

65

76

91

98

92

113

118

Lincolnshire

40

54

46

41

50

71

65

53

69

47

Merseyside

169

131

124

121

160

165

199

198

218

215

Metropolitan Police

1,327

1,083

1,164

1,507

1,871

1,687

1,615

1,698

1,691

1,459

Norfolk

50

46

36

41

59

69

70

69

62

78

North Yorkshire

34

45

33

45

52

50

69

66

57

52

Northamptonshire

11

14

8

3

2

2

3

6

1

4

Northumbria

101

114

121

153

171

183

211

216

217

259

Nottinghamshire

41

45

47

56

68

85

115

117

144

152

South Yorkshire

58

63

66

114

146

147

117

169

150

138

Staffordshire3

39

42

34

68

63

71

60

92

86

Suffolk

22

26

30

31

61

52

68

69

106

89

Surrey

13

12

25

32

27

37

40

35

37

42

Sussex

66

92

84

100

127

123

114

121

138

140

Thames Valley

79

75

54

77

85

76

117

145

178

139

Warwickshire

30

24

19

18

26

18

27

23

30

32

West Mercia

38

28

33

45

41

62

82

99

100

100

West Midlands

151

137

204

318

343

327

357

319

383

392

West Yorkshire

38

56

57

87

103

108

172

168

172

190

Wiltshire

35

32

28

36

37

40

50

53

70

48

Dyfed-Powys

23

29

27

31

35

36

39

45

29

35

Gwent

18

20

21

20

33

23

48

36

56

66

North Wales

55

60

42

51

74

61

67

77

113

89

South Wales

98

101

83

94

114

111

124

120

153

140

Total

3,805

3,548

3,531

4,361

5,338

5,396

5,890

6,005

6,369

6,169

1 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

3 Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Source:

Evidence and Analysis Unit—Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Police: Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the average first year retirement pension payment of a police officer retiring after 30 years service in each of the principal ranks of the police service in 2009; (282796)

(2) how many retired police officers are aged (a) less than 50, (b) between 50 and 55, (c) between 56 and 60, (d) between 61 and 65 and (e) over 65 years old;

(3) what the average value of pension payments to retired police officers aged (a) under 50, (b) from 51 to 55, (c) from 56 to 60, (d) from 61 to 65 and (e) more than 65 years old was in the latest period for which figures are available;

(4) what the cost of payments made to police pensioners (a) under 50, (b) between 51 and 55, (c) between 56 and 60, (d) between 61 and 65 and (e) aged 65 and more was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Information on the average first-year police pension is not held centrally and data on the accrued pension rights of retiring officers by rank are not currently included in the valuation data held on the police pension schemes by the Government Actuary’s Department. Therefore it is possible to give only a broad estimate of the average annual pension payment based on the salary scale for each main rank. The following information is based on the pay scales currently in place (since 1 September 2008, effective until 31 August 2009).

£

Rank assumed average final salary

Estimated average pension

Constable

34,707

17,354

Sergeant

37,098

18,549

Inspector

46,977

23,489

Chief Inspector

50,211

25,106

Superintendent

64,095

32,048

Chief Superintendent

72,717

36,359

Assistant Chief Constable/Commander

94,851

47,426

For the rank of constable, it is assumed that a retiring officer is at the top of the pay range. For other ranks, the middle of the pay range is used. It is also assumed that the retiring officer will elect to commute the maximum amount of pension allowable in order to receive a lump sum payment on retirement, as the majority of retiring officers do elect to receive a lump sum. This would mean the officer’s first-year pension payment would be 50 per cent. of his or her final salary. Given that the factors for calculating the commutation of a lump sum payment are based on the age of each officer, it is not possible to estimate an average amount for a lump sum payment.

The salary level of an officer of rank deputy chief constable (deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan police) and above depends on the police force in which the officer serves. In the light of this, and the relatively small number of senior officers, estimating an average pension payment for these ranks would not provide an accurate reflection of the situation on retirement of an officer and could be misleading.

From the valuation data on the police pension scheme held by the Government Actuary’s Department, as at 31 March 2008 the total number of retired police officer pensioners, split by age, is broadly as follows (figures are rounded to the nearest 100)

Group

Number

Less than age 50

9,300

Between age 50 and 55

19,800

Between age 56 and 60

19,000

Between age 61 and 65

18,300

Over age 66

34,800

Information on the cost and value of police pensions broken down into different age groups is not held centrally.

Northern Ireland

Public Safety: Dissident Terrorists

9. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the level of threat to public safety in Northern Ireland from the activities of dissident terrorists. (283762)

13. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the level of threat to public safety in Northern Ireland from the activities of dissident terrorists. (283767)

While no one should underestimate the capacity of these individuals to cause serious harm, it is even more the case today than a year ago that the people of Northern Ireland will not allow them to succeed.

Decommissioning: Loyalist Paramilitaries

10. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent reports he has received on decommissioning of weapons by Loyalist paramilitaries; and if he will make a statement. (283763)

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has recently confirmed to me that it has witnessed a major decommissioning event by the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando, and that they have been advised that this includes all the arms under their control. I am pleased with this significant act of leadership by those who have been persuaded that democracy is the only way forward.

The IICD has also confirmed that it has witnessed a decommissioning event by the Ulster Defence Association, which represents a significant move. I encourage them to continue their engagement with the IICD and complete decommissioning as soon as possible.

Serving Police Officers

11. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serving police officers there were in Northern Ireland on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (283764)

On the 1 July 2009 there were 7,274 regular officers including 163 student officers. There are also 472 full-time reserve officers and 739 part-time reserve officers in Northern Ireland. The current composition is based on Patten’s recommendation of a force strength of 7,500 regular officers.

Romanian Nationals: Attacks

12. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received on the recent incidents of attacks on Romanian nationals in Northern Ireland. (283765)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) and the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge).

Departmental Information Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to his Department of employing press office staff other than press officers has been in each year since 1997. (283084)

The following table shows the cost to the Northern Ireland Office, including the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland and excluding its agencies and NDPBs, of employing press office staff other than press officers in each year since 1999 to 2000.

Financial year

Total (£)

1999-2000

413,753.13

2000-01

446,494.02

2001-02

452,404.98

2002-03

473,532.04

2003-04

502,576.39

2004-05

508,937.23

2005-06

567,582.21

2006-07

550,152.19

2007-08

510,555.08

2008-09

491,404.49

Financial records are not available for the years before 1999 to 2000.

Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the peace process on levels of public expenditure in Northern Ireland. (283919)

Devolution in Northern Ireland is delivering widespread benefits to all the people of Northern Ireland and is underpinned by strong public services. The Government’s public spending plans in Northern Ireland are set out in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2009 (Cm 7630).

Smuggling: Fuels

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent estimate he has made of the level of fuel smuggling in Northern Ireland. (283766)

Latest HMRC figures indicate that the amount of fuel used, but not sourced in Northern Ireland, is reducing. However, we are not complacent and in the past year we have seized over 800,000 litres of illegal fuel.

Transport

A1: Speed Limits

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons a 40mph speed limit has been imposed on the A1(M) motorway in the vicinity of junction 4 where roadworks are taking place; and if he will make a statement. (284876)

A 40 mph speed limit has been introduced on the A1(M) in the vicinity of junction 4 to allow for major refurbishment on the Hatfield Tunnel to be undertaken.

The works started in June and will continue until April 2011.

The 40 mph temporary speed limit is in place for driver and work force safety in accordance with the requirements of Traffic Signs Manual chapter 8 road works and temporary situations.

Aviation: Caribbean

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) flights and (b) passengers travelled from the UK to destinations in the Caribbean in each of the last five years. (283827)

The following table shows the number of flights and passengers who departed from UK airports to destinations in the Caribbean in each of the last five years.

Flights and passengers from UK airports to destinations in the Caribbean, 2004-08

Thousand

Flights

Passengers

2004

3.9

947

2005

3.9

914

2006

4.1

951

2007

4.0

974

2008

3.8

974

Source:

Department for Transport analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.

Total passenger flows between UK airports and individual countries are published on the CAA website in table 12.1 at the following link:

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=80&pagetype=88&pageid=3&sglid=3

Driving Under Influence: Death

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many and what percentage of road deaths involved at least one driver with a blood alcohol level in excess of the legal limit in each year since 1980. (284804)

The estimated numbers and the percentages of all road deaths in accidents involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit in each year since 1980 to 2007 are given in the table. Provisional 2008 data will be available on 6 August 2009.

A drink drive accident is defined as being an incident on a public road in which someone is killed or injured and where one or more of the motor vehicle drivers or riders involved either refused to give a breath test specimen when requested to do so by the police (other than when incapable of doing so for medical reasons), or one of the following:

(i) failed a roadside breath test by registering over 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath

(ii) died and was subsequently found to have more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

However, not all drink drive accidents are detected in this way, as there are some drivers involved for whom neither of the above test results are available, even though they were over the legal limit. The Department for Transport’s statistics therefore are adjusted to allow for this in order to produce a better estimate of the number of drink drive accidents and casualties. See in article 3 of “Road Casualties Great Britain—annual report 2007” published on the Department’s website at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/roadcasualtiesgreatbritain20071

Copies of the report have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Estimated number of fatalities involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit: 1980 to 2007

Fatalities involving at least one driver over legal alcohol limit

All fatalities in reported personal injury accidents

Percentage of fatalities involving at least one driver over legal alcohol limit of all fallibilities

1980

1,450

6,010

24

1981

1,420

5,846

24

1982

1,550

5,937

26

1983

1,110

5,445

20

1984

1,170

5,599

21

1985

1,040

5,165

20

1986

990

5,385

18

1987

900

5,125

18

1988

790

5,052

16

1989

810

5,373

15

1990

760

5,217

15

1991

660

4,568

14

1992

660

4,229

16

1993

540

3,814

14

1994

540

3,650

15

1995

540

3,621

15

1996

580

3,598

16

1997

550

3,599

15

1998

460

3,421

13

1999

460

3,423

13

2000

530

3,409

16

2001

530

3,450

15

2002

550

3,431

16

2003

580

3,508

17

2004

580

3,221

18

2005

550

3,201

17

2006

560

3,172

18

20071

460

2,946

16

1 Provisional data. The 2007 estimates are based on a reduced sample of coroners’ returns and may be biased. They remain provisional until more complete information for 2007 is available.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Manpower

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) surveyors, (b) Coastguard Control Centre staff, (c) administrative staff and (d) human resources staff the Maritime and Coastguard Agency employed in each of the last 10 years. (282930)

The number of staff employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), broken down into the categories asked, since 2002 is shown in the following table. The MCA's systems only hold records back to 2002:

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Surveyors

173

177

188

194

190

192

181

Coastguard Control Centre

537

515

531

545

534

468

438

Administrative

386

411

423

473

467

536

485

Human Resources

47

55

50

57

58

58

54

Administrative staff includes, for example, senior managers and policy leads as well as administrators.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) directors, (b) senior managers, (c) specialist and delivery managers and (d) executive support and administration staff there were in each Maritime and Coastguard Agency office in each of the last five years. (285538)

The number of directors at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been three from August 2008. Prior to that, in each of the last five years, the number of directors was five.

The information for (b) to (d) is not available in the format requested.

Motorcycles: Testing

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the safety for riders of the swerve manoeuvre in the motorcycle test; and if he will make a statement. (284808)

The Driving Standards Agency is keeping the hazard avoidance manoeuvre under review as part of its monitoring process.

As of mid June 2009, there had been over 9,000 off-road Module 1 tests conducted, and 33 incidents, including non-injury incidents—an incident rate of 0.4 per cent.

Railway Network

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many miles of track have been added to the rail network in the last five years; and how much has been spent on improving and upgrading the rail network in that period. (284751)

24 miles of new two track high speed railway were built by London and Continental Railways for section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link completed in 2007. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link was constructed as a public private partnership project with a 90-year concession and is not the direct responsibility of Network Rail.

Otherwise, the amount of railway built each year is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question.

Iain Coucher

Chief Executive

Network Rail

Kings Place

90 York Way

London N1 9AG

Spending on rail infrastructure is primarily the responsibility of Network Rail. Historical spending by the company is contained in the company's annual reports and accounts, which can be found on the Network Rail website at

www.networkrail.co.uk

Government spending on the railway in the past five years is set out in National Rail Trends which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation at

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2026

A copy is available in the Library of the House.

Railways

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many rail journeys were made by passengers in each of the last five years. (284745)

Rail passenger journeys in the past five years are shown in the following table:

Passenger journeys, Great Britain, 2003-04 to 2007-08

Passenger journeys (million)

2003-04

1,012

2004-05

1,045

2005-06

1,082

2006-07

1,151

2007-08

1,232

Source:

The Office of Rail Regulation

Railways: Fares

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to issue the fares direction to train operating companies on the use of Oyster cards for national rail services in London. (285075)

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 25 June 2009, Official Report, columns 1078-79W.

Railways: Franchises

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when the inclusion in rail franchise contracts of revenue support clauses was last reviewed; and when he next plans to review the inclusion of such clauses in those contracts. (284688)

The revenue share and revenue support clauses are part of the template franchise agreement and National Rail Franchise Terms that the Department for Transport has used as the basis of all recent franchise competitions. The National Rail Franchise Terms were reviewed in preparation for the last franchise competition, South Central, although no substantive changes were made to these clauses at that time. We will assess such clauses again in the course of our preparations for future franchise competitions.

Railways: Greater Manchester

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse likely to result from the closure of the Oldham Loop Line in Greater Manchester in October 2009. (283353)

[holding answer 1 July 2009]: The Department for Transport is currently calculating changes to the subsidy payments to Northern Rail in line with the Franchise Agreement. Any savings arising were taken into account in the development of the Metrolink business case.

The Department will be contributing £244.3 million towards the expansion of Metrolink to Oldham, Rochdale and Chorlton.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to relieve congestion on rail routes in Greater Manchester. (283354)

[holding answer 1 July 2009]: The Government are currently in discussions with relevant train operators on measures to increase peak-hour train capacity for commuters into Manchester by 2014. It is also working with Network Rail in its “Manchester Hub” study, to identify options for increasing rail capacity from 2014 onwards.

Rolling Stock: Greater Manchester

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department will provide funding for the retention of rolling stock following the closure of the Oldham Loop Line in Greater Manchester in October 2009. (283352)

[holding answer 1 July 2009]: The Department for Transport is not planning to provide additional funding for the redeployment of the rolling stock displaced through the conversion of the Oldham Loop from heavy rail to Manchester Metrolink light rail. However, the rolling stock may be redeployed either commercially, through support from the passenger transport executive or through the High Level Output Specification Programme.

Shipping

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many vessels were (a) surveyed and (b) certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the last 10 years. (282931)

The number of vessels surveyed and certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the last 10 financial years is shown in the following table:

Number of vessels surveyed and certificated

2008

2,452

2007

2,385

2006

2,479

2005

2,452

2004

2,449

2003

2,306

2002

2,279

2001

2,178

2000

2,106

1999

1,979

All surveys resulted in the issue of some form of certification.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much was paid in compensation to owners of (a) fishing vessels and (b) other commercial vessels by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in respect of errors of judgment during certification surveys in each of the last five years. (282932)

An ex-gratia payment of £550,000 was made in 2004 in relation to a fishing vessel. No other payments have been made since 2004.

Shipping: Safety

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the removal of distress flares and other pyrotechnic devices from vessels registered under the UK flag. (282929)

No discussions have taken place recently between officials in the Department for Transport and its executive agencies about the removal of distress flares and other pyrotechnic devices from vessels registered under the UK flag.

Requirements to carry flares on UK ships are regulated by The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances For Ships Other Than Ships Of Classes III To VI(A)) Regulations 1999, which enact the UK's international obligations under SOLAS Chapter III.

Marine Guidance Note 287 advises UK ship operators on the disposal of out of date pyrotechnics.

Energy and Climate Change

Carbon Sequestration

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his statement on 23 April 2009, Official Report, columns 382-84, on coal carbon capture and storage, what assessment he has made of the effect on his Department’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) competition of the additional CCS demonstration projects. (283179)

The proposals announced on 23 April 2009 are intended to complement the current CCS demonstration competition and therefore the competition will proceed as set out in the Budget statement.

Departmental Data Protection

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have been (i) disciplined and (ii) dismissed for (A) breaches of data protection requirements and (B) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in the last 12 months. (278726)

Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework and the Data Handling Report produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

DECC can confirm that no officials have been disciplined or dismissed for breaches of data protection requirements or inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in the last 12 months.

If staff are found to have been responsible for a serious breach of data security procedures, dependent upon the circumstances, a range of sanctions are available including disciplinary or administrative action, and in extreme or persistent cases, termination of employment/services and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings.

DECC operate within the following Cabinet Office frameworks in respect of data security:

Mandatory requirement 12 of the HMG Security Policy Framework, published in December 2008 states that Departments and Agencies must provide all staff with guidance on the Data Protection Act and other legislation which affects their role. Reference:

www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/spf/mandatory_requirements/mrl2.aspx

Mandatory requirements 31 to 49 of the HMG Security Policy Framework published in December 2008 includes measures that Departments must put in place in relation to information security and assurance. Reference:

www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/spf7sp4_isa.aspx

Departmental Public Consultation

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many public consultations his Department has conducted since its creation; what the title of each was; how many responses were received to each; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each. (283922)

In line with the code of practice on consultation, the Department of Energy and Climate Change publishes all its consultation documents on its website at:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/consultations.aspx

The number of responses received for individual consultations is recorded in the Government response documents. These are published on the departmental website alongside the consultations themselves.

The total cost incurred for each consultation: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Energy: Meters

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) when he expects the programme to install smart meters in households to begin; (283598)

(2) whether his Department plans to bring forward legislation to limit the percentage of the cost of smart meters that can be passed on to consumers; and if he will make a statement.

Last year the Government announced their intention to mandate smart metering for all households, with an indicative timetable for completion of the roll-out by the end of 2020.

We are currently consulting on our approach to key aspects of the roll-out of smart meters. Our final decisions will be followed by the detailed work required to prepare for the roll-out. As part of this work, a wide range of policy, technical and operational issues will need to be addressed. These will include the start-date for roll-out and determination of appropriate regulatory frameworks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether customers who subscribe to a pre-payment tariff for smart metering will be charged more than those who do not; and if he will make a statement. (283616)

A substantial programme of work must be completed before the roll-out of smart meters begins. As part of this, a wide range of policy and operational issues needs to be addressed to maximise the benefits that all consumers can obtain from smart metering.

There is currently a price differential between prepayment and standard credit meters because of the additional costs of prepayment meters and the infrastructure required to support them. It is anticipated that these costs will be reduced by smart metering.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what provision exists for customers who already have a smart meter to change their energy provider prior to the national roll-out of smart meters; and if he will make a statement; (283690)

(2) whether any mechanism exists for energy companies to provide smart meters to customers who request one prior to their becoming available nationally; and if he will make a statement.

The provision of smart meters ahead of a Government-mandated roll-out is a matter for energy suppliers and their customers. Suppliers are obliged to measure gas and electricity through an approved meter, but there is no obligation to provide a “smart” meter.

Customers with existing “smart” meters will continue to be able to switch energy provider, however the metering services provided by the new supplier may be different.

Energy: Prices

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that energy tariffs are the same before account is taken of administration costs for customers who pre-pay and those who pay quarterly bills. (283095)

The Government believe that differences in charges relating to the method of payment should reflect the costs of servicing that method, and should not discriminate unfairly against any group of customers. Therefore, we strongly support the regulator Ofgem’s work putting in place rules to ensure that prices paid by consumers are cost reflective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects Ofgem to publish its final report on its Energy Supply Probe. (283280)

Ofgem’s initial probe report identified a number of areas where action was required and proposed a range of remedies.

Ofgem published its decision document on new licence conditions to prohibit undue discrimination and ensure payment methods are cost reflective on 26 June. Subject to responses, the new licence conditions should be introduced in August.

Ofgem aims to proceed to Statutory Consultation on the final package of its Energy Supply Probe remedies, including better consumer information and improved protection for small businesses, towards the end of this month and to have the new measures in licences ahead of the coming winter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made in ensuring that those with pre-payment meters for energy supplies are not overcharged. (283349)

The Government believe that differences in charges relating to the method of payment should reflect no more than the costs of servicing that method, and should not discriminate unfairly against any group of customers. Therefore, we strongly support the regulator Ofgem’s work putting in place rules to give effect to this approach.

Following a consultation on their proposals Ofgem published its decision to implement a licence condition change requiring cost reflective payment methods on 26 June. Ofgem intend that this change will be in place by August 2009. This decision can be found online at:

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/ensuppro/Documentsl/Addressing%20Undue%20Discrimination.pdf

Fossil Fuelled Power Stations: Planning Permission

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the merits of including an emissions performance standard in the criteria for securing planning permission for new fossil fuel power plants. (281898)

The Government are considering the merits of emissions performance standards as part of its current consultation into the development of clean coal. A statement of the Government’s position on emissions performance standards will be given in its response to the consultation.

Sizewell A Power Station

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on (a) the causes of the coolant leak at Sizewell A discovered on 7 June 2007 and (b) when it is understood the leak occurred. (280799)

The Department is not aware of a coolant leak which occurred at Sizewell A on 7 June 2007. It is assumed the question refers to the Sizewell A pond leakage event which was identified on 7 January 2007.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lead on the investigation in this case and they have informed my Department that the cause of the leak was a vertical longitudinal split in a section of 8 inch diameter plastic pipe in the cooling pond recirculation system. The alarm was raised at 11:30 hours on Sunday 7 January 2007. HSE’s initial assessment is that due to the nature of the split in the pipe the breach is most likely to have happened suddenly and only a short time (no more than a few hours) before the alarm was raised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Government has received any requests for additional resources from (a) the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and (b) the Environment Agency as a result of the discovery of a coolant leak at Sizewell A on 7 June 2007. (280808)

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the coolant leak at Sizewell A on 7 January 2007 as I am not aware of a coolant leak at the site on 7 June 2007.

Neither the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate nor the Environment Agency made a request to Government for additional resource as a result of the Sizewell A coolant leak event of 7 January 2007.

Solar Power: Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much grant funding his Department provided for the installation of solar photovoltaic technology in domestic dwellings in each of the last five years; and what budget is available for these purposes in 2009-10. (283210)

Since 2001 the Government have committed over £41 million to the development of solar PV in the UK through grant programmes and field trials. Currently solar PV has benefited significantly under the Low Carbon Buildings (LCBP) programme with an original budget of £86 million. The Government have committed a further £45 million to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in the recent Budget. This now brings support for the programme to over £130 million.

Low carbon buildings programme phase 1

Householder stream

Year application received

2006

2007

2008

2009

Number of grants committed

365

325

669

481

Value of grants committed (£)

2,748,292.47

1,415,543.89

1,597,069.11

1,154,418.80

Householder stream

Year grant paid

2006

2007

2008

2009

Number of grants paid

87

506

504

436

Value of grants offered (£)

613,675.52

3,224,486.78

1,226,030.39

1,048,257.10

LCBP communities, 2A and 2B streams relating to residential developments

Combined total across other streams

Year application received

2006

2007

2008

2009

Number of grants committed

2

12

Value of PV grant committed/paid amount (£)

83,246.00

1,009,483.89

Combined total across other streams

Year paid

2006

2007

2008

2009

Number of grants paid

3

2

Value of PV grants paid (£)

68,919.00

89,829.85

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Buckinghamshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated to the development of agricultural businesses in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years. (283681)

Data on total spend are not available at constituency or county level. The table gives, by financial year, funding allocated to the development of agricultural businesses in the South East region. These figures include payments made under rural development programmes, which includes agri-environment payments, and payments made directly to agricultural businesses by the South East of England Development Agency.

Total (£)

2004-05

4,966,000

2005-06

6,166,000

2006-07

5,437,000

2007-08

4,972,000

2008-09

5,793,000

Grand total

127,334,000

1 Source: DEFRA, Natural England, South East England Development Agency. Figures rounded up or down to the nearest thousand.

Agriculture: Hertfordshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated to the development of agricultural business in (a) Hemel Hempstead, (b) Dacorum and (c) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years. (284318)

The following table gives, by financial year, funding allocated to the development of agricultural businesses in the East of England region from 2004-05 onwards1. Total figures are not available at county or constituency level. These figures include payments made under Rural Development Programmes, including agri-environment payments, and payments made directly to agricultural businesses by the East of England Development Agency.

1 Figures obtained from DEFRA, East of England Development Agency and Natural England.

Total (£)

2004-05

29,093,000

2005-06

33,101,000

2006-07

42,613,000

2007-08

51,088,000

2008-09

56,428,000

Grand total

212,323,000

Animals: Abuse

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many individuals were prosecuted for neglect of animals resulting from leaving animals in confined and hot spaces for a prolonged period in each of the last two years; and what average fine was issued for those convicted in such cases. (285070)

It is not possible to separately identify the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at all courts in England and Wales for neglect of animals left in confined and hot spaces for a prolonged period1.

1 From data held by the Ministry of Justice.

Animals: Quarantine

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animal quarantine centres are in operation in the UK. (284035)

In England, Scotland and Wales there are currently 29 authorised quarantine premises for domestic (i.e. pet) animals. Quarantine premises in Northern Ireland are licensed by DARDNI (the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland).

Zoos and research establishments have not been included as the number of these establishments (which do not offer rabies quarantine for pets belonging to members of the public) that are approved can change frequently and are authorised only when required.

Avian Influenza: Poultry

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of links between stocking densities of broiler chickens and the incidence of avian influenza. (283923)

The management of animal disease risks forms part of sustainable livestock production. There is a variety of different livestock production systems and each present different animal disease challenges. More intensive systems in which the animals are housed provide greater opportunities for preventing disease entering a herd or flock but higher stocking densities mean that disease, once it gains entry to a farm, may spread more rapidly. Good husbandry and management will help reduce the risk of entry but this risk cannot be eliminated. Sometimes disease will occur. This can happen in both intensive and extensive systems.

The risk of influenza has not been shown to be greater in either, although experience has shown that close contact between animals and man is an important factor in possible transmission to man.

Further, there is no evidence of a correlation between intensive farming and the frequency of influenza pandemics. Indeed, the frequency of influenza pandemics has not changed despite the intensification of livestock production in developed countries since the 1950s.

Avian Influenza: Vaccination

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether birds other than those in zoos may be vaccinated in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza; and if he will make a statement. (284097)

We would not vaccinate poultry in advance of an avian influenza outbreak, nor would we use the vaccine as an immediate disease control response, due to the limitations of the vaccines. Early reporting, rapid action, biosecurity, culling and surveillance remain the most effective ways of protecting against and controlling an avian influenza outbreak.

We keep our policy on vaccination under review in the light of scientific developments in vaccines. Vaccination also forms part of our contingency planning in view of potential uncertainties in the nature and spread of the virus. However, preventive vaccination of poultry is not the most effective defence against avian influenza, because currently available vaccines have a number of disadvantages.

With some limited exceptions, it is against the law to import, possess or administer avian influenza vaccine without authorisation from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bees

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on funding for research into the problems affecting the honey bee. (283650)

DEFRA has received approximately 13 parliamentary questions, 34 letters from MPs and 123 other pieces of correspondence in the last three months on the subject of honey bee health, including funding for research. There was an MP debate about bee health organised by Dr. Ian Gibson, former Labour MP for Norwich North, on 29 April, and a House of Lords Debate about the effect of disease on the British bee population, moved by Lord Moynihan on 21 May.

DEFRA has recently provided increased funding to bee health. £2.5 million is being made available over the next five years to the insect pollinator initiative on pollinator decline. In addition, £2.3 million will be provided to the Food and Environment Research Agency’s National Bee Unit over the next two years to implement the first stage of the healthy bees plan.

Carbon Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the percentage of the UK’s (a) greenhouse gas, (b) methane and (c) nitrous oxide emission which derive from (i) agriculture and (ii) forestry. (284872)

[holding answer 7 July 2009]: According to the UK greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventory: 1990-2006 report, GHG emissions from agriculture in 2006 were 44.71 Mt CO2e which was 7 per cent. of total UK emissions. Emissions for which agriculture was responsible are as follows:

18.7 Mt CO2e of methane (CH4) emissions which was 38.0 per cent. of the UK’s CH4 emissions, mainly from the digestive systems of livestock and from manure and;

25.7 Mt CO2e of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions which was 67.4 per cent. of the total UK N2O emissions, mainly from the use of nitrogen fertiliser.

Forestry is recorded in the UK GHG inventory as part of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector which contains both sources and sinks of GHGs. In 2006, the UK GHG inventory reported the following sources and sinks for the forestry sector:

A net removal of 14.7 Mt CO2, resulting from the growth of existing forests, and results of afforestation, but also accounting for emissions associated with deforestation (a removal, but in magnitude equivalent to 3 per cent. of UK CO2 emissions);

A source of 0.0029 Mt CO2e CH4 from wildfires and biomass burning (less than 0.1 per cent. of UK CH4 emissions);

A source of 0.0043 Mt CO2e N2O emissions from forest wildfires, biomass burning and nitrogen fertilisation of forest land (less than 0.01 per cent. of UK N2O emissions).

Dairy Farmers of Britain: Insolvency

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the failure of Dairy Farmers of Britain, with particular reference to (a) the role of the banks, (b) when the receivers were brought in and (c) the expected financial effect on dairy farming. (283619)

Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFoB) is registered by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965. The FSA, in its capacity as registering authority, is working closely with the Receivers, who will be examining the reasons for the failure of DFoB and publishing their findings in a report to all creditors.

The Industrial and Provident Societies Act provides the FSA with only limited powers of investigation, and these are linked to its obligation to be satisfied that a society qualifies for registration under the Act.

The Receivers—PricewaterhouseCoopers were called in on 3 June. They have estimated the total financial costs to DFoB members to be around £83 million.

Departmental Energy

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on energy efficiency measures for his Department’s estate in each year from 2004 to 2009; what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of that expenditure; and what plans he has for future energy efficiency measures. (280542)

DEFRA became responsible for implementing energy efficiency measures throughout the DEFRA in 2006. Since that date expenditure on energy efficiency measures is as shown in the table (DEFRA Estates does not hold information for the period 2004-06).

Investment in energy efficiency

£

2006-07

244,272

2007-08

1,187,697

2008-09

2,369,134

These data do not include expenditure on energy efficiency measures in new builds and refurbishments as sustainable technologies and energy efficiency measures are inherent in the overall programme and costs.

The measures implemented by DEFRA Estates resulted in achievement of the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme (EEAS) in 2007 and the Carbon Trust Standard in 2008, both of which are independently assessed and confirm increased energy efficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions.

DEFRA has already met the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) Target for reducing carbon emissions from offices and the continued programme of spend on efficiency measures will ensure that the Department is in the best possible position when Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) begins in 2012. In addition, a Sustainable Built Environment Workplace Support (SBEWS) delivery partnership with Interserve plc which spans a 15-year period will deliver significant efficiencies, not just in energy but across the entire range of SOGE targets.

Departmental Information Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to his Department of press office staff other than press officers has been in each year since 1997. (283070)

Dogs: Tagging

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will undertake research into the effect of dog microchipping schemes on (a) levels of crime and (b) perceptions of crime. (284100)

There are no plans to assess the effect of dog microchipping schemes on levels of (a) crime and (b) perception of crime.

Domestic Waste Disposal

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 May 2009, Official Report, columns 1279-82W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, what records the Waste and Resources Action Programme holds on the frequency of the collection of household residual waste in each of the new unitary councils. (284082)

The Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP) records on the frequency of collection arrangements have not been updated since the local government reorganisation in April 2009. However, WRAP'S understanding is that these arrangements are still continuing exactly as they did before the local government reorganisation took place.

Farmers: Manpower

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) dairy, (b) arable, (c) beef and (d) sheep farmers there are in each English county. (283583)

The number of farmers on dairy, arable, beef and sheep holdings in June 2008 (the latest data available) are shown in the following table. The type of farm is determined by the predominant agricultural activity taking place on the holding, using data from the annual June Survey of Agriculture. Beef and sheep farms are not categorised separately.

The number of farmers on mixed holdings are also shown as these are holdings with both livestock and crops but where neither activity dominates.

Number of farmers by predominant farm type

(a) Dairy farmers

(b) Arable farmers

(c) and (d) Beef and sheep farmers

(e) Mixed farmers

Dairy

Cereals

General cropping

Grazing livestock (LFA)

Grazing livestock (lowland)

Mixed

Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees

17

147

1

0

58

22

South Teesside

29

75

1

29

28

44

Darlington

18

129

24

0

53

46

Durham CC

133

534

37

1,078

458

234

Northumberland

89

711

75

1,333

430

367

Tyneside

1

85

1

18

43

36

Sunderland

0

35

0

0

10

1

West Cumbria

771

118

32

760

768

215

East Cumbria

1,402

175

40

2,608

1,093

348

Halton and Warrington

24

89

55

0

35

25

Cheshire CC

1,337

392

252

263

1,405

288

Greater Manchester South

35

30

21

106

74

18

Greater Manchester North

127

115

24

335

149

54

Blackburn with Darwen

24

0

1

113

19

11

Blackpool

0

0

0

0

0

Lancashire CC

1,388

184

494

1,548

1,149

314

East Merseyside

0

103

45

0

27

11

Liverpool

0

1

0

0

1

0

Sefton

0

19

32

0

25

1

Wirral

22

15

10

0

33

11

Kingston upon Hull, City of

0

1

1

0

0

0

East Riding of Yorkshire

70

1,329

671

0

431

331

North and North East Lincolnshire

10

413

195

0

144

70

York

20

149

76

0

84

40

North Yorkshire CC

1,364

2,320

845

2,816

1,898

1,208

Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham

115

605

98

102

239

131

Sheffield

42

21

1

157

36

18

Bradford

83

1

0

435

78

38

Leeds

34

133

57

56

131

45

Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield

173

221

55

932

167

163

Derby

0

1

0

0

12

1

East Derbyshire

104

205

45

126

194

123

South and West Derbyshire

791

318

81

1,257

654

260

Nottingham

0

1

0

0

1

0

North Nottinghamshire

60

607

230

0

287

162

South Nottinghamshire

34

278

61

0

164

82

Leicester

0

1

1

0

1

0

Leicestershire CC and Rutland

340

1,080

96

0

1,110

333

Northamptonshire

59

1,107

65

0

862

247

Lincolnshire

100

2,688

1,513

0

776

422

Herefordshire, County of

218

544

492

511

1,431

642

Worcestershire

181

574

304

0

1,290

338

Warwickshire

139

925

127

0

1,005

337

Telford and Wrekin

42

73

69

0

101

32

Shropshire CC

997

837

347

915

1,763

785

Stoke-on-Trent

1

1

0

0

43

1

Staffordshire CC

1,343

545

258

1,064

1,269

356

Birmingham

1

23

1

0

6

0

Solihull

11

54

1

0

74

28

Coventry

1

12

1

0

27

11

Dudley and Sandwell

1

0

1

0

14

7

Walsall and Wolverhampton

1

1

18

0

16

1

Peterborough

1

131

72

0

20

1

Cambridgeshire CC

14

1,502

849

0

311

118

Norfolk

95

1,404

1,858

0

862

507

Suffolk

85

1,827

737

0

660

356

Luton

0

1

0

0

1

1

Bedfordshire CC

25

729

93

0

225

79

Hertfordshire

29

646

20

0

278

67

Southend-on-Sea

0

0

0

0

0

1

Thurrock

0

24

1

0

35

1

Essex CC

31

1,797

289

0

508

257

Inner London—west

0

1

0

0

1

0

Inner London—east

0

0

0

0

1

1

Outer London—east and north-east

0

30

17

0

19

1

Outer London—south

0

20

5

0

20

8

Outer London—west and north-west

1

1

1

0

20

14

Berkshire

26

242

28

0

263

73

Milton Keynes

13

112

0

63

12

Buckinghamshire CC

114

462

34

0

697

249

Oxfordshire

102

951

84

0

700

278

Brighton and Hove

1

1

1

0

8

1

East Sussex CC

114

342

81

0

1,263

274

Surrey

73

129

24

0

644

82

West Sussex

111

419

107

0

720

197

Portsmouth

0

0

0

0

1

0

Southampton

1

1

1

0

1

1

Hampshire CC

190

793

112

0

1,260

313

Isle of Wight

57

88

21

0

267

49

Medway

0

18

20

0

28

1

Kent CC

102

895

334

0

1,500

389

Bristol, City of

0

1

1

0

24

0

N and NE Somerset, S Glos.

403

279

35

0

972

231

Gloucestershire

432

748

88

0

1,699

413

Swindon

24

65

1

0

50

15

Wiltshire CC

506

871

73

0

1,244

293

Bournemouth and Poole

1

0

0

0

10

1

Dorset CC

789

447

53

0

1,539

290

Somerset

1,338

685

167

507

2,706

592

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

1,251

609

396

954

2,377

925

Plymouth

0

1

1

0

20

0

Torbay

1

0

0

0

27

19

Devon CC

2,419

1,081

334

2,172

4,594

1,491

England

20,122

35,402

12,843

20,194

45,827

15,915

1 Suppressed to prevent disclosure of information about individual holdings.

Notes:

1.Farmers includes full- and part-time farmers, partners, directors and spouses if working on the holding.

2.The grazing livestock farm type categories also include a small number of holdings with farmed deer and goats.

Source:

June Agricultural Survey

Grants: Tamworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many residents of Tamworth constituency have received funding from the (a) Rural Enterprise, (b) Processing and Marketing Grants and (c) Vocational Training scheme in each year since the inception of each such scheme; and for what period such funding was allocated from each such scheme. (283845)

The Rural Enterprise Scheme, the Processing and Marketing Grant and Vocational Training Scheme formed part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) which closed on 31 December 2006. The Programme covered the period 2000 to 2006. The following table provides the number of projects approved under these schemes in the West Midlands region during the life of the ERDP. Figures are not available at a constituency level. Figures for the actual number of trainees assisted under the Vocational Training Scheme are available only on a national (England) basis.

Calendar yearJanuary to December

Scheme

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Total

Processing marketing grant (PMG)

0

2

4

6

9

4

8

33

Rural enterprise scheme (RES)

0

23

51

58

100

100

80

412

Vocational training scheme (VTS)

0

5

5

5

19

13

11

58

Total

0

30

60

69

128

117

99

503

Source:

DEFRA.

Grocery Trade: Competition

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Competition Commission on its proposed grocery supply code of practice. (284687)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not discussed the proposed Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) with the Competition Commission.

In its inquiry into the groceries market the Commission found that one of the features that adversely affected competition in the market was the exercise of buyer power by certain grocery retailers with respect to their suppliers of groceries, through the adoption of supply chain practices that transfer excessive risks and unexpected costs to those suppliers. The GSCOP is being introduced by the Competition Commission, which is an independent public body, in response to this finding.

Incinerators

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which individuals and organisations were invited to make submissions to the Environment Agency’s H14 ecotoxicity consultation in 2007. (284472)

The Environment Agency’s consultation on H14 ecotoxicity was a public consultation to which any individual or organisation was welcome to respond. The consultation period started on 10 September 2007 and finished on 6 November 2007.

I am arranging to have placed in the Library of the House the responses to the consultation on H14 ecotoxicity.

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Consultants

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Pesticides Safety Directorate spent on external consultants in each of the last five years. (281635)

External consultancy spend in each of the last five financial years for the Pesticides Safety Directorate was as follows:

Spend activity

Amount (£000)

2008-09

IT security accreditation

27

Specialist IT support

61

Annual Report and Accounts (design and printing)

10

Customer survey

10

Other

2

Total

110

2007-08

Specialist IT support

30

Annual Report and Accounts (design and printing)

10

Staff survey and IIP review

6

Other

2

Total

48

2006-07

Specialist IT support

11

Annual Report and Accounts (design and printing)

10

Support to EU twinning project

7

Other

7

Total

35

2005-06

Specialist IT support

36

Annual Report and Accounts (design and printing)

7

Business development

30

Recruit Director of Finance, IT and Corporate Services

9

Other

10

Total

92

2004-05

Specialist IT support

63

Annual Report and Accounts (design and printing)

12

Staff survey

17

Other

11

Total

103

Property Searches

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Information Commissioner's Office, (b) Local Government Association and (c) Department for Communities and Local Government on the classification of local authority property search data as environmental information; and if he will make a statement. (284135)

Officials in my Department have had discussions with all these bodies on the classification of local authority property search data as environmental information and these discussions are ongoing.

We understand the Information Commissioner intends to issue further guidance shortly.

Recycling

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps in co-operation with local authorities to ensure that recycling initiatives facilitate the participation of older people in composting and re-use schemes. (284051)

While decisions on the most suitable waste management solution for an area are best left to the local authority concerned, DEFRA has always advised waste collection authorities to be open-minded and understanding when considering particular residents' needs, and flexible in the solutions the authority offers. Many local authorities offer assisted collections to the elderly to ensure, among other things, that they are able to fully participate in recycling and reuse initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Government Office regions have regional recycling forums. (284139)

Four of the Government Office Regions have dedicated Regional Recycling Forums: the North West, North East, London and the South East.

Regional Planning and Development: Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department had provided to each regional improvement and efficiency partnership on the latest date for which information is available; and for what projects such funding was allocated. (284141)

In 2008-09, DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government provided £4 million to Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) for the delivery of a Climate Change Best Practice Programme. Responsibility for this programme passed from DEFRA to the Department for Energy and Climate Change on its creation in October 2008.

DEFRA provided a further £500,000 in 2008-09 and 2009-10 to support the RIEPs work on waste. The funding was paid to Improvement and Efficiency South East, which leads the RIEPs’ national work in this area, to support local authorities develop partnership working on waste. This can help promote improvements to service delivery and realise efficiencies.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency: Manpower

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) directors, (b) senior managers, (c) specialist and delivery managers and (d) executive support and administration staff there were in each Veterinary Laboratories Agency office in each of the last five years. (283516)

I have placed in the House Library the tables providing information on staff numbers at each of the VLA’s 16 locations over the last five years.

Voluntary Organisations

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants his Department made to third sector organisations in 2007-08; how much was paid; and what the purpose of each such grant was. (284597)

DEFRA does not hold this information centrally. The Department's grant programmes are administered by a wide range of delivery bodies.

To collect the information centrally would incur disproportionate cost.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the ROAME document produced for his Department's research project on impacts of household charging in England, WR0708. (284140)

DEFRA does not create ROAME (Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring, Evaluation) statements for individual research projects but the process is adopted to provide a clear statement of rationale for developing projects under particular evidence programmes. ROAME statements have been created for each of the themes (A-F) of DEFRA's Waste and Resources Evidence Strategy (2007-11). The project WR0708 falls under Theme A of this programme: Understanding Economics and Incentives. As requested, the ROAME statement for this part of the programme has been placed in the House Library.

Water Meters

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with Ofwat the introduction of a social tariff by water companies for low-income households which face higher costs from water metering. (284332)

Assistance is currently available to low income households that are metered through the Government’s Vulnerable Groups Tariff, also known as WaterSure. This caps bills at the average bill for their water company if they receive means-tested benefits and suffer either from a medical condition which causes a substantial increase in the use of water or have three or more dependent children under 19 in full-time education. The independent Walker Review of charging for household water and sewerage services is looking at whether WaterSure should be revised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on low-income households of water metering. (284333)

The interim report of the independent Walker Review of charging for household water and sewerage services was published on 29 June. It includes analysis of the costs and benefits of metering and the affordability of water. The report is available on DEFRA’s website.

The final report is expected to be published in the autumn and the Government will provide a full response to this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the effect on low-income households of water metering. (284334)

Ministers have regular meetings with the Consumer Council for Water, which represents the interests of water customers. These include discussions around metering and affordability.

The independent Walker Review of charging for household water and sewerage services received 78 responses to its call for evidence and held five stakeholder workshops. These included representations on metering and affordability.

Women and Equality

Council Housing Waiting Lists

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the proposed duty of local authorities to tackle socio-economic disadvantage on their ability to give priority to housing applications from people who live in the area. (284092)

The ability to attach priority to local connection will continue to be an important tool as local authorities use allocation policies to address socio-economic disadvantage.

Staff Survey

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to Lord Ouseley of 18 May 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA252, on Equality and Human Rights Commission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the results of the Commission's staff survey. (283973)

A copy of the Equality and Human Rights Commission staff survey results has been placed in the Library of the House on their behalf.

Cabinet Office

Charities: Essex

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding has been allocated under the CapacityBuilders programme to charitable organisations active in each constituency in Essex in the last 12 months. (283893)

Capacitybuilders funding by constituency in Essex is as follows: Braintree: £325,037; Saffron Walden: £88,025; Rochford and Southend, East: £310,992; West Chelmsford: £125,880; Harwich: £3,000; Harlow: £2,000; Brentwood and Ongar: £2,000; Thurrock: £1,000. Please note that most funded projects will be providing benefit to a number of constituency areas. The variation in awards is due to the different types of funding programmes provided by Capacitybuilders. All allocations are subject to satisfactory verification of recipients’ details. More information on the split between constituencies by grant programme is available as follows.

Programme

Constituency

Allocation (£)

Consortium Development Grant

Braintree

194,000

Improving Reach Grant

Saffron Walden

41,025

Improving Reach Grant

Rochford and Southend, East

308,992

Consortium Modernisation Grant

Braintree

64,607

Consortium Modernisation Grant

Braintree

62,430

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Braintree

4,000

Social Enterprise Programme

West Chelmsford

118,880

Regional Network Fund

Saffron Walden

45,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Rochford and Southend, East

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

West Chelmsford

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Harwich

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Harlow

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Harwich

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

West Chelmsford

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Brentwood and Ongar

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

West Chelmsford

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

West Chelmsford

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Rochford and Southend, East

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Brentwood and Ongar

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

West Chelmsford

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation fund

Saffron Walden

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Saffron Walden

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation fund

Harlow

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Thurrock

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Harwich

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

West Chelmsford

1,000

Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

West Chelmsford

1,000

Intelligence Services: Information and Communications Technology

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who the project director of the SCOPE programme is; and if she will make a statement. (278986)

Lobbying

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she expects to respond to the First Report of the Public Administration Select Committee, Session 2008-09, on Lobbying: access and influence in Whitehall, HC 36. (284298)

I refer my hon. Friend to the evidence I gave to the Public Administration Select Committee on 2 July 2009. I expect to be in a position to respond before the summer recess.

Managing Diversity

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 643-44W, on National School of Government, which public sector organisations sent representatives to the course held in Sunningdale Park in 2008. (249938)

This is a matter for the National School of Government. I have asked the principal and chief executive to reply.

Letter from Rod Clark, dated July 2009:

In the Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 9 January 2007 (Official Report Col 5WS), the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Pat McFadden MP) announced that the National School of Government was now a Non Ministerial Department. Consequently, the Minster for the Cabinet Office has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the National School of Government.

The National School of Government's Managing Diversity five-day programme is for HR Practitioners and Diversity Officers from any organisation from all sectors. The 2008 course included one official from the following public authorities:

Channel 4;

University of Lincoln;

Charity Commission;

HM Prison Service;

Victoria and Albert Museum;

Suffolk Constabulary;

Ministry of Justice; and

two from the Department for Work and Pensions.

National School of Government

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the estimated running costs of the National School of Government are in 2009-10; (283581)

(2) how much funding the Government is providing to the National School of Government in 2009-10;

(3) how much the National School of Government received from each Government Department in payment for courses for their staff in each of the last three years.

This is a matter for the National School of Government. I have asked the principal and chief executive to reply.

Letter from Rod Clark, dated July 2009:

In the Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 9 January 2007 (Official Report Col 5WS), the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Pat McFadden MP) announced that the National School of Government was now a Non Ministerial Department. Consequently, the Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the National School of Government.

The National School has running cost provision in the 2009-10 Main Parliamentary Estimates of £30,395,000 (PQ 283581).

The National School recovers the large majority of its costs from charging for the learning and development and consultancy services that it provides and is expected to earn Appropriations-in-Aid of £30,000,000 in 2009-10. £395,000 net funding is provided to the National School via the Parliamentary Estimate (PQ 283582).

The attached table shows the income that the National School received from government departments including agencies and other bodies in the financial years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 (PQ 283588). The income relates to departments:

1. sending staff on the School’s open programmes that are contained in our portfolio. Latest information on courses and services is available on the National School website:

http://www.nationalschool.gov.uk

2. commissioning the School to run tailored programmes specifically for the department; and

3. consultancy work.

Some of the tailored work commissioned by departments may involve the attendance on programmes of people from outside the department. In particular, the Department for International Development commissions the School to carry out international work as part of the UK aid programme.

National School of Government: Income

£

Organisation

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Animal Health

3,125.00

21,192.00

29,000.00

Army Training and Recruiting Agency

0.00

75,000.00

0.00

Assets Recovery Agency

34,707.00

56,794.00

1,260.00

Attorney-Generals Office

3,662.00

2,857.00

7,880.00

Big Lottery Fund

18,520.00

14,729.00

18,585.00

British Embassy

19,902.00

14,186.00

2,695.50

British High Commission

188,137.02

181,284.32

97,535.30

British Library

1,050.00

7,036.10

3,760.50

Buying Solutions

38,781.06

16,906.00

5,658.40

Cabinet Office

695,262.05

746,434.78

704,425.27

Central Office of Information

58,522.00

57,571.00

55,719.20

Central Science Laboratory

2,100.00

6,995.00

6,715.00

Centre for Applied Learning

14,608.00

9,492.00

0.00

Centre for Applied Learning (CAL)

0.00

25,177.79

17,275.00

Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

4,290.00

10,180.00

16,365.00

Charity Commission

6,647.00

8,445.00

20,926.00

Child Support Agency

49,012.98

43,810.25

18,097.00

Commonwealth Secretariat

0.00

28,705.50

25,335.60

Communities and Local Government

696,004.58

658,672.50

627,285.50

Companies House

13,594.00

12,544.00

12,767.50

Criminal Justice System

655.00

957.50

3,750.00

Criminal Records Bureau

69,569.66

11,435.00

16,321.25

Crown Office

2,860.00

295.00

0.00

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

32,445.00

15,135.50

14,185.00

Crown Prosecution Service

103,600.22

132,822.70

110,068.00

Crown Solicitors Office

825.00

300.00

640.00

Customs and Revenue Internal Governance

0.00

3,016.20

0.00

Defence Bills Agency

0.00

0.00

19,200.00

Defence Estates

87,731.27

2,850.00

5,130.00

Defence Procurement Agency

1,550.00

0.00

0.00

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

57,834.00

30,215.00

42,155.96

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency

3,940.98

0.00

2,500.00

Defence Support Group

0.00

0.00

450.00

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

529,949.83

636,858.63

1,094,762.88

Department for Children, Schools and Families

770,205.47

702,053.29

737,187.63

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

204,312.35

270,726.45

240,528.80

Department for Employment and Learning

18,410.00

3,800.00

1,850.00

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

789,963.79

816,484.64

592,635.09

Department for International Development

1,295,474.76

1,683,721.55

1,735,146.65

Department for Regional Development

15,819.00

19,010.00

8,510.00

Department for Social Development, N. Ireland

259,753.28

111,723.69

14,207.07

Department for Transport

565,741.01

521,764.10

498,985.41

Department for Work and Pensions

399,109.84

796,729.52

1,477,014.74

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure NI

3,998.99

0.00

425.00

Department of Education NI

18,605.00

14,740.00

146.00

Department of Energy and Climate Change

0.00

0.00

12,904.00

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

1,165.00

650.00

425.00

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment NI

15,300.00

15,365.00

1,420.00

Department of Health

379,172.96

489,235.82

568,525.99

Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety NI

28,333.66

650.00

18,365.00

Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform

3,280.00

3,380.00

0.00

Department of the Environment

16,944.00

8,610.00

4,210.00

Department of the Marine and Natural Resources

370.00

0.00

0.00

Drinking Water Inspectorate

0.00

0.00

1,570.00

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

142,469.64

111,404.55

110,443.70

Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (NI)

1,125.00

0.00

0.00

Driving Standards Agency

30,089.26

22,323.00

42,775.00

Emergency Planning College

13,517.75

0.00

0.00

Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland

355.00

95.00

3,000.00

European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

2,686.66

0.00

0.00

Export Credits Guarantee Department

26,015.84

51,151.50

26,769.00

Fire Service College

11,793.50

8,620.00

4,520.00

Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory

7,980.00

10,901.00

1,525.00

Food and Environment Research Agency

0.00

4,170.00

1.825.00

Food Standards Agency

325,528.19

406,997.81

282,230.01

Football Licensing Authority

400.00

1,515.00

3,844.00

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

761,098.43

797,549.02

1,352,216.14

Forensic Science Service

36,536.68

11,884.00

2,525.00

Forestry Commission

31,575.50

65,366.00

78,434.86

Gambling Commission

0.00

0.00

245.00

General Register Office (Scotland)

7,830.00

3,815.00

2,380.00

Government Actuary’s Department

370.00

370.00

6,750.00

Government Car and Despatch Agency

1,980.00

5,360.00

1,000.00

Government Communication Bureau

29,150.00

19,525.00

5,675.00

Government Communication Planning Directorate

30,705.32

19,141.56

22,863.78

Government Communications Centre

0.00

0.00

6,500.00

Government Communications Headquarters

104,196.09

177,503.93

198,401.70

Government Equality Office

0.00

0.00

9,949.50

Government Office for the East of England

0.00

3,975.00

975.00

Government Office for the North West

105,279.84

125,066.19

104,368.29

Government Office for the South West

29,900.27

18,010.00

4,015.00

Government Skills

0.00

4,385.00

32,549.50

Govnet Communications

0.00

800.00

0.00

Health and Social Care Information Centre

1,640.00

0.00

0.00

Health and Safety Commission

0.00

305.00

0.00

Health and Safety Executive

247,182.20

298,267.57

221,732.00

Health and Safety Laboratory

6,746.00

1,700.00

6,525.00

Her Majesty’s Government Communication Centre

5,400.00

20,160.00

18,480.50

Highways Agency

147,286.52

128,602.50

116,830.00

Historic Scotland

3,728.00

2,495.00

4,102.50

HM Courts Service

36,025.40

85,219.50

101,623.00

HM Inspectorate of Probation

0.00

0.00

10,000.00

HM Prison Service

186,780.94

325,205.71

336,955.61

HM Revenue and Customs

672,134.69

566,218.85

1,108,759.88

HM Treasury

438,574.84

428,926.99

566,797.00

Home Housing Corporation

0.00

0.00

900.00

Home Office

1,333,578.42

1,037,95823

1,325,400.68

Home Office: Border and Immigration Agency

14,090.80

29,943.00

9,565.25

Home Office: Centre for Learning and Development

0.00

3,200.00

7,200.00

Home Office: Immigration and Nationality

25,930.00

0.00

0.00

Home Office: Immigration Service

1,000.00

4,200.00

0.00

Home Office: Police Leadership and Powers Unit

0.00

18,748.50

0.00

House of Commons

168.00

0.00

535.50

Identity and Passport Service

148,643.45

150,221.94

175,972.20

Imperial War Museum

1,721.00

1,750.00

630.00

Independent Safeguarding Authority

0.00

0.00

2,020.00

Institute for Animal Health

0.00

1,134.00

1,360.00

Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

2,890.00

0.00

0.00

Jobcentre Plus

87,214.85

55,355.17

103,064.50

Land Registry

200,159.78

305,461.00

187,680.50

Law Officers Department

0.00

0.00

705.00

Legal Services Commission

31,966.14

20,015.00

35,039.00

London Development Agency

0.00

4,025.00

1,750.00

Marine Fisheries Agency

0.00

555.00

12,575.00

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

26,624.25

17,717.50

14,329.00

Meat Hygiene Service

14,807.00

3,450.00

12,750.00

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

17,336.80

7,872.00

31,809.50

Met Office

57,541.63

64,230.20

30,139.80

Ministry of Defence

2,100,259.72

2,384,843.86

2,557,433.57

Ministry of Defence: Defence Equipment and Support

0.00

0.00

6,400.00

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

0.00

0.00

9,722.72

Ministry of Justice

510,574.76

721,903.11

681,247.05

Museum of London

275.00

0.00

0.00

Museum of Science and Industry

0.00

0.00

665.00

Museums Libraries and Archives Council

5,795.00

1,385.00

1,500.00

National Archives

32,139.50

19,977.50

34,706.00

National Archives of Scotland

0.00

990.00

270.00

National Audit Office

4,545.00

9,430.00

14,055.00

National Employment Panel

0.00

4,095.00

0.00

National Gallery

0.00

600.00

630.00

National Heritage Memorial Fund

890.00

1,420.00

0.00

National Maritime Museum

0.00

4,250.00

0.00

National Museum of Science and Industry

0.00

6,530.00

0.00

National Museums of Liverpool

9,744.36

0.00

0.00

National Offender Management Service

0.00

1,760.00

14,150.00

National Portrait Gallery

0.00

850.00

350.00

National Savings and investments

4,345.00

10,288.00

7,847.00

Natural History Museum

3,520.00

1,535.00

3,250.00

Northern Ireland Audit Office

1,925.00

1,701.00

25,550.00

Northern Ireland Civil Service

4,710.00

1,870.00

1,060.00

Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment

0.00

600.00

0.00

Northern Ireland Court Service

36,195.00

28,966.00

38,647.00

Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development

0.00

0.00

11,600.00

Northern Ireland Executive: Department Finance and Personnel

127,356.06

42,680.28

49,710.60

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

470.00

0.00

0.00

Northern Ireland Office

172,310.12

155,719.05

145,076.75

Northern Ireland Prison Service

5,850.00

3,550.00

4,725.00

Office for Criminal Justice Reform

0.00

2,280.00

36,054.50

Office for National Statistics

83,336.65

117,414.00

141,930.01

Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills

59,350.00

69,080.00

63,075.00

Office of Climate Change

0.00

7,448.00

2,950.00

Office of Communications

6,264.00

4,805.00

8,017.00

Office of Fair Trading

73,978.25

38,533.00

55,756.86

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets

32,274.00

20,722.00

8,970.40

Office of Government Commerce

112,563.69

136,065.35

146,958.60

Office of Public Guardian

4,183.00

12,443.00

18,901.00

Office of Rail Regulation

43,506.00

52,744.00

35,532.50

Office of the Civil Service Commissioners

1,870.00

0.00

410.00

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

6,070.29

1,889.50

585.00

Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner

8,790.00

4,580.00

895.00

Office of Water Services

9,777.50

2,200.00

6,061.00

Offices of Court Funds, Official Solicitor and Public Trustee

0.00

0.00

2,235.00

Olympic Delivery Authority

5,597.10

2,250.24

4,960.00

Ordnance Survey

12,601.50

24,065.00

16,755.50

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

0.00

4,680.00

841.00

Pensions Transformation Programme

1,500.00

0.00

0.00

Pesticides Safety Directorate

805.00

450.00

0.00

Planning Inspectorate

4,164.00

18,295.00

51,036.00

Postal Services Commission (Postcomm)

12,755.00

64,548.50

51,648.00

Prime Ministers Delivery Unit

0.00

0.00

750.00

Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit

2,420.00

0.00

0.00

Prime Minister’s Office

3,915.00

2,585.00

17,991.00

Prison Service College

2,720.00

0.00

0.00

Privy Council Office

36,865.00

17,850.00

4,100.00

Probation Board for Northern Ireland

0.00

0.00

945.00

Public Lending Right

1,380.00

0.00

540.00

Public Prosecution Service

0.00

10,000.00

0.00

Public Service Management Wales

0.00

0.00

350.00

Regional Co-ordination Unit

4,660.00

2,479.00

5,940.00

Registers of Scotland

41,321.50

38,880.00

54,444.00

Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office

25,220.00

72,941.50

53,264.00

Royal Armouries Museum

0.00

0.00

2,654.00

Royal Mint

2,050.00

2,350.00

350.00

Royal Parks Agency

12,214.50

8,175.00

10,740.00

Rural Payments Agency

66,269.88

71,265.50

57,441.00

Scotland Office

7,245.00

2,755.00

5,895.00

Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

2,475.00

2,425.00

4,345.00

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

17,160.29

2,212.00

28,915.00

Scottish Executive Health Department

1,445.00

0.00

0.00

Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

0.00

1,580.00

10,395.00

Scottish Information Commissioner

0.00

0.00

3,005.00

Scottish Public Pensions Agency

11,275.05

12,825.00

19,360.49

Serious Fraud Office

17,024.00

47,941.50

31,097.00

Serious Organised Crime Agency

19,725.00

42,382.00

120,166.20

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

0.00

1,025.00

2,000.00

Small Business Service

3,490.00

0.00

0.00

Social Security Agency

1,737.50

0.00

0.00

Specialist Procurement Services Agency

0.00

95.00

0.00

The Advocate-General for Scotland

1,825.00

0.00

0.00

The Crown Estate

285.00

0.00

0.00

The National Assembly for Wales

324,061.86

172,351.50

64,490.00

The Oil and Pipelines Agency

720.00

575.00

2,860.00

The Pension Service

70,013.23

8,665.00

32,434.00

The Planning Service

0.00

95.00

125.00

The Rent Service

34,092.10

10,990.00

16,013.00

The Royal Household

990.00

1,290.00

4,220.00

The Science and Technology Facilities Council

0.00

650.00

0.00

The Scottish Government

189,504.80

237,124.79

280,116.91

The Scottish Parliament

17,805.00

6,356.00

14,754.00

The Security Service

0.00

15,457.00

2,450.00

Training Development Agency for Schools

17,385.00

29,921.20

26,996.00

Transport for Scotland

2,770.00

2,358.00

3,295.00

Treasury Solicitor’s Department

218,860.65

255,764.75

230,353.50

Tribunals Service

1,055.00

37,867.86

26,502.00

UK Film Council

7,868.75

0.00

770.00

UK Insolvency Service

33,789.00

36,294.50

54,605.00

UK Intellectual Property Office

44,333.24

79,059.75

114,944.08

UK Permanent Representation to European Union

6,440.00

0.00

0.00

UK Sport

14,452.14

12,435.56

6,871.18

UK Trade and Investment

96,541.83

42,649.75

87,350.82

UK Visas United (Joint FCO/Home Office Directorate)

34,412.50

11,159.00

3,748.00

United Kingdom Debt Management Office

1,065.00

500.00

0.00

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

7,253.11

13,215.00

9,915.00

Valuation and Lands Agency

470.00

0.00

0.00

Valuation Office Agency

22,910.50

22,120.00

11,590.00

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

62,287.25

43,570.00

40,554.44

Vehicle Certification Agency

1,355.00

3,525.00

0.00

Veterinary Laboratories Agency

11,076.50

11,479.00

2,650.00

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

10,909.50

19,135.50

16,403.00

Victoria and Albert Museum

0.00

1,705.00

0.00

Wales Audit Office

3,915.00

850.00

0.00

Wales Office

3,975.00

4,596.00

1,617.00

Welsh Assembly Government

14,609.30

166,689.74

247,743.84

Wilton Park

360.00

0.00

395.00

Youth Justice Board for England and Wales

8,965.00

19,558.50

15,031.00

Stress

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which public authorities have provided stress management training courses for their staff through the National School of Government in the last 36 months. (258615)

This is a matter for the National School of Government. I have asked the principal and chief executive to reply.

Letter form Rod Clark, dated July 2009:

In the Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 9 January 2007 (Official Report Col 5WS), the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Pat McFadden MP) announced that the National School of Government was now a Non Ministerial Department. Consequently, the Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the National School of Government.

Since July 2006 the National School of Government has run one Stress Management Workshop. Members of staff from the following public authorities attended:

The Home Office;

Department for Work and Pensions;

Communities and Local Government;

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;

National School of Government;

Office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; and

The House of Lords.

Stress Management is part of the overall Organisational Health and Well Being agenda which is recognised as essential to the component of engaging employees to achieve effective performance.