To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of carbon dioxide emissions from his Department's estate (a) in total and (b) per full-time equivalent member of staff in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. (276133)

I can confirm the actual carbon emissions for the DEFRA office estate and carbon emissions per full-time equivalent member of DEFRA staff, for years 2006-07 and 2007-08 are presented in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of water consumption on his Department's estate (a) in total and (b) per full-time equivalent member of staff in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07. (276132)

I can confirm that the actual water consumption on the DEFRA office estate and water consumption per full-time equivalent member of DEFRA staff for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are presented in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the energy use per full-time equivalent member of staff in his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. (276134)

Energy Efficiency data for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for years 2006-07 and 2007-08 are presented in the following table. The increase in energy consumption per full-time equivalent member of staff is a result of improvements to DEFRA's space utilisation and a reduction in staff numbers. DEFRA staff now occupy a smaller footprint on the office estate which has resulted in an increase in energy useCO₂ emissions per FTE.

DEFRA has a programme in place to deliver operational carbon dioxide savings across its estate, with initiatives specifically targeted at improving energy efficiency:

DEFRA has installed 33 voltage regulation units on its estate. This technology significantly reduces energy consumption of a whole building by regulating the voltage level entering the building. Average electricity consumption has reduced by 12 per cent. per site as a result of installing this technology.

Other energy efficiency projects which have been implemented include upgrades to more efficient lighting, improvements to motor energy controls and gas boiler sequencing controls, all of which have delivered significant savings.

Thermal imaging surveys have been undertaken at a number of DEFRA properties. The results of the surveys will inform a programme of works to improve the thermal efficiency of buildings.

DEFRA is currently upgrading its electricity, gas and water meters to ‘Smart meters’ which will provide accurate and up to the minute consumption data. These data will be used to monitor and identify excessive consumption, providing a focus for strategic consumption reduction. The Carbon Trust estimate that savings of between 5 and 10 per cent. can be achieved through the identification of waste through Smart metering.

To further improve operational efficiency, DEFRA has recently revised its requirements for facilities management (FM) provision to incorporate a more sustainable approach to the FM service. The recent Sustainable Workplace Management contract awarded to Interserve, will further enhance DEFRA's capability to further embed sustainability in its operations.

DEFRA has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme and the entire DEFRA estate, including laboratories, was awarded Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme (EEAS) certification in June 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the (a) volume and (b) percentage of waste from his Department which was recycled in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. (276273)

I can confirm that the actual volume and percentage of waste recycled or recovered by DEFRA, during years 2006-07 and 2007-08 are presented in the table.

It should be noted that DEFRA incinerates approximately 30 per cent. of its waste, from which significant quantity of heat and energy is recovered. Current Sustainable Development Commission reporting does not acknowledge energy recovery from waste incineration as recycling or waste recovery under current Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) guidelines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the percentage of electricity derived from renewable sources used in his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. (276135)

I can confirm that the actual percentage of electricity derived from renewable sources, by DEFRA, during years 2006-07 and 2007-08 is presented in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of waste from his Department (a) in total and (b) per full-time equivalent member of staff in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. (276269)

I can confirm that the actual waste arisings for DEFRA and waste arisings per full-time equivalent member of DEFRA staff, for years 2006-07 and 2007-08 are presented in the following table.

It should be noted that the waste figure also includes waste generated in DEFRA's laboratories as well as its offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what date in June 2009 he expects his next six-monthly progress report on implementing the recommendations made in the Pitt report on flooding to have been published. (276240)

As we previously committed, I expect the Government's next progress report on the implementation of the Pitt recommendations to be published in June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made in implementing Recommendation 90 of the Pitt Report on flooding; and what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on this matter. (276242)

The Government's Response to Sir Michael Pitt's review set out what had been implemented before December 2008 and the further steps required to implement its recommendations in the future. This response committed the Government to report further on implementation every six months, beginning in June 2009. The Government are on target to do this in June.

In April we followed up on a letter we issued last December to all local authorities asking chief executives about progress they have made on the Pitt recommendations, whether they have experienced any blockages or difficulties, and what further the Government can do to assist them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what provision he has made to ensure business continuity during the transition period from the Marine and Fisheries Agency to the Marine Management Organisation; (275640)

Robust action is being taken by the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) to ensure business continuity during the period of relocation of its headquarters to Tyneside and in preparing for the establishment of a new Marine Management Organisation. This includes plans for the timely recruitment of new staff to replace existing staff who will not be relocating. This recruitment will take into account the need for some periods of parallel running between the Tyneside and London offices for a number of teams to allow for training and knowledge transfer.

Recognising the need to retain key staff during the transition period in order to ensure the necessary knowledge transfer, the MFA has instigated a ‘Transition Allowance’. This will be payable to those MFA HQ staff identified as being in key roles and/or with specialist knowledge/skills who have opted not to relocate with their posts and who are prepared to delay their redeployment to another civil service post. It recognises the need to retain key people within the agency’s HQ for an extended period to ensure business continuity and help train new staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if he will ensure that all staff in the new Marine Management Organisation will be eligible to apply for the same posts staff in the Marine and Fisheries Agency are eligible to apply for, with particular reference to posts advertised only within his Department; (275642)

There is an established scheme by which non-departmental public bodies, such as the new Marine Management Organisation (MMO), can be accredited to have access to civil service vacancies. My officials are applying for such accreditation on behalf of the MMO to become effective when the organisation is vested. Initial enquiries reveal that there is no reason why this should not be granted. This will enable MMO staff to apply, on merit, for civil service posts via the civil service ‘Jobs Online’ facility.

MMO staff will be able to apply for DEFRA vacancies that are advertised on the ‘Jobs Online’ site in the same way that MFA staff currently can. Similarly, staff in the MMO will be able to apply for posts in the Department of Energy and Climate Change advertised on ‘Jobs Online’ in the usual way.

The Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSOP) which governs the transfer of civil servants between Departments, suggests that departments should provide an opportunity for staff to return to their original department if they wish. The MFA is currently exploring with DEFRA how this opportunity might be provided to MMO staff in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when the first posts in the Marine and Fisheries Agency earmarked for transfer to the Marine Management Organisation will relocate from London to Tyneside; and when the remaining posts will relocate; (275643)

I hope to be able to announce the new headquarters building shortly.

The Marine and Fisheries Agency is developing a relocation and recruitment plan for the Tyneside headquarters office. Any relocation of existing staff from London to the new HQ site, or transfer of posts to be filled by newly recruited staff in Tyneside, will be progressed in line with this plan. Current thinking is that relocation and recruitment would take place between July and November 2009. This is a broad timeline and some individual relocations may need to happen either earlier or later in order to reflect, where appropriate, personal circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what provision has been made for (a) financial and (b) other assistance for staff in the coastal offices of the Marine and Fisheries Agency who are considering applying for vacancies in the new Tyneside headquarters of the Marine Management Organisation; (275644)

Financial assistance is being offered to headquarters staff in the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) to relocate with their existing posts from London to Tyneside. This assistance is in line with the relocation arrangements operated in my Department which are derived from, and consistent with, the financial assistance outlined centrally by the Cabinet Office for civil service relocations.

The operational need to provide assistance, financial or otherwise, to relocations sought by members of staff from the MFA coastal offices, will be considered as part of the detailed relocation and recruitment plans being developed by the Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that the future management of the Marine Management Organisation meets commitments given to staff in the Marine and Fisheries Agency, with particular reference to (a) trade union recognition, (b) training and development opportunities and eligibility to apply for posts in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. (275645)

Staff would transfer to the MMO with the contractual terms and conditions applying at the time of transfer under either Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) or the equivalent Cabinet Office protocol for transfers of civil servants between departments.

Rights to trade union representation will remain exactly as they are now and although the issues around recognition and training and development would be matters for the new MMO management board to take forward, there are no intentions to change the existing arrangements. On eligibility to apply for posts in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his previous question numbered 275642.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate he has made of the minimum time required for the shadow Marine Management Organisation body to exist before vestment of the Marine Management Organisation in order to ensure an effective transition from executive agency to non-departmental public body status; (275647)

The chair, board and chief executive officer of the Marine Management Organisation will be formally appointed following commencement of Clause 1 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act.

In the meantime, I am seeking to appoint a chair and CEO “designate” contingent on the Bill receiving Royal Assent, to assist with the preparations for creating the Marine Management Organisation. There are existing principles which govern the setting up of shadow bodies and the appointments required, covered in Chapter 2 of HM Treasury's 'Managing Public Money' which can be found at:

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

My Department will operate in accordance with these principles.

I recognise the importance of making these appointments in good time to assist with the creation of the Marine Management Organisation, in line with the principles outlined above. Plans are in place to ensure the effective transition from an executive agency to non-departmental public body status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days his officials and consultants in the (a) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) Marine and Fisheries Agency spent in (i) Tyneside and (ii) each other candidate location before the announcement to relocate the headquarters of the Marine Management Organisation from London. (275649)

Following extensive research undertaken on each of the shortlisted locations, officials from DEFRA and the Marine and Fisheries Agency, accompanied by KPMG consultants, spent a day in each location, including Tyneside. The visits provided further insights into the business and quality of life indicators used to derive the short-list. Information on the findings from the visits is set out in the KPMG report, copies of which are in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the (a) grade and (b) salary is of each post in (i) his Department and (ii) the Marine and Fisheries Agency working to establish the Marine Management Organisation and its headquarters in Tyneside; and when these posts were created; (275686)

The work to prepare for the establishment of a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and to relocate the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) Headquarters are two separate projects. The relocation of the MFA Headquarters would be taking place regardless of any decisions to create a new MMO. Both projects are being delivered by an Implementation Team based in the MFA. The breakdown of posts currently in the implementation team provided below reflects resourcing of both activities and includes the Programme Management Office.

Support for creation of the MMO, including preparations for cross-Government sponsorship arrangements, is also being provided by a further Grade 7 post based in DEFRA. Some limited specialist HR expertise is also being provided by DEFRA to support the recruitment of staff in Tyneside and redeployment of existing MFA staff where appropriate.

The Implementation Team has changed in size and profile at various stages of the project to reflect changing workloads, but broadly speaking a core project team consisting of six to eight posts has been in place in the MFA since the beginning of 2008-09. Additional resource has been recruited to the project since the beginning of 2009 to support activity during this implementation year.

Three of the above posts are being delivered by members of staff who are receiving Temporary Additional Responsibility Allowance (TARA), all of which have been granted for longer than six months. The decision was taken not to fill these posts permanently with members of staff at the substantive grade required because of the relocation of the MFA Headquarters and the time-limited need of the implementation work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there have been any recent changes to the timetable for the completion of the vestment of the Marine Management Organisation by 1 April 2010. (275689)

In common with any major programme of this type, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) implementation activity is under constant review with minor revisions to plans, approaches, and specific delivery dates. However, there have been no significant changes to the timetable for vesting the MMO and my officials are still working to a vesting date of 1 April 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies have spent on the restoration of riverbeds in each of the last three years. (276261)

In the past three years the Environment Agency has spent the following on projects that delivered a substantial element of riverbed restoration:

River restoration schemes typically encompass several related activities such as the placement of spawning gravels, removal of debris, tree planting, bank protection and enhancement works, etc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2009, Official Report, column 381W, on tourism: rural areas, how much funding from the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13 has been provided for support to encourage rural tourism in each region. (276426)

[holding answer 19 May 2009]: Each region has set out in published Regional Implementation Plans, the indicative allocation for support for rural tourism over the period 2007-13. Regions have taken different approaches to how these are expressed, but the approximate indicative allocations are:

These figures include amounts that Local Action Groups are planning to spend on tourism through the Leader approach, which are not included in the figures programmed to the tourism measure in the Rural Development Programme document.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 601W, on the blue badge scheme, what progress has been made in developing a project implementation plan for the blue badge reform scheme; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the implementation plan when finalised. (268401)

[holding answer 2 April 2009]: We are in the process of finalising the blue badge project implementation plan. A high level plan will be published on the Department for Transport's website shortly. This is being developed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties with further information on each element of the work programme and an indication of the associated likely timeframes for implementation. Copies of the high level plan will be placed in the Library, once published.

We also intend to publish regular Blue Badge Reform programme bulletins on the Department's website to provide progress updates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) its agencies has spent on (i) refurbishment, (ii) maintenance and (iii) emergency repairs of its office estate in each year since 2001. (276452)

The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on office furniture in each of the last five years. (276487)

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 May 2009, to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) Official Report, columns 883-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on (a) lighting and (b) light fixtures in each of the last five years. (276488)

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff employed in London on work contracted out by his Department earn less than £7.45 per hour. (274698)

The number of staff employed in London on work contracted out by the Department for Transport is 54.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many work placements his Department offered to (a) school pupils, (b) university students and (c) graduates in each of the last five years. (274478)

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 December 2008, Official Report, column 780-81W.

The information requested for 2004 and 2005 can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many actions under employment law were brought against his Department in each of the last three years, broken down by category of action; and how many were contested by the Department at an employment tribunal. (275622)

[holding answer 14 May 2009]: The total number of employment law actions brought against the Department for Transport in each of the last three years is broken down by category in the following table:

In addition, a further 31 claims were brought against the Department during 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09. These cases have not been broken down further by category in order to protect the confidentiality of the persons concerned.

Overall, 12 cases were contested and decided at a full hearing of the Employment Tribunal.

18,600 people are employed by the Department for Transport and its agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (274535)

The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009, Official Report, column 989W, on M1: speed limits, what his latest estimate is of the timetable for the installation of speed cameras between junctions 8 and 9 on the M1. (276438)

The installation of speed cameras between junction 8 and junction 9 on the M1 is expected to take place in early 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009, Official Report, column 1603W, on M42: lorries, if he will introduce a restriction on overtaking by heavy goods vehicles on the M18; and if he will make a statement. (276437)

There are currently no plans to introduce a restriction on

overtaking by heavy goods vehicles on the M18, since it does not meet the relevant criteria.

As part of the Highways Agency's strategy to tackle congestion, the Agency has considered sites for implementing the HGV lane restrictions. Such sites should meet the following criteria namely; two lane motorway and all purpose trunk roads with gradients where HGVs represent a high proportion of traffic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an estimate of the likely effects on levels of carbon dioxide emissions of the planned electrification work on the rail network. (276020)

The Department for Transport is working with the rail industry to assess the case for electrifying the Great Western and Midland Main Lines. Electrifying these two lines would reduce rail's carbon emissions by approximately 3 per cent. or 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities resulting from reported personal injury road accidents there were on stretches of roads with a (a) 20, (b) 30, (c) 40 and (d) 50 miles per hour speed limit in each of the last five years. (275831)

The number of fatalities resulting from reported personal injury road accidents on urban/rural by speed limit of the roads in each of the last five years is given in the following tables:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents in each of the last 11 years were caused by drivers who had been granted a full driver's licence less than one year prior to the accident. (276465)

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents in each of the last 11 years were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. (276466)

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Highways Agency on the reduction to 50 miles per hour of speed limits on single carriageway trunk roads under the Agency's control. (276296)

The Highways Agency has been represented on a Steering Group responsible for the development a new road safety strategy for Great Britain. Aside from the Highways Agency, the Group comprises officials from the relevant Whitehall Departments and from the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government.

The work of the Steering Group led to the consultation document on a new road safety strategy which we published on 21 April. This contains proposals to encourage highway authorities, including the Highways Agency, to reduce speed limits from 60 mph on those rural single carriageways roads where accident risks are high, on a carefully targeted basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment of the Home Office's proposal to give the police powers to collect advance passenger data in respect of domestic air and sea journeys; and what recent discussions there have been between officials of his Department and officials of the Home Office on this matter. (275500)

Section 14 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 gives the police the power, subject to commencement through secondary legislation, to require a carrier, on request, to capture passenger and crew identity and other service data on domestic routes. The Home Office has not yet made a decision to carry out a formal public consultation on the proposals, which would include a full regulatory impact assessment, though the intention would be to focus the use of this power only on crossings between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Department for Transport officials and those from the Home Office are in regular contact on the range of international counter-terrorism issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many members of Jobcentre Plus staff in each (a) region and (b) Jobcentre Plus district participated in (i) Foundation Learning Routeway, (ii) Managers who Deliver—Leaders who Inspire and (iii) the Professional Skills for Government framework (A) in each year since the schemes were launched and (B) in each of the last 24 months; (264268)

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 questions asking:

how many members of Jobcentre Plus staff in each (a) region and (b) Jobcentre Plus district participated in (i) Foundation Learning Routeway (ii) Managers who Deliver—Leaders who Inspire and (iii) the Professional Skills for Government framework (A) in each year since the schemes were launched and (B) in each of the last 24 months.

how much was (a) budgeted and (b) spent in each (i) region and (ii) Jobcentre Plus district on (A) Foundation Learning Routeway, (B) Managers who Deliver—Leaders who Inspire and (C) the Professional Skills for Government framework (1) in each year since the schemes were launched and (2) in each of the last 24 months.

This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

The new foundation learning materials consist of 14 learning and development products. The suite of products includes elements of mandatory and non mandatory learning and development materials, depending on an individual’s job role. Line Managers in consultation with an individual will agree a pathway of foundation learning targeted at addressing their job role requirements.

In April 2008, the foundation learning was reviewed and revised and therefore any historical information would not accurately reflect the number of individuals who undertook foundation learning over the last 24 months. Our systems are not set up to capture this type of management information, and it would need to be compiled clerically, which would incur disproportionate cost.

The Jobcentre Plus management and leadership development programme (called “Managers who deliver—Leaders who inspire”) is a relatively new programme that was piloted in September 2007 and rolled out nationally from early 2008. It was designed to incorporate the skills required by the Professional Skills for Government (PSG) framework so the two are inextricably linked. There is no separate learning intervention on the PSG framework itself in relation to the middle managers covered by this development programme, however PSG is a framework that is integrated into the appraisal and development planning for such managers.

The available information regarding “Managers who deliver—Leaders who inspire” is attached at Annex 1. The volumes and costs data is broken down by region and operational arm, rather than just by Customer Service Directorate region and district as requested. This is because the Benefit and Fraud and Contact Centre Directorates do not have the same district based organisational structure. Information on how much was budgeted for this training is only collated at national level.

Annex 1

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what roles he expects the planned aditional 6,000 Jobcentre Plus staff to fill. (266130)

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 right hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Mel Groves dated 20 May 2009:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what roles we expect the planned additional 6,000 Jobcentre Plus staff to fill. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

In line with the recent Budget announcements, Jobcentre Plus will be able to recruit up to 10,000 more staff. This is on top of the 6,000 new staff already announced in Pre Budget Report. Some 6,000 staff have been recruited between October 2008 and April 2009.

All of this new resource will be applied to customer-facing services. More than half of these will be Personal Advisers with the rest in customer intervention and support roles within our customer service operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter of 6 April 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. H Kennedy. (276506)

A reply was sent to my right hon. Friend on 17 May 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what welfare reform milestones he has set following the publication of the White Paper on welfare reform in December 2008. (266122)

We outlined a number of commitments in the White Paper ‘Raising expectations and increasing support’. I have set these out in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 January 2009, Official Report, columns 2-4WS, on support for jobseekers, from what budget the funding to be made available to eligible customers will be drawn. (276541)

The package of measures announced on 12 January is to be delivered by both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and is expected to cost £500 million over the two years to March 2011.

HM Treasury provided DWP with an additional £295 million of funding and the Department will fund the balance of its own expected costs through a package of savings, including consequential programme savings.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to prevent age discrimination against 18 to 25 year olds. (275275)

The Government introduced protection from unjustifiable age discrimination in employment in 2006, which provided protection to employees of all ages including those aged 18 to 25. Our new Equality Bill, which had its second reading on Monday, will outlaw unjustifiable age discrimination against people 18 or over in the provision of goods and services and the exercise of public functions. It will also, as part of an extended public sector equality duty, require public authorities to consider the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations for people of different ages.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many (a) BlackBerrys and (b) other mobile telephones have been provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in the Government Equalities Office in each year since its establishment. (268286)

The Government Equalities Office was established on 12 October 2007. Since then a total of 14 BlackBerry's and six mobile phones have been purchased for civil servants only. These purchases were made in the following financial years :

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many completed cases originating in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) England the Equality and Human Rights Commission has taken up on behalf of individuals since its inception; and how many such cases concerned (i) disability discrimination, (ii) sexual discrimination and (iii) racial discrimination. (273630)

Between October 2007 and 31 March 2009, the Equality and Human Rights Commission undertook 203 completed cases on behalf of individuals:

(a) 191 cases originated from England;

(b) Eight cases originated from Scotland; and

(c) Four cases originated from Wales.

(i) 179 completed cases concerned disability discrimination;

(ii) 10 concerned sexual discrimination; and

(iii) 14 concerned racial discrimination.

Three cases concerned more than one strand of equality.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff have resigned from the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the last 12 months. (274137)

From 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, 34 permanent members of staff resigned from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the cost of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) intervention in the case of (a) Basildon District Council v. McCarthy and Others [2009] EWCA and (b) Baker and Others v. Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the London Borough of Bromley was; and which barristers were retained by the EHRC in relation to each case. (274630)

(a) Baker and Others v. Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the London Borough of Bromley [2008]:

Cost—£13,605.00 including VAT

Barristers—Robin Allen QC and Catherine Casserley.

(b) Basildon District Council v. McCarthy and Others [2009]:

Cost—£7,840.00 including VAT

Barrister—Robin Allen QC.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to his Department's press notice of 19 January 2009, on the asset protection scheme, if he will undertake further due diligence in respect of securities identified as triple-A rated before they are included in the scheme. (276234)

The Treasury and its advisers are continuing to work with participating banks to conduct due diligence on the assets intended for inclusion in the scheme.

Further detailed information will be provided after the final contracts are signed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to inform people in cases where their child tax credits have been underpaid; and if he will make a statement. (275901)

[holding answer 15 May 2009]: Tax credits is an annual system which is designed to be responsive to changes in families’ circumstances. This is particularly important when income falls and around 355,000 households who were living on a lower income in March are receiving on average £35 more per week in tax credits.

HMRC calculates an initial award for claimants based on their income for the previous year and their current family circumstances. Awards can be adjusted if claimants tell the Department of a change in their circumstances during the year. After the end of a year, HMRC sends tax credits customers an annual renewal pack asking them to provide or confirm details of their income and circumstances. This information is necessary to determine whether claimants have received the correct amount of tax credits in the tax year just ended. Tax credits customers can complete the process by returning the annual declaration and renewal forms or by calling the tax credits Helpline, usually by 31 July. Detailed information can be found on the Department’s website at

www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/index.htm

Underpayments are calculated automatically and any amount still due is paid as a lump sum after a tax credits award is finalised and the customer is informed of the amount on their final award notice.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Child Trust Fund vouchers have been issued in North East Fife constituency in the most recent year for which figures are available; how many accounts have been opened by residents of the constituency; and what his estimate is of the value of those accounts. (276535)

HM Revenue and Customs estimates that 640 child trust fund vouchers were issued in North East Fife to children born between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2007 and that 450 child trust fund accounts were subsequently opened by the parents or guardians of those children.

HM Revenue and Customs does not have data on the value of child trust funds at constituency level.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of staff in his Department and its agencies received bonus payments in 2008-09; how much expenditure his Department incurred in respect of staff bonuses in 2008-09; what the largest single staff bonus payment was in that year; and if he will make a statement. (270023)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (i) all staff and (ii) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made. (275246)

[holding answer 24 April 2009]: Audited out-turn figures for 2008-09 are not yet available. The Treasury Group’s Annual Report and Accounts will include details of the performance payments made by the Treasury Group, divided by its member organisations, and on the performance pay awarded to individual members of the Treasury Board. Performance pay in this context refers to variable pay which is not consolidated into base pay and is non-pensionable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) for what reason HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has decided to close schemes permitted under section 58 of the Finance Act 1987; for what reason the decision was made with retrospective effect; what factors were taken into account in determining that the period of such retrospective effect would be seven years; and what the policy of HMRC is on charging interest on sums owed as a result of retrospective closure; (276192)

Section 62 Finance (No. 2) Act 1987 retrospectively restored the principle that double taxation treaties do not affect a UK resident’s liability to UK tax on their income or gains. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not believe that any tax avoidance schemes were permitted under that legislation—although the tax avoidance schemes in question here purported to circumvent it.

Evidence emerged that a large number of people were using the scheme and in light of a number of factors (including the widespread use, aggressive nature and artificiality of the scheme, the deliberate attempt to flout the clear intention of Parliament in 1987 and the need to ensure fairness and certainty for all taxpayers), the Government introduced legislation at section 58 Finance Act 2008 to put beyond doubt that none of the schemes worked—and never had done.

Although, like the 1987 legislation, it is indefinitely retrospective, HMRC is not aware of any relevant schemes prior to 2001. Any tax paid late will be subject to interest in accordance with the relevant legislation on late payments.

Formal impact assessments are not published in respect of measures where the impact is only on those who are avoiding tax and thus one was not published for this particular measure. Such decisions on the production of an impact assessment are taken on a case-by-case basis. As indicated in the 2008 Financial Statement and Budget Report, it is estimated that the tax at stake on the schemes that purported to circumvent the 1987 legislation is around £200 million. Those who used those schemes are, like ail other UK taxpayers, required to pay tax on the profits that they earned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what oversight his Department exercises over credit default swap contracts with consortia in which it has a financial stake; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such oversight; if he will consider the merits of introducing independent scrutiny of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. (272316)

The Government's shareholdings in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds) are managed on a commercial basis by an arm's length company, UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI). UKFI's objective is to protect and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder with due regard to the maintenance of financial stability and to act in a way that promotes competition.

The framework document between HM Treasury and UKFI sets a requirement that UKFI will not intervene in the day-to-day management decisions or operational decisions of investee companies. The companies will retain their own independent boards, which will manage the banks and determine their strategy.

HM Treasury and UK Financial Investments does not comment on individual contracts offered by or commercial decisions taken by its investee companies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of taxpayers in Lancashire were paying income tax at the higher rate on the latest date for which figures are available. (276309)

Around 54,000, or 9 per cent. of taxpayers in Lancashire, paid income tax at the higher rate for 2006-07. This information is based on the latest survey of personal incomes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) his international counterparts and (b) Ministerial colleagues on the cancellation of the IMF loan to Sri Lanka. (276125)

The Government are concerned about the continuing humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and is committed to helping Sri Lanka avoid an economic crisis that would hurt Sri Lanka’s poor most. No IMF loans to Sri Lanka have been cancelled. The IMF has not yet presented a programme to the board for decision.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the email from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 15 April 2009, on green businesses. (276554)

Receipt of the correspondence referred to could not be traced. Copies have been requested from the hon. Member’s office and will be dealt with as soon as possible following receipt.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the 2009 Budget on small businesses in Coventry. (272955)

Building on the £20 billion fiscal stimulus announced in the pre-Budget report, the Chancellor set out a Budget which will provide further targeted support for individuals and businesses through the current downturn, while ensuring the economy is able to make a strong and sustainable recovery.

Tax policies announced from the 2008 pre-Budget report are delivering £3 billion to improve business cash flow, complemented by £2 billion of lending support. Budget 2009 announced a further £3 billion to improve business cash flow and encourage future investment, as well as up to £5 billion of trade credit insurance support.

Budget 2009 also announced the expansion of HMRC's Business Payment Support Service to offer enhanced support for firms making losses now. Since the 2008 pre-Budget report this service has reached 490 agreements with businesses in Coventry to spread tax payments worth £10 million.

Details of the impact of Budget measures on the west midlands region can be found at

http://budget.treasury.gov.uk/regions.htm

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what measures he introduced in the 2009 Budget to assist householders in circumstances where one or more wage-earners has been made redundant and levels of domestic indebtedness are increasing; (276194)

To help provide support for individuals who have been made redundant, the Budget announced a one-off increase of £30 in the level of statutory redundancy pay, increasing the weekly rate to £380. Redundancy pay is a right for all employees who have worked continuously for their employer for two years and are made redundant. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform intends to implement this increase on 1 October 2009.

This builds on existing support such as the tax credit system, which is designed to respond quickly to changing circumstances, and has helped 355,000 households living on a lower income to receive an average of £35 per week more in tax credits. The pre-Budget report in November 2008 also announced a substantial package of support. This includes extending the Rapid Response Service, which provides a range of on-site personalised support through Jobcentre Plus; extending Local Employment Partnerships to assist the recently unemployed in their local labour market; and enhancements to Support for Mortgage Interest, to better help people out of work to meet the interest payments on their mortgage.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of the budget for HM Revenue and Customs’ Workforce Change programme has been spent to date; (273637)

[holding answer 8 May 2009]: The aim of the Workforce Change programme is to match HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) staff resources and estate to the Department’s future business needs and deliver improved efficiencies for the taxpayer. HMRC expects to realise over £230 million in sustainable savings as well as wider business efficiencies as a result of releasing surplus office space and re-organising into larger more efficient teams in fewer offices.

HMRC allocated and centrally funded £65 million for the Workforce Change programme in 2008-09. For 2009-10 individual lines of business within HMRC will fund business restructuring plans from their general funding allocations.

HMRC is aiming to reduce its estate by 500,000 sq m —approximately one third of the estate inherited from its predecessor departments—by March 2012. To date, HMRC has reduced its estate by 218 000 sq m, or approximately 43 per cent. of this target.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Government offered each UK Overseas Territory to facilitate (a) the completion of tax information exchange agreements and (b) inclusion in the OECD list of jurisdictions that had substantially implemented the internationally-agreed tax standard before the G20 Meeting in April 2009. (274396)

The negotiation of tax information exchange agreements with other jurisdictions, including the UK, is essentially a matter for the Overseas Territories themselves. Such agreements are negotiated under Entrustments granted by the UK. The UK offers assistance where appropriate and encourages dialogue between the Overseas Territories and other countries. In the case of jurisdictions with particular capacity constraints, the UK offers more extensive assistance.

Inclusion in the OECD list of jurisdictions that have substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard is based on assessments carried out by the OECD.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what correspondence he has had with the administrations of the UK Overseas Territories on removal of their tax haven status; (274703)

The Government maintain continuing dialogue with the Overseas Territories on tax co-operation issues. A number of Overseas Territories began negotiating tax information exchange agreements some years ago following commitments they made to comply with OECD standards. The Government welcome progress made so far and encourages all jurisdictions to maintain their efforts to implement the internationally agreed standard.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent correspondence he has had with the administrations of the Crown Dependencies on removal of their tax haven status; (274397)

The Government maintain continuing dialogue with the Crown Dependences on tax co-operation issues. The Crown Dependences began negotiating tax information exchange agreements some years ago following commitments they made to comply with OECD standards. The Government welcome the inclusion of the Crown Dependences in the OECD list of jurisdictions that have substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implication for the Government’s policy on reducing tax avoidance of the progress made by the UK Overseas Territories towards signature of tax information exchange grants prior to the G20 Summit in April 2009. (276012)

Tax information exchange agreements play an important role in combating tax evasion and avoidance. Overseas Territories have recently concluded a number of agreements but it is too early to assess their impact.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his policy is on the standards which Crown Dependencies should meet in respect of requirements for disclosure of information on tax regimes; (276010)

The Government expect the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories to comply with international standards of transparency and exchange of information in tax matters as developed by the OECD and endorsed by the G20.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to amusement machine licence duty announced in the 2009 Budget on (a) pubs, (b) seaside arcades, (c) bingo clubs and (d) the gaming machine industry. (274767)

The Treasury assess the broad impact of changes to gambling taxes and duties but the information collected by HMRC from amusement machine licence duty returns does not identify the sector in which the machine is located. Budget 2009 announced an increase in amusement machine licence duty, which is expected to add around one percentage point to gaming machines' effective tax rate. The costings implications can be found in table A1 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to provide a substantive answer to Question (a) 273637, (b) 273638, (c) 273640 and (d) 273641 on the HM Revenue and Customs Workforce Change Programme tabled on 5 May 2009 for named day answer on 8 May. (276545)

I have replied to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years for which figures are available. (275206)

Interest payments to suppliers in respect of late payment of invoices are not centrally or separately recorded on the Department's or The Royal Parks' accounting systems and can only be identified at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on (a) conference services and (b) banqueting services in each of the last five years. (274509)

The Department's accounting system does not record costs relating to banqueting services discretely and to obtain these would incur disproportionate cost.

The costs relating to conference services are listed in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on branded stationery and gifts for (a) internal and (b) external promotional use in each of the last five years. (273778)

The Department has spent the following on branded DCMS stationery (letterhead, business cards and compliment slips) in the past five years:

The Department has spent the following on branded gifts in the past five years :

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of sickness absence taken by staff in his Department was attributable to work-related stress in the last three years. (273063)

Our records do not distinguish between sickness caused by work-related stress and stress due to other causes and this information could be compiled only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support his Department has provided to (a) local authorities and (b) community groups for the construction of swimming pools in the last 12 months for which figures are available. (275553)

Sport England have advised that while they hold details of financial support for the redevelopment of leisure centres they cannot identify the support set aside for the construction of swimming pools. The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

In the 2009-10 planning round, under the Free Swimming Capital Modernisation programme, approximately £5.5 million of funding will support the construction of new pools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage tourists to visit Scotland. (275702)

DCMS supports UK tourism via its grant in aid sponsorship of VisitBritain who in turn promote Scotland as a holiday destination as part of its remit.

This promotion is undertaken through various platforms such press, public relations, the travel trade and the internet.

Currently VisitBritain is working in partnership with Visit Scotland and hosting a dedicated web page for the “Homecoming Scotland 2009” strategy. This is aimed at promoting tourism in Scotland via a year-long programme of events to celebrate some of Scotland's greatest contributions to the world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the participation levels have been in Visit Britain's National Quality Assessment scheme in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (274780)

VisitBritain have provided the following data about the participation levels in the National Quality Assessment scheme for the period April 2005 to April 2009.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much the Olympic Delivery Authority spent on furniture in each of the last five years. (273744)

As a new organisation established in 2006, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) purchased furniture for its offices in Canary Wharf and Stratford at a total cost of £1.7 million. The breakdown by year is: 2006 £0.9 million, 2007 £0.7 million and 2008 £0.1 million.

To secure better value for money, a cost sharing agreement is in place with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic games and Paralympic games who will use this furniture as their staffing increases in the build-up to the games and the role of the ODA diminishes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts have been let by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment in each of the last five years; what the monetary value of each such contract was; and what services were supplied under each such contract. (276538)

The Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies have not let any contracts to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment in the last five years.

The Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies have however, worked on a number of joint projects and programmes with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment to which the respective organisations have contributed appropriately under the Government's guidance for joint working between public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment on tendering for contracts from the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last three years. (276539)

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has not spent anything on tendering for contracts from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) or its predecessor bodies in each of the last three years. CABE is a statutory non-departmental public body. It has worked in partnership with the HCA and its predecessor bodies, the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships, on a number of joint projects. In these circumstances, each organisation contributes appropriately, in accordance with Government guidance for joint working between public bodies. This is to avoid duplication of effort and to ensure that each brings to the project the benefit of its distinct capabilities and separate and different statutory functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2009, Official Report, column 879W, on council tax, how many homes were revalued for council tax purposes at the point of sale following property improvements in each region in each year since 1997; and how many such homes were revalued to (a) a higher, (b) a lower and (c) the same council tax band. (276551)

The Valuation Office Agency is required to review council tax bands at the point of sale when a property has previously been improved. This review will result in either a band increase or the band remaining unaltered. The number of properties reviewed and the outcome of this review, for each year since 1997, broken down into Government regions for England, are as follows: