To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will set out with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the Croydon Central constituency, the effects of his Department's policies on that constituency since 2005. (325822)

The Department for Transport does not routinely hold transport statistics on a parliamentary constituency basis. However, the Department provides Transport for London (TfL) with a block grant to fund transport delivery in London. This grant has more than doubled in the last nine years, rising to some £3.3 billion in 2010-11. Drawing on these and other resources, the Mayor is responsible for publishing and, through TfL, implementing a Transport Strategy for London, while the boroughs are required to publish local implementation plans which set out how they will contribute to the Mayor's strategy.

Bus services in London have improved. 2,247 million passenger journeys were made in 2008-09 and patronage grew by grew by 40 per cent. between 2000-09.

Concessionary travel continues to benefit elderly and disabled Londoners, and more than a million older people currently hold a Freedom Pass.

South London rail routes serving Croydon have also improved. Southern have delivered a new fleet of trains, some of which operate on South London services, and the remaining rolling stock has been refurbished.

TfL took over operational control of Croydon Tramlink in June 2008. Approximately 27.2 million passenger journeys were made on Croydon Tramlink in 2008-09.

On the roads, national targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured by 40 per cent. and reduce the number of “slight” casualties by 10 per cent. (compared to the period 1994-98) by 2010 were largely exceeded by TfL by 2004, leading to TfL setting themselves new targets of 50 per cent and 25 per cent. respectively.

Various improvements in relation to cycling have also been realised across London. TfL report that cycling now accounts for 2 per cent. of trips in London compared to 1.2 per cent in 2000, and London is the only major city in the world to have achieved a modal shift away from the car. From 2000-2009 the mode share of private motorised transport has fallen by around 6 per cent, levels of cycling have almost doubled and public transport use has risen dramatically. On an average weekday over one million people enter Central London on public transport during the morning peak.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress has been made on the adoption of the 1998 European Convention on Driving Disqualifications; and what steps he has taken to promote mutual recognition of driving disqualifications in EU member states. (325677)

On 28 January 2010 mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between the UK and Ireland entered into force.

We wish to gain practical experience with our arrangements with Ireland before considering mutual recognition with other member states.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will make it his policy not to proceed with his Department’s proposals for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. (325676)

The High Court ruling on 26 March 2010 does not require us to change our policy, which remains to support a third runway at Heathrow subject to conditions, including compliance with limits in respect of noise and local air quality. The ruling acknowledges that the Heathrow decisions announced in January 2009 are part of a continuing process which, under the Planning Act 2008, will involve further steps including the preparation of a national policy statement for airports and further consultation, and that this process provides a complete legal framework for considering all the issues raised in the court case.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on (i) rail services and (ii) the energy consumption of trains of station stops aligned (A) horizontally and (B) vertically. (325698)

HS2 Ltd. commissioned Imperial College to undertake traction energy modelling, which included the impact of station stops. This report was published earlier this month and is available on HS2 Ltd.’s website

www.hs2.org.uk/supporting-documents-temp

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how long on average it takes to travel from each of (a) Glasgow, (b) Aberdeen, (c) Norwich, (d) Exeter, (e) Middlesbrough, (f) Liverpool and (g) Milton Keynes to each of (i) Brussels, (ii) Madrid, (iii) Chicago and (iv) Tokyo; and what the equivalent average travel times are expected to be following completion of the HS2 core network. (325700)

The Department for Transport does not hold this information in the form requested.

The completion of the potential HS2 core network would accelerate surface access to certain UK airports, but actual time savings would depend on rail and airline service patterns and timetabling at that time.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reason the fire escape at Flamborough Head coastguard station is considered inadequate for its purpose. (325742)

Flamborough Head coastguard rescue team base is located in an old three-storey building. Each storey is a single, small room and the room on the ground-floor is used to house unmanned radio equipment. A single narrow staircase is the only means of access and escape. This arrangement does not meet modern fire safety standards.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many fires requiring evacuation there have been at Flamborough Head coastguard station in the last 30 years. (325744)

There have been no fires requiring evacuation at the volunteer Flamborough Head Coastguard Rescue Team base in the last 30 years.

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what studies his Department has conducted on the likely effect on incident response times of the closure of Flamborough Head coastguard station. (325743)

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has considered the effect of closing its Flamborough Head volunteer coastguard rescue team base and has concluded that incident response times will be unaffected.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the bringing into service of new Thameslink rolling stock is dependent on the provision of additional train maintenance depots. (325801)

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the introduction of new Thameslink rolling stock is dependent upon the establishment of new train maintenance depots. (325832)

I can confirm that the bringing into service of new Thameslink rolling stock is dependent on the provision of additional train maintenance depots.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) when he expects to announce his decision on the location of additional train maintenance depots for new Thameslink trains; [R] (325802)

The Department for Transport is planning to establish new depots to support the new fleet of Thameslink trains at Hornsey in the London borough of Haringey and at Three Bridges in the borough of Crawley.

Network Rail has commenced the process for securing planning consents for these depots with the relevant local authorities. It would be inappropriate to comment on the outcome of these discussions at this stage.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) which locations are being considered for the construction of additional train maintenance depots to service new Thameslink trains; [R] (325803)

Department for Transport officials have had a number of discussions with Network Rail, train operating companies and local authorities regarding the additional train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock. We are proposing a new depot in Hornsey in the London borough of Haringey and at Three Bridges in the borough of Crawley.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of building new train maintenance depots for Thameslink stations at different locations. (325833)

Department for Transport officials have worked closely with Network Rail and the train operating companies to assess the options for locating new train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock. We are proposing a new depot in Hornsey in the London borough of Haringey and at Three Bridges in the borough of Crawley.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) Network Rail, (b) train operating companies and (c) local authorities on new train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock. (325834)

Department for Transport officials have had a number of discussions with Network Rail, train operating companies and local authorities regarding the new train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock. We are proposing a new depot in Hornsey in the London borough of Haringey and at Three Bridges in the borough of Crawley.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 19W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what the average cost of (a) aviation and (b) vehicle fuel was (i) per litre and (ii) per imperial gallon in each such year. (322182)

The average monthly price of fuel for operations in Afghanistan is:

We purchase fuel in litres and keep records only on this basis. The costs per litre prior to May 2008 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2010, Official Report, column 674W, on armed forces: manpower, what the shortfall of (a) reservists and (b) regular (i) medical, (ii) nursing and (iii) paramedic staff was on 1 October in each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement. (322550)

The information requested is shown in the following tables for regular and reserve forces. To enable comparisons with past years using the data currently available, the total ‘requirement’ figures include ‘manning and training margins’ and the ‘manning’ figures include personnel who were both trained and in-training. Shortfalls have been addressed by a variety of means and they have never resulted in the Defence Medical Services being unable to meet their operational commitments. The standard of medical care provided to service patients remains extremely high as has been recognised by the House of Commons Defence Committee and the National Audit Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects to sign (a) a contract and (b) any other agreement with the preferred bidder for the provision of search and rescue helicopter services from 2012 before the Dissolution of Parliament. (325816)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 16W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the applications guidelines of the Armed Forces Careers Office, Form 5, June 2007, how many people have been refused entry into the Army on the grounds of an allergic disorder in each of the last five years; and how many such refusals were the subject of an appeal supported by medical evidence. (325762)

Information on the number of individuals who have been refused entry to the British Army on the grounds of an allergic disorder is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However, I can confirm that the Army recruiting and training division headquarters have considered 21 allergy-related appeals against non-selection over the last five years. Of these appeals, four were successful, two were withdrawn and 15 were unsuccessful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the details of the contract he has signed with Boeing in respect of the acquisition of additional Chinook helicopters; and whether (a) the contract will provide for the provision of the Julius cockpit design and (b) the helicopters will be acquired under the US foreign military sales. (325790)

Long-lead engineering work and acquisition of long-lead manufacturing components will be undertaken under the contract signed with Boeing on 23 March 2010. This work is necessary to protect the critical path to delivery of initial aircraft during the course of 2012 and 2013.

No final decision has yet been made on the cockpit configuration, nor on the procurement route, although if the Julius cockpit solution is selected this would not be under a US foreign military sale. I expect the Main Gate investment decision to be taken very shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions there are on his Department's officials regarding the disclosure of information on future defence policy matters; and if he will make a statement. (324524)

[holding answer 29 March 2010]: MOD officials may disclose official information only in accordance with current rules and procedures including, in the case of civil servants, the Civil Service Code and in compliance with the Official Secrets Acts, the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent Armed Forces Families Continuous Attitude survey. (325550)

Each service conducts a Families Continuous Attitude survey. The aim is to assess and monitor the attitude of serving personnel's spouses in key areas such as housing, child care, communication and welfare. The results obtained help to formulate strategic policy and identify specific trends, such as quality of service families' accommodation or the effectiveness of MODern Housing.

The most recent reports from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 22-3W, on departmental temporary employment, what the total amount spent on employing temporary staff was in (a) each of the last three years and (b) 2009-10 to date. (324328)

Manpower substitutes are only engaged to fill funded posts until permanent recruitment can be completed or where the posts cannot be filled by other means. They are particularly important where units are closing or merging to enable permanent staff to be redeployed to secure posts while maintaining the role of the unit until closure, to ensure that services to the front line or other critical areas do not suffer gaps while permanent recruitment takes place or to temporarily fill specialist posts where the gap is caused by the individual being forward deployed.

While a great deal of work is being undertaken to increase the information available on the amount of money spent across the Ministry of Defence on manpower substitutes, this work is still ongoing and will improve further as the People Pay and Pensions Agency assumes more responsibility for delivering manpower substitution services for more categories of temporary staff. Consequently, the information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the feasibility of strengthening military systems against electromagnetic attacks; and what estimate he has made of the cost of undertaking such work. (323136)

It would not be in the interests of national security to provide information about specific vulnerabilities, assessments or protective measures relating to electromagnetic attack.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the critical infrastructure of his Department of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused (a) deliberately and (b) through solar activity. (321755)

Information about specific vulnerabilities, assessments or protective measures relating to electromagnetic pulse strike is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2010, Official Report, column 1117W, on armed forces: housing, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife. (325678)

I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 March 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of his Department have taken authorised days of absence owing to severe weather in 2010. (322623)

The information on the number of members in the Ministry of Defence who have taken authorised days of absence owing to severe weather in 2010 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future provision of services to war pensioners; whether he plans to close any war pensions offices; and if he will make a statement. (325697)

The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) is part of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) and provides one to one support, via telephone and home visits, to veterans throughout the UK and Ireland. Advice can be offered on many issues but the most common are war pension/compensation entitlement and applications, housing, benefits, employment and personal welfare.

The VWS has been reorganised into five regional centres each providing one to one telephone advice. This has improved customer service and efficiency, without reducing the capacity to handle cases. All the welfare managers who conduct home visits have been retained.

Veterans organisations were advised of the change and War Pensions Committee chairmen formally gave their backing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the (a) transport cost in respect of and (b) carbon emissions arising from (i) the arrangements for supply of armaments under his Department's pilot scheme and (ii) the transition to direct delivery of such armaments. (325584)

[holding answer 6 April 2010]: The additional transport costs of the pilot scheme to assess the feasibility of direct delivery of armaments to Ministry of Defence depots to supply Royal Naval vessels is assessed as small in terms of the overall savings achievable, equating to around two vehicles per week.

No estimate has yet been made of the change in carbon emissions which might result from the pilot scheme, or the overall implementation of the improvement programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Croydon Central constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 2005. (325588)

The Ministry of Justice's work spans criminal, civil and family justice, democracy, rights and the constitution. Every year around nine million people use, our services in 900 locations across the United Kingdom, including 650 courts and tribunals and 139 prisons in England and Wales.

The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to it is not normally collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, some of the information requested in the question cannot be provided in the form requested except at a disproportionate cost.

Although data on sentencing for the period are not available for the constituency of Croydon, Central, they are available for London. These show the total number of offenders sentenced annually was 216,107 in 2005 and 242,429 in 2008, the latest period for which such information is available.

The number of offences brought to justice for London increased from 182,350 for the 12 months ending 31 March 2006 to 230,202 (provisional figures) for the 12 months ending 31 March 2009.

With regard to prosecutions, data are not available for the constituency of Croydon, Central. However, the total number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts by the Metropolitan Police was 261,617 in 2005, compared to 279,581 in 2008.

The latest data, which cover reoffending in the period 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009, showed that the three month reoffending rate for offenders on the probation caseload in Croydon was 9.49 per cent. After controlling for changes in the characteristics of offenders on the probation caseload, there was an increase in reoffending of 3.12 per cent. compared to the 2007-08 baseline. Data are not available prior to 2007 on this basis.

The number of persons commencing court order supervision by the Probation Service in London was 18,931 in 2005 and 23,787 in 2008.

154,616 civil non-family proceedings were started in the county courts of London Civil and Family HMCS area in 2009, compared to 175,889 in 2005. There were also 15,437 private law applications and 886 public law applications made in the county or High Courts of this HMCS area in 2008-09, compared to 14,540 and 1,207 respectively in 2005-06.

In addition, at a national level:

Local communities are being better engaged in criminal justice—by giving them a say in the types of Community Payback projects offenders carry out and allowing them to see justice being done, for example through the use of high visibility jackets. Offenders have now worked more than 14 million hours, with an estimated value to the taxpayer of over £80 million.

Major constitutional reforms have been delivered, including devolution, the Human Rights Act, Freedom of Information, Lords Reform, and a new Supreme Court for the UK.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Hurd) of 24 March 2010, Official Report, column 295W, on Charlie Whelan, what type of pass Mr. Whelan holds; when it was issued; and who the sponsor is of the pass. (325342)

Mr. Whelan holds a temporary pass (light blue) issued in June 2009. It is sponsored by the parliamentary Labour party from within an agreed allocation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings he has had with the BBC in each of the last two years; what the agenda was of each such meeting; who attended each such meeting; if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each such meeting; and if he will make a statement. (325170)

Details of meetings with outside groups that I have held since I became Secretary of State on 5 June 2009 are regularly published on my Department's website. I have held the following meetings with representatives of the BBC:

Notes of meetings with outside groups are not published as a matter of course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department and its agency have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years. (324435)

Nothing has been spent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department’s branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were. (324722)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agency, the Royal Parks, has not spent any money on promotional items carrying the Department’s branding logo in the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the (a) Conservative Party and (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months; (324247)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary, on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 1913W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the percentage change was in (a) the cost of the television licence fee and (b) the number of licence fee payers in each year since 1997. (324384)

The percentage increase in the licence fee in each year is set out in the tables.

The percentage increase in licence fee payers each year since 1997 is set out in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes in levels of (a) taxation and (b) public expenditure will be required to finance the requirement to repay loans made from the public purse to banks, as referred to in the Financial Services Authority’s publication Financial Risk Outlook of 10 March 2010. (322682)

[holding answer 16 March 2010]: The Financial Risk Outlook discusses liquidity and funding support provided to eligible institutions. Responsibility for repayment of such support lies with the eligible institution itself.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when officials in his Department became aware that the costs of a council tax freeze referred to on 3 February 2010, Official Report, column 370, were incorrect; on what date it was decided to place a correction on his Department’s website; and what the effect of a two-year freeze on council tax would be on expenditure in council tax benefit. (323165)

[holding answer 22 March 2010]: The estimates referred to on 3 February 2010, Official Report, column 370, are the cost to central Government of providing every council in England with top up funding to compensate for freezing council tax for two years. This costing considered only the direct costs of providing a top-up, assumed to be equivalent to a 2.5 per cent. increase in band D bills in England.

The Treasury’s website was updated on 22 February 2010 to make clear that the costing, which was originally placed on the Treasury’s website on 24 December 2009 related to the cost to central Government of compensating local authorities.

The impact on council tax benefit of a two-year freeze on council tax has not been estimated.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency’s Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 21 September 2004, paragraph 3.3, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Data Enhancement Questionnaire policy approved by the Minister. (324172)

The then Minister approved the use of the Data Enhancement Questionnaire, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Croydon Central constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 2005. (325586)

The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at Parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at

http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./

The Government have put in place a broad programme of reform since 1997. Over the decade to 2007, the economic performance of all parts of the UK has improved considerably. In Croydon Central, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance reached its lowest level on record in November 2007.

The global recession has had a negative impact on economic activity in all areas of the UK. However, the economy was starting from a position of strength and is actively supported by policies implemented by the Government, including the fiscal stimulus and a significant package of support for those out of work.

In Croydon Central people are benefiting from this investment. Having risen through the first half of last year, the claimant count has remained broadly flat since the middle of 2009, with more than 700 people moving off of the claimant count each month on average over the period. Youth unemployment has also started to decline and now stands more than 10 per cent. below the highs seen in the third quarter of 2009.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department’s staff in the last five years; and at what cost. (324356)

The information requested is given in the following table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account his Department’s food procurement policy takes of animal welfare. (325525)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 189W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in (a) his Department, (b) HM Revenue and Customs, (c) the Valuation Office Agency and (d) his Department’s other agencies (i) have the status of embedded communicators and (ii) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book. (315169)

HM Treasury and the Valuation Office Agency have no embedded communicators. HM Revenue and Customs has 304 embedded communicators. Of HM Treasury’s agencies, the Office of Government Commerce has six embedded communicators and the Debt Management Office has none.

Data are not held on Government Communications Network membership.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) Ministers and (b) staff of each grade in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months. (320395)

The normal class of travel for staff in HM Treasury and its agencies is standard class. However, where there is a business or other justification, first class travel is available to staff at all levels but the reason must be included when seeking reimbursement. Information on the class of tickets purchased and the grade of the user is not held, because HM Treasury’s accounting system records the costs of travel but not the number, type of tickets bought or traveller’s grade. However, for financial year 2008-09, the travel management company provided information on the number and type of tickets purchased through them.

HM Treasury spent £382,000 on air travel and £18,000 on rail travel, the Debt Management Office £3,000 on rail travel and Office of Government Commerce £319,000 on rail travel. Tickets bought but subsequently refunded are excluded and some tickets are bought directly by the traveller, so this information is not a complete record of all tickets bought.

Since 1999, the Government have published, on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the “Civil Service Management Code” and the “Ministerial Code”.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made on development of financial mechanisms to support early intervention policies across the Government in the long-term. (325694)

The Budget announced the Government's support for the first social impact bond (SIB) pilots to help investment in long-term initiatives and support preventative action—including an MOJ pilot to reduce reoffending rates in HMP Peterborough.

The Government will explore further application of this model through the Total Place programme and more widely. The DCSF, for example, have recently pledged to explore the potential of SIBs to lever in additional resources to support early intervention approaches with children and young people.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the full evaluation of the Money Guidance Pathfinder. (325792)

The full evaluation report on the Money Guidance pathfinder, conducted by the Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol, will be published by June 2010.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people took part in the Money Guidance Pathfinder. (325793)

In total, 575,000 people used the Money Guidance service in the North West and North East of England between April 2009 and March 2010.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable he has set for the launch of the Green Investment Bank announced in Budget 2010. (325811)

Government anticipate that the Green Investment Bank could be operational by autumn 2011, and this timing accords with that of the projected need for investment. Further details are provided in Chapter 2, paragraph 2.23 of Infrastructure UK’s Strategy for national infrastructure, which was published alongside the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been collected in import duty on mephedrone in each of the last three years. (325798)

Mephedrone is listed as a Home Office controlled drug. Import consignments of mephedrone will have been entered under commodity codes 293299 85 90 (prior to 1 January 2009) and 293299 00 90 (from 1 January 2009).

The information requested is set out in the following table. Imported mephedrone attracts an import duty rate of 6.5 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) total monetary value of and (b) proportion of net investment income in the UK balance of payments has been in each year since 2006. (325711)

Official estimates of the current account, including net investment income are available from the Office for National Statistics.

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Financial Services Authority has made of the monetary value of losses incurred by with-profits bond investors who were entitled to claim the guaranteed value of their investments on a market value reduction-free date but failed to do so. (325656)

The FSA does not hold the information requested.

It is a matter for individual policyholders when they decide to cash in their with-profits bond investments. However, where life insurance companies sell policies which include guarantees for market value reduction-free (MVR-free) encashment, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) requires them to treat their policyholders fairly by informing them of the existence of such guarantees at the point of sale and reminding them of those guarantees in post-sale communications. In addition, FSA rules require firms not to make an MVR unless the market value of the assets in the fund is, or is expected to be, significantly less than the face value of the policy being surrendered.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on its regulation of Keydata; and if he will make a statement. (325830)

Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such discussions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of unemployment in (a) the UK, (b) each region of England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland of the planned rise in the rate of National Insurance contributions. (325758)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 71W, to the hon. Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt). The effect is expected to be the same across the UK.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect on small businesses of the planned rise in the rate of national insurance contributions. (325759)

The national insurance contribution changes have been designed so that the impact is balanced fairly between individuals and employers, and between businesses of different sizes. The increase in national insurance contributions in 2011 represents only a small proportion of total business costs. Therefore, in the climate of stronger economic growth forecast by the Treasury and independent commentators in 2011 and beyond, the Government expect the rise in national insurance contributions to be an affordable contribution to fiscal consolidation.

This rise should also be seen in the context of the significant support available for businesses, including small businesses. Budget 2010 announced further measures, including an increase in the annual investment allowance, an extension of entrepreneurs' relief and a temporary increase in the level of small business rate relief.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's impact assessment on the planned rise in the rate of National Insurance contributions announced in the pre-Budget report in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. (325780)

An impact assessment, if necessary, will be published alongside the Bill which will introduce these changes. Impact assessments are not required where there are no associated administrative costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff at HM Revenue and Customs have visited (a) Barbados, (b) Vanuatu, (c) St. Lucia, (d) Spain, (e) Turkey, (f) Venezuela, (g) New Zealand, (h) Australia, (i) Spain, (j) Cyprus, (k) Jamaica, (l) Malta, (m) Sri Lanka, (n) China, (o) Japan and (p) the United Arab Emirates on official business in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of visits to each destination. (324344)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff may travel overseas where it is necessary to deliver the Department’s objectives, including on fiscal fraud enforcement, enforcement of prohibition and restrictions, and the provision of mutual administrative assistance.

Information disaggregated by country is not available, as publication of this information could compromise and prejudice the Department’s compliance work.

Aggregated information from HMRC’s central travel contract on the number of HMRC staff who travelled to any of the countries in question, and the overall cost of air travel and hotel accommodation is set out in the following table.

Information on other travel costs and expenses incurred by HMRC staff while abroad is only available at disproportionate cost.

On occasion, for operational reasons, HMRC staff may book their travel through means other than the Department’s travel contract. For example, this may be due to the need to travel at short notice, with colleagues from other organisations or to take advantage of special deals for cheaper flight tickets available elsewhere. Information on the number of staff who travelled to the destinations in question having booked travel in this way, and the expenditure incurred in doing so, is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the loans made by Royal Bank of Scotland to Liverpool Football Club are guaranteed under the Government's asset protection guarantee scheme. (325740)

The Royal Bank of Scotland is a participant in the Asset Protection Scheme. The Government will not disclose any information on individual assets covered by the scheme because this information is received via the Financial Services Authority and relates to the business affairs of individual customers and counterparties. Disclosure of such information is restricted by domestic and European law, and there are no provisions which would permit disclosure in this case. Such information may also be considered commercially sensitive.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people paid the £30,000 remittance basis charge in the 2008-09 tax year; how many people claimed to be non-domiciled in the UK in 2008-09 tax returns; and how many such people were resident in the UK. (320748)

[holding answer 10 March 2010]: Based on an initial analysis of the Self Assessment returns received to date, HMRC estimate that around 4,600 individuals paid the remittance basis charge of £30,000 for the 2008-09 tax year. The same data also indicate that around 103,000 individuals claimed non-domicile status for 2008-09, of whom 74,000 were resident in the UK. However, these figures may need to be revised in the light of later tax returns.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2010, Official Report, column 1264W, on Valuation Office Agency (VOA), what data the VOA has (a) requested and (b) received from the National Register of Social Housing; and on what statutory basis the VOA obtained access. (324317)

Only a list of addresses of properties on the National Register of Social Housing was requested and received by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). This information was received on 2 March 2005 and was a snapshot of the addresses of properties on the National Register at that time. The list of addresses was provided voluntarily to assist the VOA in its preparations for the now postponed Council Tax Revaluation in England. No further information has subsequently been requested or received. The VOA does not have, and has never had, access to the full National Register of Social Housing, nor is there a statutory gateway giving such access.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to reduce the incidence of abuse of parents by children under the age of 18 years. (325449)

[holding answer 6 April 2010]: Such cases would be captured within the Government’s definition of domestic violence. The commitment in our strategy: “Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls” to include gender equality and violence against women in the national curriculum will help to educate young people that violence is unacceptable in any relationship.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) European arrest warrants and (b) other arrest warrants were issued in the UK in respect of people suspected of human trafficking offences between 1 April 2009 and 31 January 2010. (325183)

[holding answer 30 March 2010]: It is not possible to disaggregate the number of warrants by offence type.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum under consideration by the UK Border Agency were received before the introduction of his Department’s new asylum model. (325785)

The Agency is unable to accurately report on the outstanding asylum cases being dealt with by the Case Resolution Directorate (CRD). As reported in February 2010 to the Home Affairs Select Committee, 52 per cent. of the concluded cases were data errors and required no further action. Therefore, any such report would be unable to accurately represent CRD cases with outstanding applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken into (i) child victims of crime and (ii) child criminals in each of the last five years. (319777)

For the purposes of this reply we have considered any Home Office research looking specifically or primarily at children (those aged under 18) as perpetrators or victims of crime, where the research was undertaken in 2005 or later. A number of Home Office research projects may include some information on young people as victims or offenders as part of a more general research study: these are not covered in this reply.

(i) Child victims of crime

Since 2005 the Home Office has commissioned or undertaken the following research in respect of child victims:

BMRB (British Market Research Bureau) were commissioned to extend the British Crime Survey (BCS) to include a representative sample of children aged 10 to 15 as part of the BCS 2010-11 fieldwork contract. The BCS was extended from January 2009 with the objective of providing estimates of victimisation among those aged 10 to 15 and better understanding children's experiences of victimisation and key crime related issues in England and Wales.

The Home Office reported in 2009 on the key trends in monitoring Phase 1 of the Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) aimed at reducing the carrying of knives and serious stabbings among teenagers (13 to 19-year-olds) in 10 police force areas. The report is available at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/horr18c.pdf

The Home Office commissioned a process evaluation in March 2009 to look at the implementation of the Child Sex Offender Review public disclosure. The final report was published in March 2010.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr32c.pdf

(ii) Child criminals

Since 2005 the Home Office has commissioned or undertaken the following research in respect of child offenders:

The Home Office was responsible for carrying out the Offending Crime and Justice Survey (OCJS) since 2003. The survey has completed four annual sweeps (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006). The main aim of the survey is to gather information on young people's attitudes towards and experiences of offending in England and Wales (particularly those aged from 10 to 25). The OCJS also collects information about young people's victimisation experiences. Results from the 2005 and 2006 OCJS surveys are available at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1706.pdf

and

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0908.pdf

In November 2009 longitudinal analysis of those who took part in all four years of the OCJS was published and is available at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/horr19c.pdf

The Home Office commissioned the Juvenile Cohort Study in 2007. It was designed to provide evidence about which interventions are associated with reductions in re-offending for young offenders with different characteristics. Since the machinery of government changes (May 2007), this work is now owned and being taken forward by the Ministry of Justice.

The Home Office commissioned an evaluation of the Drug Intervention Programme pilots for children and young people. The report was published in 2007.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr0707.pdf

In 2009 the Home Office commissioned a process evaluation of the implementation of the Youth Crime Action Plan. This study is ongoing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) car thefts, (b) burglaries and (c) violent crimes have been reported in North Shropshire in each year since 1997. (325414)

The requested information is given in the tables.

Figures at Community Safety Partnership (CSP) level, formerly Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), are available from 1999-2000 onwards. CSPs arose from the introduction of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Figures before and after this date are not directly comparable.

Police recorded crime statistics are affected by changes in reporting and recording practice, and can be influenced by police priorities and activity.

All of these factors need to be considered when looking at the trends in recorded crime. The Audit Commission undertook substantial audit work on crime recording in the years following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002 (up until 2006-07) this indicating a generally increasing level of NCRS compliance across forces in this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) murders and (b) sexual offences recorded in (i) each police force area and (ii) England and Wales, in each year since 1998 remain unsolved. (317568)

The available information is given in the form of tables showing undetected crime in each financial year from 1998-99 to 2008-09. Tables 1 and 2 show the numbers for undetected homicides; tables 3 and 4 those for undetected sexual offences. As offences detected in the current year may initially have been recorded in an earlier year it is not possible to determine the numbers of undetected crime in a particular year.

It should be noted that non-sanction detections, which contribute to the overall detection rates, have fallen in recent years. This reflects a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections where no further action is taken. This will have had an impact on the number of crimes which remain undetected.