To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has committed funds to the Luton to Dunstable busway for 2010-11. (259403)

In September 2008 we granted conditional approval to a maximum Government contribution of £78.39 million towards the cost of this scheme.

Full approval will not be given until final prices have been fixed following a tendering exercise by Luton borough council. We understand that the council will be seeking full approval towards the end of 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many sites have been developed following use of his powers under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2006 in each of the last three years. (258733)

[holding answer 25 February 2009]: In the last three years the Highways Agency have established a total of six site compounds using powers under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2006.

Of the six compounds, three were established in 2006, and three in 2007. No site compounds were established using these powers in 2008 by the Highways Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of setting maximum passenger levels for rail services. (258267)

Trains are designed to operate effectively and safely even when they are loaded to maximum capacity. Therefore, Her Majesty's Government have not considered any guidance or instructions about setting maximum passenger levels on railway services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the amount of salt provided by the Highways Agency to Gloucestershire county council during the recent snowfall; and if he will make a statement. (255778)

[holding answer 10 February 2009]: It is for local authorities to determine levels of salt necessary for their winter maintenance programme as set out in the UK Roads Board's (voluntary) code of practice on highways maintenance management, “Well-maintained Highways”. The Highways Agency provided 550 tonnes of road salt to Gloucestershire county council under the mutual aid scheme on 8 February 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what process his Department uses to (a) monitor the level of salt available for road treatment and (b) estimate future road salt requirements. (256619)

[holding answer 12 February 2009]: It is for Local Authorities to determine levels of salt necessary for their winter maintenance programme as set out in the UK Roads Board's (voluntary) code of practice on highways maintenance management, “Well-maintained Highways”. For the trunk road network, the Highways Agency has in place long established procedures which require salt stock capability reporting on a daily basis between 1 October and 30 April. Salt stock requirements are ascertained from a combination of longer term weather forecast information and records of salt usage. Salt capability is expressed as the number of treatment days available based on six treatments per day at 20gm/m2—the level of treatment typical for snow conditions. A weekly summary is produced which gives an overview of salt stocks and provides advance warning when salt stocks are approaching a critical level.

As a result of the recent severe weather, central government, the Local Government Association and the Highways Agency have been working together to provide daily advice to suppliers on the most effective distribution of available salt supplies in order to minimise the risk to public safety. This advice is based on daily demand estimates informed by the Met Office's 24 hour forecast and comparisons between existing salt stocks and available supply.

To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw of 22 January 2009, Official Report, columns 1570-71W, on Members’ expenses, what consideration she gave to consulting the Information Commissioner on the provisions of the draft Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009. (258665)

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) of 22 January 2009, Official Report, columns 1570-71W.

To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 1W, on Members: allowances, what criteria govern the assessment of the merits of a request for an advance on a hon. Member’s communications allowance. (258667)

Subject to the administrative rules set out in my answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 1W, the requester would need to demonstrate that the advance was for a specific purpose which enabled him or her to carry out a parliamentary duty and that it was a proper use of public money in support of his or her role. There must be no suggestion that the use of the allowance would be for party political advantage or electioneering.

To date no advance from the communications allowance for 2009-10 has been requested this year nor were any advances made last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) consolatory payments and (b) other compensatory payments the Child Support Agency made to residents of (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last 10 years; and what the monetary value of such payments was in each such year. (256507)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 46-48W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy for his Department to sign the Information Commissioner's Personal Information Promise. (258968)

The Government welcome the Promise as a commendable initiative to raise awareness of the importance of effective data protection safeguards, particularly for those organisations with no similar commitments already in place.

The Government take data protection very seriously. Following the Cabinet Office Review of Data Handling Procedures in Government, departments have implemented a raft of measures to improve data security.

The Ministry of Justice is considering actively with the ICO how the Promise might add additional value to those measures we have already signed up to. These include the Information Charters, the recommendations of the Data Handling Review and the Thomas/Walport Review and, of course, our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act and other legislation and regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many equalities impact assessments his Department has undertaken in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such assessments. (255061)

During the last 12 months (January 2008 to January 2009) 146 equality impact assessments were undertaken in the Department for Work and Pensions.

The cost of carrying out the equality impact assessment is not possible to estimate as the Department's equality impact assessment process is embedded in the development and implementation of new (or changes to) functions, policies and services that are the responsibility of the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff currently working in his Department are on secondment from EDS; and what roles and responsibilities they have. (259123)

[holding answer 26 February 2009]: Information on how many staff currently working in the Department for Work and Pensions are on secondment from EDS, and their roles and responsibilities, is not available in the format requested.

DWP does not keep central records of individuals seconded into DWP. To extract this information from individual records would be at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by his Department is in 2008-09. (258521)

DWP has a total of 3,467 m² of vacant workspace recorded on e-PIMS. This workspace constitutes partial holdings in buildings retained for operational requirements. This workspace represents only a fraction of 1 per cent. of the total DWP estate as at 1 February 2009.

The estimated cost in empty business rates for this workspace is £138,000 p.a.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information the Health and Safety Executive requires companies seeking a classification and authorisation document for a firework to provide. (258131)

Companies seeking a firework classification are required to submit a proposed classification for approval by the Health and Safety Executive. They are also required to provide sufficient information to enable the HSE to determine that the proposed classification is appropriate. This information includes details of the manufacturer, the firework names and types, part numbers, their chemical composition, information on the packaging and design and details of any relevant tests conducted on them.

There is no requirement for firework authorisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks on provision of licensed storage the Health and Safety Executive performs before granting a classification and authorisation document to importers of fireworks. (258132)

The Health and Safety Executive does not conduct checks on the provision of licensed storage before granting a classification document for fireworks. A classification assigns information on the hazard posed by fireworks during transport; the eventual provision of licensed storage does not affect safety during transport. There is no requirement in any circumstances to grant an authorisation for fireworks.

The requirements for safe storage of fireworks are set out in the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (MSER) and are enforced by either the Health and Safety Executive or local authority, depending on the amount of fireworks to be stored.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which companies issued with a classification and authorisation document for a firework by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in each of the last five years had (a) HSE-licensed and (b) local storage when the document was issued. (258133)

The Health and Safety Executive does not collect this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many fatal accidents at work there were in each of the last 20 years. (257972)

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of accessibility of Jobcentre Plus offices for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. (248498)

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Mel Groves:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has made of the accessibility of Jobcentre Plus offices for disabled people. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

Jobcentre Plus strives to be an exemplar in delivering services to all of our customers, including disabled people. The design of our modern Jobcentre Plus offices incorporated all reasonable and practicable measures regarding access arrangements for disabled people, to ensure that we take into account the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Where full access to all people cannot be provided for genuine reasons (e.g. listed building status, prohibitive cost, or the structure of the existing building), every effort is made to ensure that access is provided for the maximum number of disabled people. For example, where internal alterations could not be made to enable upper floor access, services are made available on the ground floor where possible. We also consider other ways of contacting our customers, such as visiting people at home.

I am satisfied the arrangements in place ensure that our offices continue to comply with our guidelines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1423-4W, on rheumatoid arthritis, how many claimants of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance had each type of (i) medical and (ii) disabling condition recorded in relation to their claims in each of the last five years. (257171)

The information has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 24 February 2009 on disability benefits, what his estimate is of the effect on the number of people claiming (a) disability living allowance (care component), (b) attendance allowance and (c) carer's allowance of the European Court of Justice's decision to reclassify these benefits as sickness benefits; and if he will make a statement. (259584)

The effect on the number of people claiming the disability benefits is very difficult to predict. Our estimates indicate that this will result in an increase in the number of customers as set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of version (a) one and (b) two of the impact assessment for the Welfare Reform Bill 2009. (253617)

Version one of the impact assessment related to, and was published electronically alongside, the Green Paper ‘No-one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility’ and is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/noonewrittenoff/noonewrittenoffer-impactassesment.pdf

Version two of the impact assessment related to, and was published electronically alongside, the White Paper ‘Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future’ and is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/raisingexpectations/impact-assessment.pdf

Version three of the impact assessment relates to the Welfare Reform Bill and is available in the Library.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the initial estimated (a) cost and (b) delivery date was of each ICT project initiated by his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997; what the (i) outturn cost and (ii) completion date was of each such project subsequently completed; which contractors were hired for each project; and how much has been paid to each contractor in respect of each project to date. (251385)

For the last 10 years the Department’s and its predecessors IT services have been provided through a PFI agreement with Fujitsu Services and covers the provision of all desktop services, web infrastructure services, document management and other business applications. In addition, the Department has in place an alternative IT framework agreement with a number of suppliers to enable competition where this is deemed appropriate. However, due to a change in the Department’s accounting system during 2003-04 and the previously devolved nature of the ICT, consistent data on all the information requested cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on bonuses for press officers within his Department in each of the last five years; and how many such bonuses were awarded. (258512)

Such information as is available for press officers is shown in the table.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport makes bonus payments to its staff for two purposes: (a) special bonuses to reward outstanding contributions in particularly demanding tasks or situations, and (b) performance bonuses to reward successful performance over a whole year.

To provide historical information requested for earlier periods than shown would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport at which of its venues English Heritage (a) reduced and (b) did not reduce the retail prices of tickets following the December 2008 reduction in value added tax. (258392)

English Heritage advises that following the reduction in VAT, it reduced admission prices on 1 December on all its properties open to the public. These were reduced to the nearest 10 pence price point so, in some instances, the saving is greater than the VAT change and in others slightly less. The VAT reduction has been passed on for all admission prices with the exception of some child prices where the change would amount to five pence or less.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2009, Official Report, column 54W, on Catz Club, for which projects and for what purpose each of the Lottery grants listed was made to Catz Club. (258587)

The following information comes from the Department's lottery grants database. The database is searchable at

www.lottery.culture.gov.uk

and uses information on lottery grants supplied by the lottery distributors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury of 3 November 2008, Official Report, column 171W, on apprentices, how many of the apprenticeships referred to were state-funded. (258064)

The information provided on 3 November 2008, Official Report, column 171W, was apprenticeship places in England funded by the Government through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) since 2001, and previously through Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). Hence, all apprenticeship starts given in the table were state-funded.

Table 1 as follows gives updated LSC/TEC-funded apprenticeship starts from 1997/98 to 2007/08. Information for 2007/08 was first published in a statistical first release on 18 December 2008:

http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics

The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeship—up from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his Department's average response time to a letter received from (a) an hon. Member and (b) a member of the public has been since it was established. (251442)

The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members’ correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008, Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

With respect to correspondence from members of the public the Department cannot provide the requested information within disproportionate costs limits, but we do aim to respond to all written correspondence within 15 working days. Statistics on the handling of letters from members of public is published in the Department's annual report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what reports he has received on the skills requirements of the workforce at the Lindsey oil refinery; and if he will make a statement; (256190)

The Learning and Skills Council funds provision at the local College, Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education, which offers a range of industry-specific programmes of learning to help learners acquire and improve the skills needed to work in the chemical refining sector. These include chemical process operations, fabrication and welding, Health and Safety Passport scheme and general engineering and plant maintenance. We are not aware that courses are specifically arranged for learners from other EU member states.

The Government have recently announced a review of productivity and skills in the engineering construction sector. This will make recommendations on ways to improve skills and productivity in the UK engineering construction industry and identify specific factors influencing success for UK-based companies bidding for UK and foreign engineering construction contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Wright Inquiry has spent on security. (257112)

I am advised by the Billy Wright Inquiry that the inquiry has spent £577,000 on security to the end of January 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Wright Inquiry has spent on (a) transport, (b) accommodation, (c) advertising and (d) virtual reality technology. (257113)

I am advised by the Billy Wright Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:

(a) £693,000 on transport;

(b) £1.70 million on accommodation;

(c) Nothing on advertising; and

(d) Nothing on virtual reality technology.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Saville Inquiry has spent on (a) advertising, (b) accommodation, (c) transport and (d) virtual reality technology. (257118)

I am advised by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:

(a) Approximately £19,000 on advertising;

(b) Approximately £26 million on accommodation (including hire of venues for inquiry hearings plus office and private accommodation);

(c) Approximately £5 million on transport; and

(d) Approximately £106,000 on virtual reality technology.

This covers only expenditure by the inquiry and not expenditure by the Ministry of Defence associated with the inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Saville Inquiry has spent on security. (257119)

I am advised by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry that the Inquiry has spent approximately £3.4 million on security to the end of January 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of his Department's contracts with management consultants was in each of the last five years. (251367)

The cost of contracts with management consultants is not held centrally. Information in relation to spending on the different types of consultancies has been recorded since 2005-06.

In each of the last three years my Department has spent the following amounts on management consultants:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2009, Official Report, columns 988-91W, on departmental consultants, how many consultants from each of the companies listed his Department has employed in the last 12 months. (257268)

The Northern Ireland Office does not record the number of individual consultants used by consultancy firms employed by my Department as contracts are awarded directly to the company.

With reference to the answer given on 18 December 2008, Official Report, columns 988-91W, my Department has employed 32 of the companies listed in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) police officers and (b) other staff paid from the policing budget for Northern Ireland undertook duties at the public event hosted by the Northern Ireland Policing Board in Londonderry on 18 February 2009. (259725)

That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Hamill Inquiry has spent on (a) advertising, (b) transport, (c) accommodation and (d) virtual reality technology. (257126)

I am advised by the Robert Hamill Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:

(a) Nothing on advertising;

(b) £230,000 on transport;

(c) £3.50 million on accommodation; and

(d) £50,000 on virtual reality technology.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Nelson Inquiry has spent on (a) advertising, (b) security, (c) accommodation, (d) transport and (e) virtual reality technology. (257105)

I am advised by the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:

(a) Nothing on advertising;

(b) £957,000 on security,

(c) £4.48 million on accommodation;

(d) £446,000 on transport; and

(e) Nothing on virtual reality technology.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much the CompeteFor website has cost to (a) develop and (b) run in each year since its inception; and how much of the funding was provided by (i) the Government, (ii) the London Development Agency and (iii) regional development agencies. (251305)

The information requested is as follows:

The costs of CompeteFor are as follows:

(a) CompeteFor cost £3.633million to develop, which included concept development, specification, implementation and testing, and establishing the support structure.

(b) Running costs are as follows:

Year 1 (December 2007 to March 2008) £220,000

Year 2 (April 2008 to March 2009) projected at £1.241 million

Funding arrangements are as follows

(i) No direct funding was provided by Central Government.

(ii) The London Development Agency and the eight other regional development agencies have each provided £379,000 in set up and running costs in Year 1 and will provide approximately £111,000 each in running costs by the end of this financial year.

The remaining costs are met by contributions provided by the devolved administrations.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much has been spent on the Government Olympic Executive in each of the last three years. (258337)

The expenditure of the Government Olympic Executive (GOE), part of the DCMS, for the last two complete financial years is as follows:

The estimated expenditure for GOE in 2008-09 is £8.1 million.

This planned increase in costs (a) reflects the wider role the GOE has taken on during this period—GOE is now the only organisation overseeing the entire Olympic project, integrating the work of multiple delivery bodies, and ensuring the games is delivered within the £9.3 billion public sector funding provision; (b) is a planned response to the expected growth in work to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees, as 2012 approaches; and (c) is consistent with GOE's staffing and resource plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11, which was agreed by Treasury early in 2008.

GOE's budget covers funding for both (a) GOE staff costs and (b) 2012-related programmes aimed at maximising the benefits of the games for the whole of the UK. In 2008-09, for example, this has included a contribution towards the costs of regional Cultural Olympiad programmers, the costs of events to engage with the public and to raise awareness of the opportunities the games can provide for all the nations and regions of the UK, the costs of establishing a 2012 evaluation framework Cabinet Office and the costs of publishing the 2012 Legacy Action Plan and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics (1) how many staff worked in the Government Olympic Executive in each of the last three years; (258334)

[holding answer 25 February 2009]: Since its inception in June 2007 my private office has consisted of five officials and a special adviser, except for when it has carried vacancies.

In addition, staff working in the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) report to me through the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The number of staff (full-time equivalents (FTEs)) working in the GOE has risen over the last three years as follows.

This planned increase in staffing (a) reflects the wider role the GOE has taken on during this period - GOE is now the only organisation overseeing the entire Olympic project, integrating the work of multiple delivery bodies, and ensuring the games is delivered within the £9.3 billion public sector funding provision; (b) is a planned response to the expected growth in work to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees, as 2012 approaches; and (c) is consistent with GOE's staffing and resource plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11, which was agreed by the Treasury early in 2008.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics by what process the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games plans to design the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement. (258906)

[holding answer 26 February 2009]: The opening and closing ceremonies of both the Olympic games and the Paralympic games in 2012 will be significant moments for the UK, representing an opportunity to showcase the excellent cultural talent we have.

The decision making process to design and deliver these ceremonies is the responsibility of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The first stage of this process is to host key stakeholder forums, to scope the initial ambition for these ceremonies. These events are taking place in the different nations and regions of the UK in the coming weeks.

Following these consultations, LOCOG will work to put in place the brief and plans necessary to deliver the ceremonies, and appoint the creative team to run the ceremonies.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 17 February 2009, Official Report, column 2273W, on Olympic games 2012: construction, whether the Olympics Delivery Authority predicted the cost implications for the velopark budget of moving the velodrome. (259001)

[holding answer 26 February 2009]: The Velodrome was moved slightly to the west to help with the design and layout of the wider cycling facilities to be built in legacy. The Olympic Delivery Authority was aware of the generally poor ground conditions. However, the VeloPark budget could only be adjusted when the full extent of these conditions was known.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether she has made an assessment of UK public opinion on London 2012's contribution to the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony; and if she will make a statement. (258904)

[holding answer 26 February 2009]: No formal assessment has been made of public opinion in the UK on London's Handover Ceremony in Beijing.

Since the August Handover ceremony, my Department's research has shown that interest in the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games has risen by six percentage points.

The Museums Libraries and Archives Council has carried out some assessment as part of their “People's Record” project. 5,000 people gave their views on the Handover celebrations and the Cultural Olympiad; the results will be published in spring.

The London Organising Committee of the Olypmic games will build on the experience gained and lessons learnt during this ceremony to deliver the ceremonies in 2012.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in respect of which consultations conducted by his Department Capgemini has undertaken work. (259312)

Full public consultations undertaken by the Department for Children, Schools and Families are conducted by the Department's Communications Directorate. Capgemini has not undertaken any work on these consultations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's 2002 long-term partnering agreement with Capgemini. (259314)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families will place a copy of the business services framework agreement between the Department and Capgemini dated 6 November 2001 in the Libraries following agreement with Capgemini on what potentially sensitive commercial information may or may not be released.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) within how long after their completion local authorities are expected to supply his Department with copies of serious case reviews; (248680)

Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are asked to provide an anonymised copy of each full serious case review to the Department for Children, Schools and Families as soon as possible after the publication of the executive summary. This is to inform biennial overview reports which analyse the key findings from serious case reviews taken as a whole and identify the implications for policy and practice. When an individual serious case review is complete the report is then evaluated by Ofsted. DCSF children and learners teams in the Regional Government Offices have a support and challenge role, in particular with respect to the implementation by LSCBs and local agencies of recommendations in individual serious case review reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many serious case reviews initiated in 2008 were not published within four months of their being requested by the local safeguarding board. (252944)

These data are not compiled centrally. The first annual Ofsted report on Serious Case Reviews, ‘Learning Lessons, Taking Action', published on 1 December 2008, gave information on 50 serious case reviews evaluated by Ofsted between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008. It noted that of the 50 reviews evaluated, five were completed within four months, although the report also observed that ‘a significant number of reviews were delayed because they were awaiting the outcome of coroners' courts and/or criminal proceedings'. Guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 is clear, that any delays in completing serious case reviews should not prevent early lessons learnt from being implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his Department or its predecessors were on sick leave for (a) over 30 days, (b) over 50 days and (c) over 100 days in each of the last five years. (256319)

The Department was set up as part of the Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. All sickness absence data are available on the Department's website:

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/.

Information for individual members of staff who had sick leave for the periods specified is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportion cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years. (256634)

The Department was set up as part of the Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. The figures for the Department apply from 31 December 2007 onwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 10W, on education maintenance allowance (EMA), whether the regular updates on the EMA delivery issues provided to Ministers by the Learning and Skills Council are provided in written form. (257823)

The processing statistics supplied by the contractor via the Learning and Skills Council to officials in the Department for Children School and Families were provided in written form. These statistics were provided daily during the working week, between September 2008 to January 2009. Officials are currently collating these records and we will make them available before 12 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many (a) people and (b) schools have registered with the Sing Up website; (258323)

People register on the Sing Up website only if they want to receive the magazine that is sent out once a term. Other people can visit the site without registering. The data for February show that there have so far been 26,149 registrations on the website, including from 13,489 individual schools.

Over 100,000 children have been directly involved in Sing Up activity, such as workshops in the Southbank Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Over 20,000 people have participated in Sing Up training and CPD activity and the website attracts 20,000 visitors each week. There is no measure of how many children are subsequently reached by those who have received training or visited the website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many and what proportion of (a) all children identified with speech, language and communication difficulties, (b) children identified with speech, language and communications difficulties from the 10 per cent. most deprived areas and (c) children identified with speech, language and communication difficulties from the five per cent. most deprived areas achieved the national standard in all Key Stage 1 assessments in each year since 1997; (257607)

The Department only collects data by type of special educational need for children at School Action Plus or with statements. School Action Plus, under the SEN Code of Practice, is where a school receives some external help to meet a child’s SEN. A SEN statement is drawn up by a local authority, following an assessment, where it is necessary to determine the special educational provision which a child’s learning difficulties call for.

The available 2008 information is attached to the “Statistical First Release: Attainment by Pupil Characteristics, in England 2007/08”, which can be found at:

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000822/index.shtml

Analysis similar to that requested for pupils with speech, language and communication difficulty attaining the expected level in Key Stage 1 was carried out using 2006 data and the relevant information is given as follows.

This information is not available for years before 2005 when type of SEN information for pupils was not collected.

The analysis only relates to the primary SEN type of pupils. Some of these children may also have a secondary SEN type which has not been taken into consideration in the analysis.

The Department intends to publish similar information for pupils with special educational needs based on 2008 data later this year.

Further information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of the effect of secondary schools allowing pupils to leave school premises at lunchtime on the ability of schools to deliver higher nutritional standards in school meals. (257819)

Food based standards for school lunches have been in place since September 2006. Schools must also meet the Government's nutrient based standards for school lunches, which were introduced for primary school lunches in September 2008 and will be introduced in secondary and special schools in September 2009. Clearly, secondary school pupils who leave the school premises at lunchtime and do not eat a school lunch will not benefit from the healthier food on offer at the school. It is for head teachers to decide whether to adopt a stay on site policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school premises have a dining hall. (256009)

The Department does not hold up-to-date information on the numbers and proportions of primary and secondary schools that have a dining hall. It is thought that:

(a) most primary schools have halls where dining takes place. For some schools this is a dedicated dining hall, for many it is a multi-purpose hall used for assembly, PE and dining;

(b) most, if not all, secondary schools have dining halls.

Central Government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under £700 million in 1996-97 to £6.7 billion in 2008-09 and will rise further to £8.0 billion by 2010-11. Progress is being made year-by-year in improving the quality of the school building stock. The bulk of schools capital is now allocated by formula to local authorities and schools. This enables them to fund priority projects which could include providing a dining hall at a school that does not have one.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons agreements of contracts between Ofsted and inspection contractors have not been reached in accordance with the originally planned timetable. (259625)

This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.

Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 26 February 2009:

Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for a response.

The original timetable for the awarding of new inspection contracts made provision for decisions being made in January 2009. In October 2008, a decision was taken to delay this by one month to allow the process to take full account of organisational changes within Ofsted.

On 25 February 2009, bidders were informed about the outcomes and a press release was placed on the Ofsted website. The contract award is subject to an Alcatel (standstill) period under European legislation, which will end on 9 March 2009. Publicity during the Alcatel period is being kept deliberately ‘low key’, restricted to information that bidders are obliged to provide under the London Stock Exchange Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTR).

A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which maintained special schools opened in 2008; and what the cost of establishing each was. (256346)

The Department’s records, based on information supplied by local authorities, indicate that the following maintained special schools opened in 2008. The Department does not have a record of the cost of establishing these schools; this will be held locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained special schools there were in each local authority in each year since 1997, broken down by special educational needs priority 1. (256443)

We cannot provide the information requested because it would require the manipulation of large volumes of data which could be undertaken only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1730-2W, on special educational needs, how many pupils were given (a) a fixed period and (b) a permanent exclusion. (258051)

The requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the Continued Professional Development proposed for teachers operating in challenging circumstances, as referred to in his Department’s publication “New Opportunities, Fair Chances for the Future”, will include training on the effects of poverty on children’s experiences of school. (258089)

The teachers’ Professional Standards already require them to identify and support children and young people whose progress, development or well-being is affected by changes or difficulties in their personal circumstances, and when to refer them to colleagues for specialist support.

In connection with the extra support announced in the New Opportunities White Paper, I have asked the Training and Development Agency for Schools to assemble a package of guidance and advice for both new and experienced teachers and other school staff working in challenging circumstances. This will be available from September and will support teachers in achieving and maintaining the Professional Standards and other school staff in supporting children and young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on research in preparing for the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice. (252771)

[holding answer 29 January 2009]: A number of technical specialists from DEFRA and its agencies contributed to the content of the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice. The publication updates the previously published codes of practice for water, soil and air which have been periodically updated for the past 20 years. Therefore, the cost of research in preparing the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice is not readily available in DEFRA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of recreational sea angling to the North Devon economy; (258420)

A DEFRA-funded study carried out by Drew Associates into the economic impact of the recreational sea angling sector in England and Wales was published in 2004. This study estimated that 18,889 people were employed in the sector and that the total expenditure of anglers was £538 million per year. Although we do not have detailed data on angling activity in North Devon, the same report considered the principal locations for angling in that area and identified that there were 15 charter angling vessels in the North Devon and Bristol Channel area.

In England there are around 400 charter angling vessels that would require an authorisation under Article 47 of the draft EU proposal, plus an as yet unquantified number of privately owned vessels. As part of the process of negotiating this proposal, we shall be seeking clarification from the Commission on a number of issues relating to Article 47. Until we have that clarification it is difficult to assess accurately its potential impact on recreational sea angling. We shall be seeking stakeholders’ views on these points and considering them in more detail in the impact assessment that my officials are drawing up and which we shall publish as part of the formal consultation procedure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on research into a vaccine for (a) BVT1, (b) BVT8, (c) BVT6 and (d) all other strains of bluetongue disease in each of the last six years. (257428)

The research, development and production of bluetongue vaccine is a commercial proposition and there are a number of private companies involved in the development, production and sale of vaccine. Although Government do not actively fund work specifically on development of vaccines, significant funding on bluetongue research in recent years has provided a fundamental science base that contributes to and underpins the use of vaccines in disease control. This research, which includes work to understand the molecular basis of infection and protection from bluetongue, is published and made available to the wider scientific community.

It is, therefore, not possible to state an exact figure that has contributed directly to vaccine development, but the overall Bluetongue Virus (BTV) research spend, of which some has been spent on molecular research over the last six years, has been:

DEFRA continues to engage with experts and manufacturers on the issue of vaccine development and authorisation for other serotypes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision his Department has made in its budget for potential civil liabilities stemming from legal proceedings. (241190)

The provision made by the Department in its budget for potential civil liabilities stemming from legal proceedings is £5,958,667.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 23 January 2008, Official Report, column 2019W, on departmental marketing, how the (a) long-sleeved T-shirts, (b) travel wallets, (c) pens and (d) travel toothbrush sets were branded; what (i) slogan and (ii) logo was used on each; and what the cost of each such type of promotional material was to his Department. (249360)

The Departmental Communications Directorate has procured the following DEFRA branded products:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent in bonuses to staff of each grade in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008. (258230)

Performance related pay schemes encourage high attainment, help drive performance in departments and agencies and support better public service delivery. DEFRA’s uses non-consolidated payments to reward high performance during the year and these are based on how well an individual has met or exceeded set objectives, relative to their peers.

Non-consolidated performance payments are one-off payments and do not count towards pension. They are allocated from a ‘pot' expressed as a percentage of the salary budget each year. Non-consolidated performance payments paid from the 2007 pay budget relate to performance in the, 2006-07 appraisal year and those paid from 2008 pay budget relate to performance in the 2007-08 appraisal year.

For the senior civil service (SCS) the size of the pot available is agreed centrally each year following recommendations from the senior salaries review body. In recent years, this pot has increased as greater emphasis is placed on non-consolidated performance pay with proportionately smaller increases to consolidated base pay.

The size of the pot for non-SCS is determined individually by Departments and Agencies through the pay remit process and in negotiations with the Trades Unions. DEFRA’s pay remit level approved over the past two years has been below the average of those approved across Whitehall departments.

The following tables show the total amount of non-consolidated performance payments awarded to staff in each grade in 2007 and 2008. For DEFRA, the data cover staff in core-DEFRA (including staff who transferred to DECC in October 2008) and those agencies covered by DEFRA terms and conditions (Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine and Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service and until 1 April 2008 Pesticides Safety Directorate).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by (a) the Consumer Council for Water and (b) the Environment Agency is in 2008-09. (258527)

The Consumer Council for Water has no vacant or unoccupied properties recorded on the e-PIMS database.

The Environment Agency has three properties recorded as vacant on the e-PIMS database. The estimated cost of vacant business rates on these properties is £96,000. £92,000 is attributable to one building which has now been sub-let in part. The Environment Agency is actively pursuing disposal of the remainder.

The Environment Agency has a further five properties that have been vacant in 2008-09, and the estimated cost of business rates on these properties is £24,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's funding framework is for storage of flood water as part of a flood alleviation scheme; from which budget such schemes will be funded; and to which bodies applications for such funding should be made. (257030)

Flood storage is one of a number of options available to operating authorities to manage flood risk. Options are appraised in line with Government guidance to ensure schemes are sustainable and cost beneficial. The Environment Agency approves funding for appropriate schemes from the funds allocated under the comprehensive spending review up to delegated Treasury limits. Proposals for schemes to address flood risk should be discussed initially with the Environment Agency for inclusion on the “medium term plan” for flood risk management schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Environment Agency has given to the Highways Authority on building on the flood risk area in relation to the Roscommon Way Extension, Canvey Island; and if he will make a statement. (258344)

The Environment Agency has met with the Highways Authority consultants, Mouchel Parkman, regarding the proposed extension to Roscommon Way. The Environment Agency informed Mouchel Parkman that the impact of the extension must be fully considered and adequate mitigation measures provided so there is no increased flood risk to the surrounding area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on flood prevention measures in Essex in the last 12 months. (258299)

During the financial year 2008-09, the Anglian eastern area of the Environment Agency spent over £17 million on flood protection measures in the Essex catchment. £4.67 million has been spent on the maintenance of rivers and tidal defences, £2.62 million on major refurbishment of existing flood defences and £10.4 million on new or improved flood defences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of secondary flooding on the time taken for people to be able to return to their homes in Hull. (257032)

There have been 910 incidences of ‘secondary flooding’ in Hull since January 2008, although the relationship between the flooding in summer 2007 and subsequent water ingress remains to be explored further. The city council is working with the Environment Agency and the university of Hull to understand the factors which contribute to the continuing incidences of water ingress into homes. As of 29 January 2009, of the 472 households displaced from their homes in Hull by flooding, 360 were displaced as a result of water ingress from January 2008 or subsequently.

The Government are concerned about all households which are still displaced from their homes following the 2007 summer flooding. Approximately 100 households returned each week between the end of June and the middle of November and on that basis we estimate that more than 19 out of every 20 households originally displaced are back home. That compares well to the Carlisle floods in 2005 when one in 10 were still out of their homes after 18 months.

But we recognise that is no consolation to those still displaced and the Minister for Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) is continuing to work with local authorities and the insurance industry to ensure that the momentum in getting people home is maintained.

Those families still living wholly or partially in caravans are a particular concern and the Minister for Local Government has linked up with council leaders in the most affected authorities, which include Hull, to offer additional support to help to those households over the winter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department classifies building foam containing ozone depleting substance blowing agents as hazardous. (257525)

Most insulation foam containing ozone-depleting substances are currently contained within buildings. At this point, annual emissions are known to be at their lowest and therefore present little risk to the ozone layer.

On becoming waste, insulation foam containing 0.1 per cent. or more of ozone-depleting substances is classified as hazardous waste. Further information on the classification of hazardous waste is available in the Environment Agency's technical guidance WM2, ‘Hazardous waste: Interpreting the definition and classification of hazardous waste, 2nd edition v2.2, 2005 (updated 2008)’.

DEFRA is working with building industry stakeholders to assess the current infrastructure available for dealing with the recovery or destruction of ozone-depleting substances in building foams and the technical and economic issues that arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009, Official Report, columns 82-84WS, on the Marine Management Organisation’s headquarters, what assessment he has made of the suitability of Plymouth as a site for the Marine Management Organisation’s headquarters. (258571)

[holding answer 25 February 2009]: In a transparent and fair process which involved stakeholders in drawing up a set of business and quality of life criteria and the consultancy firm KPMG carrying out an independent assessment against these criteria, Plymouth was selected as one of the six shortlisted locations for the Marine Management Organisation’s headquarters. The criteria used to arrive at the shortlist, and subsequently tested through site visits and presentations from the locations, were:

Business needs for the MMO HQ such as availability of skilled work force and good transport links.

Cost and value for money.

Government policies on location of public sector bodies.

Quality of Life factors including cost of living, education, employment, healthcare.

As well as carrying out site visits to further test locations against these criteria, all shortlisted locations were given the opportunity to present their case to be the home of the MMO HQ and I met with MPs from all the shortlisted locations. Plymouth presented a strong case and, like all of the shortlisted locations, would have been a good home for the MMO HQ, allowing the MMO to meet its business needs and benefit from local marine expertise, organisational networks and academic links.

However, Tyneside demonstrated the strongest and most comprehensive case to be the home of the organisation and provides a location from which the organisation can best achieve its aims. Among other factors, Tyneside has a broad range and good balance of marine interests with a working port, all of which fit well with the role of the MMO. Tyneside also provides strong transport links in terms of access to key stakeholders in London, Brussels and Scotland. There was a compelling demonstration of support from a wide range of stakeholders across the North East region, a region which has benefited little to date from the Lyons Review in respect of the relocation of public sector employment. The extensive evidence of partnership working in the area provided confidence that Tyneside had actively considered the bespoke requirements of the MMO with regard to its role under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Minister for Farming and the Environment will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 9 December 2008, about tigers being farmed for use in Chinese medicine. (259311)

I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 13 January and a copy of this was sent by officials on 25 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps he plans to take in response to the decision by Wightlink to initiate its new ferry service between Lymington and Yarmouth prior to completion of the appropriate assessment; and if he will make a statement; (259337)

The introduction of new “W” class ferries by Wightlink on the Lymington to Yarmouth route is now the subject of legal proceedings against the Department and others. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to answer questions on the subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to allow local authorities to retain all their receipts from council tenants' rent. (258973)

The current system of local authority housing finance is based on a system of surplus authorities (where assumed income exceeds assumed costs) making payment to central Government and deficit authorities (where assumed income is less than assumed costs) receiving subsidy. In the current year approximately £550 million will be paid to deficit authorities in aggregate. So a change to enable all local authorities in surplus to keep their receipts would entail a considerable increase in public expenditure.

However, CLG and HM Treasury are holding a Review of Council Housing Finance and Rents Policy. Our aim is to have a long term solution to financing council housing that is sustainable and fair to both tenant and taxpayer. The issue of councils retaining all rental receipts is closely bound up with a number of other key policy decisions, including what rents should pay for and how these receipts would be used in a local area. It would be premature to reach conclusions specifically on this matter until the Review reports to Ministers later this year, when it will be considered as part of the overall structure for a new or improved system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent meetings she has had on the Working Time Directive in respect of retained firefighters from (a) the Fire Brigades Union, (b) the Retained Firefighters Union and (c) other stakeholders; what representations she has received in each case; and if she will make a statement. (259219)

There have been no recent meetings at ministerial level with (a) the Fire Brigades' Union, (b) the Retained Firefighters' Union or (c) other stakeholders at which the working time directive in respect of firefighters working a retained duty system has been discussed. Written representations about the potential impact on firefighters working a retained duty system of losing the opt-out have been received from the Retained Firefighters' Union, MPs and MSPs.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 January 2009, Official Report, column 1076W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 29 April 2008, Official Report, column 314W, on local authorities: carbon emissions, if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter from January 2007; and whether local authorities may carbon offset using projects based in their local authority area. (252391)

I have been asked to reply, and can confirm that the letter in question will be placed in the Libraries of the House. On carbon offsetting, it is very difficult to ensure that UK-based carbon offset projects are truly additional—that is, that they result in real emission reductions that would not have happened anyway in the absence of carbon finance. For this reason the government's voluntary quality assurance scheme for carbon offsetting which was launched on 26 February 2009 will not cover projects based in the UK. Support for local emission reduction projects can be beneficial, but caution should be exercised in claiming those emission reductions as offsets to balance a carbon footprint.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will hold discussions with Essex County Council on its proposals to outsource services and delivery support functions. (259623)

The Department has no plans to discuss with Essex county council any procurement exercise that may be proposed on service delivery. Subject to their legal duties, including the duty of best value and public procurement law, local authorities are responsible for taking their own procurement decisions. In doing so, they will have regard to available guidance, including that on work force matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to consult on amendments to use classes orders in relation to houses in multiple occupation. (257445)

We are committed to consulting on possible changes to the use class order in relation to houses in multiple occupation.

We are considering the most appropriate mechanism for this consultation, and plan to consult in the spring.