Written Answers to Questions
Monday 8 June 2009
Wales
Departmental Publications
Since January 2005 the Wales Office has published two booklets for public distribution. These were in addition to parliamentary papers.
The first booklet from March 2007 was produced to mark the 200 year anniversary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act and was entitled Slavery and Wales with a print run of 12,000 at a cost of £3,925. These booklets were sent to Welsh MPs, Lords with Welsh interests, Assembly members, all primary and secondary schools in Wales, all libraries in Wales, all National Trust sites in Wales, the Waterfront Museum, the Paul Robeson Trust and local history groups. There was no cover charge.
The second booklet from May 2009 entitled Real Help for Wales Now provides a guide to the UK Government and Welsh Assembly Government initiatives available to help businesses and people through the recession. It had a print run of 2,000 at a cost of £3,444. These booklets were distributed to all Welsh MPs and Assembly members, all Welsh local authorities and Jobcentre Plus in Cardiff. Copies were also provided when meeting with businesses throughout Wales and to attendees at economic summits. Again there was no cover charge.
Leader of the House
Departmental Dismissal
No members of staff have been dismissed from the office since June 2007.
The office of the Leader of the House of Commons joined the Cabinet Office in 2007. Information from before this time can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Northern Ireland
Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland: Publications
This is an operational matter for Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, which operates independently of Government. I would encourage the hon. Lady to write to Dr. Michael Maguire, the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland.
Community Safety Partnerships: County Down
Organisations represented on the North Down Community Safety Partnership membership are:
North Down PSNI; Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Age Concern; North Down Community Network; Bangor and Holywood Town Centre Management; North Down Victim Support; Northern Ireland Probation Service; South Eastern Education and Library Board; Supporting Communities Northern Ireland; North Down District Policing Partnership; Bangor and Holywood Clergy Fellowship; South Eastern and Social Care Trust and Elected Representatives from North Down borough council (four UUP, four DUP, four Alliance and one Independent).
Details of the organisations in North Down which have received funding from the Partnership over the last three years along with how much each received is set out in the following table.
Funding Organisation 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Total North Down Women's Aid 8,270 4,120 11,000 23,390 North Down Community Network 23,391 13,250 16,886 53,527 North Down Age Concern 6,200 12,700 21,125 40,025 North Down PSNI 7,900 4,750 0 12,650 Bangor and Holywood Town Centre Management 16,800 12,830 19,280 48,910 Comber Drugs Awareness Programme 2,500 £2,500 0 £5,000 Fountain Drug and Alcohol Programme 0 £26,000 0 £26,000 Bangor and Holywood Clergy Fellowship 0 £7,000 £8,359 £15,359 Bloomfield Community Association 0 1,490 0 1,490 Breezemount Community Association 0 1,207 0 1,207 Holywood Family Trust 0 980 0 980 Whitehill Community Association 0 1,400 0 1,400 Trinity Presbyterian Church 0 1,460 0 1,460 Kings Fellowship 0 1,426 0 1,426 Total 65,061 91,113 76,650 232,824
Crime: Wildlife
The creation of criminal offences and penalties is a reserved matter under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and an Assembly Bill containing a reserved matter requires the consent of the Secretary of State. However, it is in practice for the relevant Northern Ireland Minister to decide how best to raise awareness of criminal offences within devolved policy areas such as wildlife. In the case of offences involving the protection of wildlife, this would fall to the Environment Minister.
Departmental Reviews
Summary information on taskforces and other standing bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication, ‘Public Bodies’. Copies of ‘Public Bodies 2008’ are available in the Libraries of the House. Detailed information on ad hoc advisory bodies is published in the annual Northern Ireland Office departmental report and also on the departmental website:
www.nio.gov.uk
Information about reviews commissioned since the Department's creation is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Security
In the period specified, there were five security breaches in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, three in the Forensic Science agency and one in the Youth Justice Agency. There were no reported security breaches in the Compensation Agency.
When a breach of security involves the disclosure of personal data, the agencies follow the Northern Ireland Office incident response policy.
Departmental Stationery
We do not keep a record of the proportion of office supplies purchased that are recycled products. Our stationery suppliers provide a range of products made from recycled materials some of which we purchase.
Economic and Monetary Union
Euro Ministers are responsible for euro preparations in their Department and attend euro Ministers Steering Group meetings. Meetings are held only when necessary to discuss practical preparations to ensure a smooth changeover.
Industrial Health and Safety
Expenditure to ensure compliance with health and safety at work legislation can include various costs, such as building related works and training for staff.
Details of building works related to health and safety compliance are not recorded separately from general building works and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
My Department strives to ensure compliance with health and safety at work legislation through training and development of staff. Expenditure on health and safety training and development in each of the last five years is as follows:
£ 2004-05 1— 2005-06 8,170 2006-07 6,000 2007-08 6,000 2008-09 227,229 1 Staff costs only (training provided in-house). 2 Including the extension of a contract to enable health and safety e-learning training to be provided for all staff.
Mortgages
The Government do not hold this information. Such estimates may be available from commercial lenders or their representative bodies.
Culture, Media and Sport
Free Theatre Initiative
A Night Less Ordinary, which offers free theatre tickets to young people under 26, was launched by Arts Council England in February.
Data for the first quarter of the scheme are being collated and will be published by mid-July 2009.
Early feedback from participating venues and young theatre goers, alongside the impressive number of website visitors suggests that the scheme has proved immensely popular so far.
Economic Recovery
The cultural sector is already addressing the economic and social impacts of the recession and continues to contribute to recovery. The creative industries represent 6.4 per cent. of GVA and over the past decade have been growing faster than the economy as a whole. This comes at the end of a decade of record Government investment in culture.
Last month we published “Lifting People, Lifting Places”, outlining how Government can offer further support, by developing employment opportunities in culture and the creative industries, measures to transform town centres and other approaches to building the new economy with culture and creativity at its heart.
Digital Switchover
Audio description is referred to across Digital UK’s communications campaign and on its website. It is also included in the information and materials distributed by Digital UK to a range of charities. Digital UK and the Switchover Help Scheme also work in partnership with the Royal National Institute for the Blind who run their own awareness campaigns.
Community Sport
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell).
Local Media
The local media summit on 28 April 2009 explored the issues and challenges facing local and regional news and media. This will be taken forward in the final Digital Britain report due to be published shortly.
Cricket
This information is not held by my Department. The England and Wales Cricket Board have been awarded £37.8 million to deliver their 2009-13 plan for the whole of cricket, the largest award made to any sport. Through the PE and School Sport Strategy for Young People we are also investing £25.5 million in a new network of competition managers, who will co-ordinate inter-school competition for a variety of sports, including cricket.
Community Arts: Coventry
Arts Council England (ACE) invested £1,579,691 in regularly funded organisations in Coventry in 2006-07; £1,722,974 in 2007-08 and £1,823,059 in 2008-09. Many of these organisations are actively engaged in community arts and a proportion of their core funding supports this work. ACE also awarded grants for the arts awards of £5,000 in 2006-07; £14,218 in 2007-08 and £5,000 in 2008-09 to projects with a specific focus on, or element of, community arts.
UK Television Content
My predecessor my right hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) had regular discussions with all the commercial broadcasters to discuss a wide range of issues, including their funding of original UK television content.
Tourism
The position is mixed. While spend in some areas appears to be down, other parts of the domestic tourism industry have received a boost from favourable currency exchange rates. There are still significant opportunities opening up from which the industry will benefit. These include the unprecedented decade of world class sporting events on which we are embarking, and in particular the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
It is clear however that these remain challenging times for the industry.
Horserace Betting Levy Board
The chair position was first advertised in March 2009. We received fewer applications than we would normally expect for such a role and we therefore re-advertised the position, with a closing date of 19 June. Recruitment consultants have been engaged to help us make the most of this additional time. The new applications attracted, together with those received earlier, will be assessed on an equal basis against the original selection criteria.
Play: Finance
I have been asked to reply.
63 local authorities began receiving play funding from April 2008. This was the first wave of the children's plan play capital investment programme. The National Play Strategy, which was published in December 2008, announced that Government would be accelerating the capital programme so that all of the remaining 89 top tier local authorities in England would receive funding from April 2009 as wave 2 of the investment programme. This means that all 152 local authorities will be receiving play capital, and associated revenue, funding during the 2009-10 financial year.
The conditions of grant letter, issued in February 2009, outlined that local authorities would receive their capital and revenue allocations in two equal payments during 2009-10. By the end of May, local authorities received the first payment of this financial year. Tables which show the allocations for each local authority to the end of the current financial year have been placed in the House Libraries.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Climate Change
It is not currently possible to provide estimates of the potential costs and savings over the next three years. The Government are undertaking a climate change risk assessment and economic analysis, which will provide estimates of the costs and benefits of adaptation to the UK. This analysis will be presented to Parliament within three years of the Climate Change Act 2008 coming in to force.
Departmental Cost Effectiveness
A full breakdown of all allocative efficiencies (the reassignment of resources from lower to higher priority areas) achieved for 2008-09 and forecasts for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are scheduled to be published in our 2009 departmental report next month. The report will be available in hard copy and on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Data Protection
In 2008-09, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reported no losses of personal data to the Information Commissioner.
EU Institutions: Manpower
There have been no specific projections made. The Government are clear that it is in the EU and UK's interests to be fully represented and to have UK officials working at the heart of the EU's institutions.
EU Relations
For the EU, democracy is both a core value and an essential aspect of internal and external policies. There is growing agreement among EU member states on the need to develop an EU consensus on democracy that sets out the EU vision. The aim of the consensus would be to implement existing EU policies on democracy more effectively, focusing on consistency, coherence and co-ordination in the use of the instruments available to the EU. It would bring about change in as much as EU activities will be designed and implemented in ways that support democratic processes and strengthen democratic principles. The consensus would also clarify the EU’s position and make it more visible so that not only third countries, but also EU citizens, know what we mean when we talk about democracy and the principles and values that sustain it.
The UK is working with the Czech presidency of the EU along with other EU member states, the Council Secretariat and the Commission to draw up this coherent EU approach. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has played an active role in the EU working group and will support the upcoming Swedish presidency in working towards Council Conclusions in November 2009 with the aim of developing an EU consensus.
European Union
[holding answer 12 May 2009]: My noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, met with the EU Special Representative (EUSR), Ettore Sequi, on 25 November 2008 during his visit to the UK. Senior officials, including representatives from both our embassy in Kabul and the UK's Permanent Representation to the EU (UKRep) regularly meet with the EUSR to discuss Afghanistan. Most recently, our ambassador to the Political and Security Committee, Tim Barrow, met the EUSR on 8 May 2009.
Hezbollah
On 9 January 2009 our ambassador in Beirut attended a meeting of British parliamentarians with the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee. Representatives of all members of the National Unity Government were present, including one MP from Hezbollah's political wing, Ali Amar. During this meeting the ambassador urged all sides to show restraint during the crisis in Gaza, and the importance of all sides respecting the terms of UN Security Council resolution 1701. In the course of normal diplomatic business, staff at our embassy in Beirut have also met Hezbollah politicians on a number of occasions. However, there have been no official meetings since 9 January.
We continue to believe that occasional and carefully considered contacts with Hezbollah's politicians, including its MPs, will best advance our objective of urging Hezbollah to reject violence and play a constructive, democratic and peaceful role in Lebanese politics, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
India: Prisoners
In 2009 we have received six letters from members of the public and one parliamentary question regarding the detention of Dr. Binayak Sen by the Indian authorities.
Working with EU colleagues in India, we have registered our concern with the central Government, writing to the Ministry of External Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission and a number of senior political leaders about the case.
Dr. Sen was granted bail on 25 May 2009. The EU has sent observers to the various stages of his judicial hearings so far and plans to attend the next trial session expected to be held in June 2009.
The rights of human rights defenders including Dr. Sen, were discussed at the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue held on 27 February 2009. Our high commission in New Delhi and EU colleagues will continue to monitor this case in cooperation with non-governmental organisations in accordance with EU guidance for the protection of human rights defenders.
Kosovo: Foreign Relations
The UK established its embassy in Pristina on 18 February 2008, the day after the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Kosovo. The current British ambassador to Kosovo is Mr. Andrew Sparkes CMG.
Kosovo's Chargé d'Affaires to the UK was appointed on 20 October 2008. The embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in London was officially opened on 2 March 2009.
North Korea: Nuclear Power
We do not know whether the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has drawn on plans of British reactors in the production of its own reactors. The reactor at Yongbyon, while much smaller, has generic similarities to certain UK Magnox reactors, design information for which has been in the public domain for over 30 years.
The International Atomic Energy Authority provides regular reports to its board of governors, of which we are a member, on its activities in the DPRK. In addition to public statements from my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, I expressed the Government's strong condemnation of the nuclear test to the DPRK ambassador to London on 25 May 2009 and again on 1 June 2009. Our ambassador in Pyongyang made representations in DPRK to the Director Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 June 2009 to reiterate our concerns. We are working with partners at the UN Security Council to deliver a strong response to the test.
Nuclear Weapons
The UN Conference on Disarmament formally adopted a Programme of Work (CD/1863) on 29 May 2009 which includes negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) based on the 1995 Shannon mandate.
We welcome this decision. Opening negotiations on an FMCT has long been a UK objective.
Pakistan: Religious Freedom
Officials at our high commission in Islamabad are monitoring Mr. David's case. The next court hearing is scheduled for 16 June 2009. While legal proceedings are in progress, we are unable to intervene. As such we have not specifically raised Mr. David's case with the Government of Pakistan.
Bilaterally and with our EU partners we have raised the frequent abuse of Pakistan's blasphemy legislation and have called for reform or repeal of these discriminatory laws.
Republic of Ireland: Treaty of Lisbon
I am not aware of how much the EU has spent on providing information in Ireland specifically on the treaty of Lisbon. I understand that the European Commission will provide €1.8 million for 2009 and 2010 to improve the provision of public information on the EU in Ireland. Similar arrangements exist in other EU member states. Communications activities will cover a large variety of European policy areas. For 2009, the priorities are the European Parliament elections, energy and climate change, 20th anniversary of the democratic changes in Central and Eastern Europe and Europe’s response to the financial crisis and economic slowdown.
Further information can be found on the European Commission’s website at:
http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/press_office/news_of_the_day/public-info-contr_en.htm
Tibet: Politics and Government
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office makes regular assessments of the political and human rights situation in Tibet.
Staff from our embassy in Beijing were most recently able to visit Tibet in May this year. There they were able to assess the situation of the Tibetan people, and found that many monasteries were able to carry out daily religious rites without obvious interference, though there was clear evidence of continued government restrictions in matters such as the numbers of monks and reverence of the Dalai Lama. In general security force presence had returned to similar levels as before the riots in March 2008. The exception was in the old town of Lhasa where there had been a visible increase. Embassy representatives heard that in future access to Tibet for foreigners, including tourists and official visitors would continue to ease. I intend to pursue our concerns in further detail during my own visit to Tibet later next month.
Olympics
Shooting Venue
I have received around 140 representations since the Olympic Board confirmed Woolwich as the shooting venue in March, including from the hon. Member and 116 other MPs on behalf of their constituents, Southern Counties Shooting Limited and other members of the public.
Environmental Sustainability
Sustainability was at the heart of our bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and remains so—we are fully committed to ensuring both the Olympic and Paralympic Games are the most sustainable of modern times.
The Games in London will set new standards of sustainable development, with the Olympic Park and venues being designed and built according to sustainable principles.
At the sailing venue in Weymouth and Portland for example, 15-20 per cent. of its electricity is generated by on-site solar panels, all captured rain water is being recycled, and sustainable transport networks are being installed to and from the venue, from cycling and walking paths, to park and ride schemes.
Sporting and Cultural Activities
I meet regularly with local authorities in my visits around the country and there are regular discussions between my officials and local authorities on a wide range of Games related issues.
The London 2012 Open Weekend will be held across the UK between 24-26 July 2009.1 encourage local authorities, sports, arts, and cultural organisations to register their projects as part of the London 2012 Inspire programme and to showcase their work at Open Weekend.
Already over 90 Cultural Olympiad projects are included as part of the Inspire programme.
Paralympics
The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London 2012 will set new standards in accessibility for venues, accommodation and transport, providing a greater athlete, official and spectator experience.
For the first time the Paralympic Games is fully integrated into the organising committee's plans. We are committed to delivering full arenas, accessible infrastructure, and of course more British medals.
Apprenticeships
In January this year, the ODA announced that an additional 250 apprenticeships would be created on the Olympic Park and Village, bringing the total number to 350. To achieve this, the ODA will mandate that apprentices make up 3 per cent. of project work forces for the remaining £500 million worth of contracts. This exceeds the industry average for London and the south-east.
This increases the ODA's overall target for trainees, apprentices and work placements to 2,250.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
[holding answer 3 March 2009]: We record information relating to flight delays, but we do not centrally hold information on why individual travellers are delayed or the purpose of their travel. Therefore, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 27 October 2008, Official Report, columns 622-63W, to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram).
Apprentices
In the 2007-08 reporting period, the Department delivered 8,758 armed forces and civil service apprentice completions. The apprenticeships detailed in my written answer on 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 741W, refers to a specific pilot scheme for civil servants and not the entire departmental number of apprentice completions. The Department will collate the details of armed forces and civil service apprentice completions during 2008-09 in August 2009. At this stage, we can not compare figures from both 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Armed Forces: Foreigners
Personnel data by regiment are not held in the format requested. However, the following Army figures provided are available.
Army/Service Number1 of personnel with a Commonwealth nationality Percentage of personnel with a Commonwealth nationality Total 6,380 6.8 Staff 0 0 HCAV/RAC 250 4.5 RA 635 8.8 RE 375 4.2 R SIGNALS 180 2.3 INF 1,725 7.4 AAC 100 4.8 RAChD * * RLC 1,995 13.5 RAMC 230 78 REME 340 3.6 AGC (RMP) 20 1.2 AGC (SPS) 335 9.6 AGC (MPS) * * AGC(ETS) 5 2.0 AGC(ALS) * * AGC (Unknown) 5 12.8 RAVC 5 2.4 SASC 0 0 RADC 55 14.4 INT CORPS * * APTC * * QARANC 95 11.7 CAMus 10 1.5 GSC 0 0 LSL * * No Value 0 0 1 denotes provisional. Due to the ongoing validation of data on the Joint Personnel Administration System all Army data from 1 April 2007 are provisional and subject to review. Notes: 1. Percentages have been calculated using a denominator that includes all trained regular strength with a known nationality. It therefore excludes FTRS and Gurkhas but includes those individuals who have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP. 2. Totals have been rounded to the nearest 10 for presentation purposes. 3. Data have been rounded to the nearest 5 to limit disclosure and ensure confidentiality 4. Data less than 5 have been suppressed and replaced with ‘*’. 5. Totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.
Defence: Finance
The estimate of the running costs contained within the White Paper does not include an allocation for those occasions when conventional forces are used to support the deterrent but does include the initial decommissioning costs for the replacement submarines.
Departmental Pay
The performance award arrangements for staff in the Ministry of Defence are part of the continuous performance management process between managers and staff throughout the year. Although the culmination of the performance management process may result in a performance payment being made, the expenditure on the various constituents of the process which contribute towards the final payment of the award could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ex-servicemen: Mental Health
It has been the policy of successive Governments that the NHS should be the main provider of treatment for veterans. The NHS is therefore taking the lead for the six Community Mental Health pilots; the MOD has provided the start up costs for the six pilot sites and will meet the costs of the evaluation, £0.5 million. Veterans are also designated as a Special Interest Group (SIG) in the Department of Health's £173 million Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Programme. In addition, to assist those veterans not in the catchment areas of one of the pilots, we have expanded our Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) based at St. Thomas' hospital, London, to include assessment of veterans with mental health symptoms with operational service since 1982.
Ex-servicemen: Vocational Guidance
I will write to the hon. member.
Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Dr. Fox:
I undertook to write to you with an answer to your Parliamentary Question on 14 May 2009, Official Report, column 948W. I am now able to provide a breakdown of spend per financial year on the Career Transition Partnership Scheme. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is a partnership between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management Consultants. As you may be aware, the inception of the CTP contract was in October 1998, which is why the spend figure for financial year 1998-99 is lower than subsequent years.
The figure for spend in each financial year is shown in the table below, these figures exclude VAT.
Financial year Spend1 (£ million) 1998-99 2.1 1999-2000 5.7 2000-01 6.2 2001-02 6.4 2002-03 6.3 2003-04 6.5 2004-05 7.1 2005-06 8.2 2006-07 8.9 2007-08 9.0 2008-09 8.2 1Rounded to nearest £100,000.
Fremington Army Camp
(2) if he will estimate the disposal value of the site of Fremington Army Camp (a) with and (b) without the enhanced access route necessary for planning permission for the site's development.
Fremington Camp, built in 1943, provides classrooms, accommodation and associated facilities for personnel conducting operational driver crew training at Braunton Burrows. The Cadets and University Officer Training Corps also use Fremington Camp between June and August.
It was confirmed last month that as the camp has reached the end of its economic life, its usage will be run down in line with its planned closure in March 2010.
Although a market valuation has been carried out for internal decision making purposes, it is not our policy to release such valuations as to do so could influence the market, and thus potentially disadvantage the taxpayer in the event of a disposal.
Kenley Airfield
The cost of purchasing and delivering the pedestrian safety barriers to Kenley airfield was £11,250 excluding VAT. The labour costs associated with installation were £425 excluding VAT. RAF personnel also assisted with installation.
Maritime Airborne Surveillance System Programme
We expect to make our main investment decision next year, at which point costs will be known.
Met Office: Floods
Noting the key role it plays in flood risk management, the Met Office is committed to improving its forecasting capability to meet the needs of emergency responders. Following a major investment in supercomputing it is already exploiting a new, highly detailed, forecast model that provides significantly improved support for the issue of flood related warnings. Building on this capability, in line with recommendation 3 of the Pitt review, the Met Office has developed a detailed research plan and started work which will further enhance its ability to forecast local-scale heavy rainfall events and further increase the amount of warning it is able to give to responders for such events. This research programme is due to be completed by summer 2012 in line with the timetable outlined by the Government in response to the Pitt review, although some benefits will be realised before this.
Military Vehicles: Procurement
It is anticipated that deliveries to Afghanistan of both Jackal 2 and Coyote will commence in July 2009.
Motor Vehicles
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has two lease agreements in place for the provision of the majority of non-operational cars, i.e. white fleet vehicles. During FY 2008-09 the provision of leased vehicles under the UK and British Forces Germany white fleet contracts cost the Department approximately £82 million. It is not possible to separate the cost of maintaining the leased vehicles because the daily rate charge for vehicle provision includes the cost to the contractor of procuring the vehicles, routine servicing and maintenance, the provision of a recovery service, eventual disposal of the vehicle, and administrative overheads incurred by the service provider.
White fleet vehicles are leased for use in non-deployable administrative and support roles and transporting personnel and equipment. All MOD personnel, both military and civilian, are eligible to use white fleet vehicles on authorised duty journeys. The control and management of these vehicles is undertaken at unit level. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Navy
HM Ships Ocean, Illustrious, Manchester, Cornwall, Cumberland, Portland, Somerset, Northumberland, Richmond, Westminster, Kent, and St. Albans are currently deployed with one or more helicopters.
The documents in question were not MOD property; they belonged to a defence engineering supplier who had arranged for them to be taken to the TNT archive facility in Swadlincote.
The circumstances and the content of the boxes have, however, been examined by Defence Equipment and Support security staff who are satisfied that none of the documents were classified above restricted and did not represent a security risk. I have been reassured that the company have put improved processes in place to prevent a recurrence.
Navy: Deployment
It is not the Department’s policy to keep Royal Navy warships at sea for longer periods when required operationally by routinely allocating two crews to each vessel. The Royal Navy has traditionally employed different manning solutions on different platforms, depending on operational and personnel needs. Recent trials of more naval approaches have shown no advantage over this traditional, mixed approach.
RAF St. Athan
Construction at the St. Athan site will begin shortly after Contract Signature for the Defence Training College, which is anticipated to be signed in the summer of 2010.
Reserve Forces: Manpower
There is no fixed timetable set for reaching the target personnel establishment. However, it will be achieved as soon as possible, subject to normal recruiting and resource constraints, which is anticipated to take a number of years.
Submarines
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 January 2009, Official Report, column 1667W. The Astute programme is currently being re-baselined and I will make an announcement in due course.
Trident
It is not normal for Parliament to be involved in Initial Gate decisions for procurement projects. I do however propose to update Parliament on progress following the Initial Gate decision.
The main investment decision point, and the point at which we would issue the main contracts to industry for the construction of the new submarines, is still several years away.
No. On 14 March 2007 the House of Commons voted by a significant margin to accept the recommendations set out in the December 2006 White Paper “The UK’s Future Nuclear Deterrent”. There has been no substantive change in international security since then that would suggest that a further vote is required.
Weapons
During the last 12 months the following losses were reported, all of which relate to the armed forces:
Number Pistols 5 Rifles 6 Sub Machine Guns 1 Machine Guns 3
The approximate total value of these weapons was £22,000. No reliable figures are available with regard to ammunition losses.
Transport
A1: Gateshead
The Department for Transport and the Highways Agency are continuing work on options to address traffic pressures on the A1 Western Bypass in Gateshead, including consideration of major improvements and possible “quick wins”. In taking this work forward the Highways Agency is also liaising with officers from both Gateshead and Newcastle councils, mindful of possible complementary measures that may be introduced following Tyne and Wear region's earlier ‘People in Motion’ study.
In addition a number of smaller scale operational improvements are planned including improvements to signalisation, road markings, signing, slip roads, safety barriers and driver information.
Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission
At the last meeting of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission on 27 May, the items discussed were:
Security and border control issues
Safety: Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA) Report
Eurotunnel formal submissions
European issues
Questions to raise with Eurotunnel
The Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission met six times in the last 12 months on the following dates:
24 July 2008
24 September 2008
26 November 2008
26 January 2009
26 March 2009
27 May 2009.
Channel Tunnel Railway Line: Fares
The Intergovernmental Commission does not set charges for train traffic through the Channel Tunnel. These are set in the Rail Usage Contract and the Network Statement, which is a matter for Eurotunnel.
Driving Offences: Convictions
It is for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue a prosecution where a driver fails to notify Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of a medical condition that affects their ability to drive safely. DVLA is not aware of any convictions for failure to notify a medical condition in the last five years.
Driving Tests: Motorcycles
The latest forward booking times, in weeks, for the practical motorcycling test (modules 1 and 2) are:
Forward booking date at: Module one Module two 4 May 2009 2 2 11 May 2009 3 3 18 May 2009 4 3 25 May 2009 3 2 1 June 2009 3 2 Average 3 2.4
We estimate that 88 per cent. and 97 per cent. of the population are within 20 miles or 45 minutes of a centre delivering module 1 and 2 tests respectively.
Between September 2008 and October 2009, the fee increase percentage for a practical car test was 9.7 per cent. (£56.50 to £62); the increase for the on-road element of the motorcycle test was 25 per cent. (£60 to £75).
The main reason for the difference in increase was that the Driving Standards Agency implemented fee increases for its main activities, including practical car tests, in April 2008. Owing to the expectation of the changes being made to the practical motorcycle test later in that year, the fee increase for that test was delayed until the end of September 2008.
A more appropriate comparison is therefore to compare fee levels in March 2008 and October 2009, which include two general fee increases for both activities. This shows an increase in car test fees of 28 per cent. (£48.50 to £62) compared to an increase of 25 per cent. (£60 to £75) for the comparable element of the motorcycle test.
Utilising existing testing facilities was considered as part of the Driving. Standards Agency's development of options for implementing the new motorcycling test.
The more demanding manoeuvres required and assessed in module 1 need to be conducted off the public highway for road safety purposes. None of the existing test centres had the necessary facilities to offer off-road manoeuvring areas.
Where suitable existing test centres are available they are used to deliver module 2 of the new practical motorcycle test which is delivered on public roads.
Fisheries
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has commissioned three pieces of research on fishing vessels in the last four years. These are:
Suitability of stability criteria applied to small fishing vessels and associated survivability
Loading guidance for fishing vessels less than 12 m registered length phase II
Simplified presentation of fv stability information for vessels 12 m registered length and over phase II.
These reports are available on the MCA’s website:
www.mcga.gov.uk
under the news and publications—research menu item.
Lorries
This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Motor Vehicles
[holding answer 4 June 2009]: Tables providing the requested information as at 31 December 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Railways: Floods
The review into the 2007 floods conducted by Sir Michael Pitt provided a recommended action for the rail industry to develop plans to provide emergency welfare support to passengers stranded on the rail network. As a result, the Department for Transport has worked with Network Rail to review the current practice in relation to the recommendation.
This practice allows for passengers caught on the network to be given food, drink and any necessary items where conditions require. It does, however, remain the priority of Network Rail to remove passengers from trains, stations and other related areas as soon as it is safe to do so.
Roads: Salisbury
Network Rail's Control Period 4 Delivery Plan published on 31 March 2009 indicates that work is due to commence in late 2010, for completion in early 2014.
South West Trains
A copy of the franchise agreement with South West Trains has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Amendment) Order 2009
Local authorities have been involved throughout the policy development. They are represented on both the Concessionary Travel Working Group (CFWG), which requested that the Department revisited the existing order, and the sub-group which was established to examine the issue in detail and develop proposals for change.
There was a public consultation on the proposals, to which 66 local authorities responded with the clear majority in favour of the proposals. Both the CFWG and the sub-group also had the opportunity to comment on the draft order before it was laid before Parliament.
Wolverton Station: Repairs and Maintenance
This project is being funded and delivered by Milton Keynes council. The hon. Member should contact the group manager—transport development at the following address for a response to his questions.
Milton Keynes council
Civic Offices
1 Saxon Gate East
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 3EJ
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Crime
The number of persons cautioned for alcohol related behaviour offences in Wales, by police force area and age group, 2003 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in table 1. The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.
The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for alcohol related behaviour offences in Wales, by police force area and age group, 2003 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in table 2.
The statistics in table 2 relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
A Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) may also be issued by the police for certain alcohol related offences such as being drunk and disorderly and drunk in a highway. The number of persons issued with a PND for alcohol related behaviour offences in Wales, by police force area and age group, 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are given in table 3. The PND Scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
Table 1: The number of persons cautioned for alcohol related behaviour offences1 in Wales, by police force area and age group, 2003 to 20072,3,4Police force area20032004200520062007Age 10-17Age 18-24Age 10-17Age 18-24Age 10-17Age 18-24Age 10-17Age 18-24Age 10-17Age 18-24Dyfed-Powys24473445303527382936Gwent37787114250768775146North Wales78636152612544142419South Wales51151991989215239461622Total190339201306225262186185144223 1 Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 ss.1(2)(3)(4) and 1A(2)(3)(4), 2(1)(2), 5B(2)(3), 5C(3)(4), 5D(2)(3), 6(2); Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 s. 1; Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 ss.12, 17, 25(3)(a)(b), 25(4)(5), 32; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 ss. 5C(5), 6, 6, 19, 28(3), 34, 36, 39(1)(2)(3)(4), 45, 48, 51(4), 53, 59(1)(a)(b), 71(4), 72, 84, 85(2), 89, 155(1)(a), 157(1)(a)(b), 157(1)(b), 159, 160,(1 )(a)(b), 161(1)(2), 162, 163, 164(1)(2), 165, 166(1)(a)(b), 167, 168A, 168(1)(2), 169A, 169B, 169C(1)(2)(3), 169E(1), 169F, 169G, 170, 171A(1), 172, 172A, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179A(6), 179B(5)(6), 179E(8), 179H(2), 181A(1)(2)(3), 183(1)(2)(3), 184, 185, 186, 187(3)(4), 188, 193(7) Sch.8 Appendix C s. 6, Appendix D; Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 s.1; Licensing Act 2003 ss. 33, 40, 41, 46, 49, 56, 57, 59, 82, 83, 93, 94, 96, 108, 109, 123, 127, 128, 132, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 147A, 148, 149(1)(3)(4)(7(a)(b), 150(1)(2), 151, 152, 153, 156, 157, 158, 160, 161, 165, 168, 179, 197, Sch.8 paras 1 and 22; Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 ss. 11,27; Road Traffic Act 1991 s. 3; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 ss. 7(2), 8, 9(1 )(4), 10; Town Police Clauses Act 1847 ss. 35, 61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 ss.2, 6(2)(a)(b); similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 ss. 3A, 7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52; Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 s.3 [Sch. Para. 2, 3(a)(b), 4(1)(2)(3), 5, 6, 7, 8(2), 9(2)]; Licensing Act 1988 s. 17, 18; Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, s. 19; Children and Young Persons Act 1933 s. 5; Criminal Justice Act 1996 s. 6.2 The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.3 From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.4 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 224-09].
Police force area 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Dyfed-Powys 29 298 37 336 26 281 31 266 26 286 Gwent 36 456 56 450 57 418 64 411 73 464 North Wales 101 560 85 532 61 405 54 432 49 411 South Wales 101 985 128 1,044 103 1,102 73 876 72 783 Total 267 2,299 306 2,362 247 2,206 222 1,985 220 1,944 1 Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 ss.1(2)(3)(4) & 1A(2)(3)(4), 2(1) (2), 5B(2)(3), 5C(3)(4), 5D(2)(3), 6(2); Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 s. 1; Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 ss.12, 17, 25(3)(a)(b), 25(4)(5), 32; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 ss. 5C(5), 6, 6, 19, 28(3), 34, 36, 39(1)(2)(3)(4), 45, 48, 51(4), 53, 59(1)(a)(b), 71(4), 72, 84, 85(2), 89, 155(1)(a), 157(1)(a)(b), 157(1)(b), 159, 160,(1)(a)(b), 161(1)(2), 162, 163, 164(1)(2), 165, 166(1)(a)(b), 167, 168A, 168(1)(2), 169A, 169B, 169C(1)(2)(3), 169E(1), 169F, 169G, 170, 171A(1), 172, 172A, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179A(6), 179B(5)(6), 179E(8), 179H(2), 181A(1)(2)(3), 183(1)(2)(3), 184, 185, 186, 187(3)(4), 188, 193(7) Sch.8 Appendix C s. 6, Appendix D; Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 s.1; Licensing Act 2003 ss. 33, 40, 41, 46, 49, 56, 57, 59, 82, 83, 93, 94, 96, 108, 109, 123, 127, 128, 132, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 147A, 148, 149(1)(3)(4)(7(a)(b), 150(1)(2), 151, 152, 153, 156, 157, 158, 160, 161, 165, 168, 179, 197, Sch.8 paras 1 and 22; Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 ss. 11, 27; Road Traffic Act 1991 s. 3; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 ss. 7(2), 8, 9(1 )(4), 10; Town Police Clauses Act 1847 ss. 35, 61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) & (5); Licensing Act 1902 ss.2, 6(2)(a)(b); similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 ss. 3A, 7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52; Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 s.3 [Sch. Para. 2, 3(a)(b), 4(1)(2)(3), 5, 6, 7, 8(2), 9(2)]; Licensing Act 1988 s. 17,18; Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, s. 19; Children and Young Persons Act 1933 s. 5; Criminal Justice Act 1996 s. 6. 2 These data are on the principal offence basis. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 224-09].
Police force area 2004 2005 2006 2007 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Age 10-17 Age 18-24 Dyfed-Powys 14 88 25 175 20 183 15 125 Gwent 6 71 26 122 19 177 19 129 North Wales 57 362 123 636 176 724 149 638 South Wales 1 46 45 305 91 430 25 202 Total 78 567 219 1,238 306 1,514 208 1,094 1 Includes offences under the: Criminal Justice Act 1967 s. 91; Licensing Act 2003 s. 141, 146(1)(3), 149(1)(3)(4), 150(1)(2), 151; Licensing Act 1872 s. 12; Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s. 12; 2 The offence of being ‘drunk and disorderly’ moved from the lower tier (£50) to the upper tier (£80) on 1st November 2004; Sale of alcohol to a person under 18, Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18, Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery, Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises, Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises, were added to the scheme on 1 November 2004; Sale of alcohol to a drunken person, Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18, were added to the Scheme with effect from 4 April 2005. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 224-09].
Alcoholic Drinks: Young People
The available figures are shown in the following table.
The total amount of fines calculated is based on principal offences and primary disposals only.
The data provided gives the whole amount of fines imposed which will always be higher than the amount collected.
£ Offence 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to person under 18 — 320 1,400 — — Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 181 or sale of alcohol to person under 182 89,385 126,310 167,055 218,579 169,688 Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18 — — — 2,755 2,800 Persistently selling alcohol to children — — — — — Total 89,385 126,630 168,455 221,334 172,488 1 Licensing Act 1964 S.168 A & B as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 S.1. 2 Licensing Act 2003 S.146. Notes: 1. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with and disposals were primary disposals handed out. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe an offender could be issued with more than one disposal for a committed offence. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source:(OMSAS)-379-03-09.
Animal Experiments: EU Law
The European Commission proposal for a draft directive for the protection of animals used in scientific procedures to replace Directive 86/609/EEC was published in November 2008. My hon. Friend Meg Hillier met the All Party Parliamentary FRAME Group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) earlier in 2009 to discuss aspects of the draft directive. Home Office officials have also met with a wide and representative cross-section of relevant stakeholder groups to discuss its provisions and we are now holding a public consultation on the proposal to inform the Government's negotiating position. The consultation closes on 3 July 2009.
Burglary: Rotherham
The available information relates to offences recorded by the police in the Rotherham local authority area and is given in the following table. The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002 and data for 2002-03 onwards are therefore not directly comparable with the data for earlier years.
Financial year Burglary in a dwelling Other burglary Total burglary 2000-01 2,514 3,192 5,706 2001-02 2,567 3,007 5,574 1 — — — 2002-03 2,680 3,174 5,854 2003-04 2,046 2,607 4,653 2004-05 1,389 1,933 3,322 2005-06 1,374 2,151 3,525 2006-07 1,457 2,106 3,563 2007-08 1,313 1,818 3,131 1 The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002 and figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.
Crimes of Violence: Elderly
The information requested in not collected centrally. The age of victims of violent crime offences is not available from the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.
Damian Green
The Cabinet Office statement, issued on 18 April 2009 makes clear that between 2005 and the start of the police investigation there were a large number of leaks from across Government, including information classified as secret and above—a classification usually given only on national security grounds. In addition, there were about 20 leaks of classified documents directly from the Home Office.
The Director of Public Prosecutions’ statement on 16 April 2009 acknowledged that “once the pattern of leaks was established in this case, it was inevitable that a police investigation would follow”.
Any leaks are a serious matter. They have a corrosive and damaging effect on the business of Government and undermine the core value of the impartiality of the civil service, as set out in the civil service code.
Ministers received a small amount of correspondence from both members of the public and hon. Members on this issue.
The Director of Public Prosecutions informed my right hon. Friend’s office by fax at 10.49 on 16 April 2009 that the hon. Member for Ashford would not be prosecuted. The DPP made a televised statement shortly after 11.00 and issued a press release to this effect at 11.15.
Disclosure of Information
No such discussions occurred prior to the arrest of the hon. Member for Ashford on 27 November 2008. Subsequently, Home Office special advisers have had a number of discussions in the course of their normal duties with Ministers, civil servants and others in relation to the investigation of leaks from the Home Office.
Driving Offences: Training
The information requested is not available.
Data reported to the Home Office on police action relating to motoring offences do not include information on driver rectification courses offered to offenders as an alternative to prosecution.
Theft: Fixed Penalties
I have been asked to reply.
The Government issue operational guidance on the issuing of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) to police forces under section 6 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. This guidance sets out the criteria which should be considered by police officers and makes clear that PNDs should not be issued where the offence is too serious and/or it involves aggravating factors, for example, where a theft has been planned.
Following representations from the hon. Lady and retail trades, the guidance covering shoplifting is being revised to clarify further the type of theft offence for which a penalty notice may be suitable. The new guidance will be issued shortly. However, police officers are accustomed to distinguishing different circumstances in which offences are committed, and no specific guidance will be offered on distinguishing between opportunistic and planned theft.
We are also considering the use of PNDs for retail theft and will report our conclusions to the House shortly.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Sequestration
(2) which Government Departments contributed to the carbon capture and storage demonstration procurement project risk register;
(3) what level of (a) inherent and (b) residual risk has been assigned to each risk in the risk register for the carbon capture and storage demonstration project; and what steps (i) have been taken and (ii) are planned to be taken to mitigate each risk.
The carbon capture and storage demonstration project team maintains a register of the risks to the competition. In the register, the Department records risks and associated mitigating factors openly and honestly, and away from the gaze of the bidders. The release of this information would not be in the public interest because it might have an inhibiting effect on the frankness and candour of the risk assessments or on the assessment of likelihood and impact of risks, and its release would also prejudice the Department's commercial interests, in particular, the Department's bargaining position and its ability to negotiate a competitive deal with the bidders.
The risk register was originally created by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) but responsibility for it transferred to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) following its creation in October 2008. HM Treasury and Department for Transport indirectly contribute to the risk register through normal project governance. No other Government Departments have contributed to the risk register.
For the demonstration project announced in November 2007, we set out in the Project Information Memorandum the expectation that CCS technologies would be demonstrated on the flue gases of 300-400MW electrical output. The minimum requirement of net electrical output for this project will be confirmed in the invitation to negotiate to be issued to bidders.
We will shortly be consulting on proposals for additional demonstration projects and have already set out our intention to consult on a proposed 300MW net electrical output minimum requirement. The minimum requirement will be confirmed after the consultation has been completed.
(2) what the purpose of the carbon capture and storage demonstration procurement project risk register is; and if he will make a statement.
[holding answer 3 June 2009]: The carbon capture and storage demonstration procurement project risk register was created in June 2007 and was last updated on 29 May 2009.
The risk register is a repository of information about risks affecting the project. It provides identification, estimation, impact evaluation and countermeasures for all risks to the project. It acts as a control tool for the management team to manage the project’s exposure to risk and to keep that exposure to an acceptable level in a cost effective way. Risks are evaluated using assessments of likelihood, impact and proximity and are allocated to “owners” to ensure that agreed and documented actions are taken and reported on an ongoing basis.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley) on 4 June 2009, Official Report, column 631W.
Departmental Marketing
£191,638, excluding VAT.
Departmental Pay
The Department has yet to determine the end-of-year performance bonuses for all staff including senior civil service staff for the year 2008-09.
Departmental Safety
The Department occupy buildings and uses support services provided by both the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Compliance with the requirements of health and safety at work legislation are included in these services and not separately accounted for.
Departmental Training
This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Work Experience
Since its creation in October 2008 DECC has offered work placements to:
(a) Three school pupils
(b) Seven university students
(c) Two graduates
Electricite de France
No discussions have taken place with Vincent De Rivaz in respect of his statement in the Financial Times on 26 May 2009.
The Government agree with the point made by M. De Rivaz that a robust carbon price is likely to be one of the conditions for long-term investment in low carbon power stations like nuclear.
Government have said that the EU ETS will remain the key carbon pricing mechanism, and the Government are confident that they can provide a continuing price signal; however, the Government are keeping open the option of further measures to reinforce the operation of the EU ETS in the UK should this be necessary to provide greater certainty to investors.
Energy
[holding answer 21 May 2009]: As the Department responsible for energy and the generation sector, DECC has received a significant number of representations from the AEP and Drax since 2005. These representations concerned a wide range of issues relating to the generators' businesses and the energy market.
The proportion of UK demand met by fossil fuel sources in the years 1987 to 1989 was 92.5 per cent., 91.5 per cent. and 90.6 per cent. respectively. Provisional estimates suggest that 91.9 per cent. of UK energy demand was met by fossil fuel sources in 2008.
The following tables details the proportion of UK energy demand met from nuclear sources in the years 1987 through to 2008.
Percentage 1987 6.8 1988 7.8 1989 8.4 1990 7.6 1991 7.9 1992 8.5 1993 9.8 1994 9.7 1995 9.8 1996 9.6 1997 10.2 1998 10.2 1999 9.7 2000 8.4 2001 8.8 2002 8.7 2003 8.6 2004 7.8 2005 7.8 2006 7.4 2007 6.2 2008 5.5
Energy Industry: Job Creation
[holding answer 24 April 2009]: The UK has led the world in taking a strategic and long-term approach to the problem of climate change. Existing policies are already enabling £50 billion of low carbon investment over the three years to 2011, and helping to support 900,000 jobs. Budget 2009 builds on these foundations and provides over £1.4 billion of extra targeted support in the low carbon sector. Together with announcements made last autumn, these measures will enable an additional £10.4 billion of low carbon and energy investment over the next three years. This will help protect investment and jobs in the low carbon sector in the short term and provide the foundations for strong growth in the future.
Energy: Billing
Ministers have met with Ofgem and discussed a range of issues in the energy supply markets. Following the results of its probe into energy markets, Ofgem recently consulted on proposals designed to help consumers to make well-informed choices. The proposals include an obligation on suppliers to provide clearer information, including simplified information on tariffs to make comparison easier. The consultation closed on 29 May.
Energy: Finance
Since its creation on 3 October 2008, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has not spent any money from the public purse on the actual generation of energy from oil and gas fired, coal fired, nuclear power and renewable energy sources.
Financial support for renewable generation comes mainly through the renewables obligation, which is ultimately paid for by electricity consumers. The Government also pay grants towards the installation costs of a variety of renewable generation, and development of new technologies.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority currently has two operating nuclear power stations, the costs of running which are covered by the income that they generate.
Energy: Meters
The Government published a consultation on smart metering for electricity and gas on 11 May 2009 (available on the open consultations section of the DECC website). We look forward to receiving contributions to this consultation and we will engage with a wide range of stakeholders to gather views throughout the consultation period.
The Government published a consultation on smart metering for electricity and gas on 11 May 2009 (available on the open consultations section of the DECC website). The consultation document includes discussion of the programme of work that will be needed to prepare for the roll-out of smart meters. There will be a substantial programme to complete, including consideration of the most appropriate regulatory framework.
Energy: Prices
DECC’s analysis estimates that the benefits to the UK as a whole of measures to help avert climate change could outweigh the costs by more than 10 times. Where these measures lead to an international climate agreement consistent with delivering a 450 ppm stabilisation of GHG atmospheric concentrations, we estimate the total benefits at £241.9 billion. This compares with total costs of £20.6 billion. The Impact Assessment can be found at:
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/lc_uk/carbon_budgets/carbon_budgets.aspx
The Government are committed to ensuring that policies to avert climate change are cost-effective.
For household consumers, approximately 12 to 14 per cent. of current average electricity prices is attributable to measures to implement commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (the Renewables Obligation, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target).
For household gas consumers, approximately 2 per cent. of the average gas price is attributable to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target.
However the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target supports energy efficiency measures for households and so will deliver over time an overall saving on both gas and electricity bills greater than its total cost to consumers.
For medium industrial electricity consumers, approximately 20 per cent. of current average electricity bills is attributable to measures to implement commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (the Renewables Obligation, EU ETS and the Climate Change Levy).
On gas, approximately 7 per cent. of current average prices for a medium industrial gas consumer is attributable to the Climate Change Levy.
Actual proportions for individual industrial consumers will vary from these estimated averages according to the considerable ranges of prices paid and of consumption sizes. Impacts will generally be lower for those companies which have entered into Climate Change Agreements. The revenue raised by the Climate Change Levy is recycled back to business, primarily through a 0.3 percentage point reduction in employers’ national insurance contributions.
Floods
Taking each sector in turn:
(A) Electricity:
The then Energy Minister initiated an in depth review into the resilience of electricity substations to flood risk shortly after the floods of summer 2007. This review was led by the Electricity Networks Association (ENA) and included representatives from DECC, all electricity network owners, the Environment Agency (EA)/SEPA, the Met Office and Ofgem. The Pitt review team also attended several meetings of the review steering group. As a result of this work we are now at a position where:
The electricity network companies and the environment agency have completed a structured exchange of information that has enabled the companies to identify all the sites at risk to fluvial or tidal flooding.
There have been improvements made in the provision of flood warning information between the EA and the electricity sector. In particular the network owners now receive a daily risk based flood warning bulletin from the EA which is sent by e-mail.
All the electricity distribution companies have submitted investment plans to Ofgem as part of their current five year price reviews which include proposals to improve the flood resilience of major electricity substations.
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) will shortly be issuing an “Engineering Technical Recommendation”, essentially an agreed industry standard, setting out best practice for network owners in managing flood risk at major substations.
Company business continuity plans for flood risk have been significantly improved by the information that has emerged during the ENA led review.
Electricity companies have also undertaken certain strategic investments to improve their resilience to flood risk in the short term. For example the substations in Gloucester that were impacted by the flooding, at Walham and Castlemeads, now have permanent flood defence barriers and a number of companies have purchased relocatable flood defence systems. In addition companies have reviewed the design of large new substations at risk to flooding and have taken steps to raise them above the level of potential flood waters where appropriate.
(B) Gas and (C) Oil.
DECC has also completed a survey of both the gas and oil sectors to establish their awareness of flood risk and identify any significant risks to the continuity of supplies. Although inherently more resilient than the electricity networks, and with little evidence of supply problems due to flooding, a small number of residual risks were identified that could lead to local difficulties in the most severe flooding situations. The management of these risks is being progressed with the companies and their trade associations.
Fossil Fuel Levy: Scotland
[holding answer 2 June 2009]: The balance of the Scottish fossil fuel levy account was £153.2 million on 31 March 2009.
Fuel Oil: Lancashire
The domestic fuel oil consumption statistics for Lancashire are not available for the requested period of 1 November to 31 March as DECC only publish sub-national energy consumption statistics on a calendar year basis. The annual statistics are currently available for the years 2003 to 2006 and can be seen in the following table. It must be noted that the data are modelled and that there are methodological differences between 2003 and 2004 and the later years. The changes were recognised as improvements and as such the statistics gained National Statistics status in 2005. Details of all methodologies can be found at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/regional/other/page36195.html
Thousand tonnes of oil equivalent of fuel oil consumed by the domestic sector in Lancashire 2003 48.4 2004 44.4 2005 35.7 2006 37.4
No specific assessment has been made of the impact our energy efficiency policies have had on fuel oil consumption in Lancashire.
Fuel Poverty: North-West
DECC do not publish projections of energy prices. Ofgem have recently published their second quarterly report which provides greater transparency regarding the relationship between wholesale prices and retail energy prices.
This can be found at:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation. aspx?docid=98&refer=Markets/RetMkts/ensuppro
Fuels: Prices
DECC does not hold any data on electricity and gas bills on a monthly basis or by property size.
The Department’s latest estimates for the average annual domestic energy bills relate to the year to December 2008 and are published in Quarterly Energy Prices, the latest edition of which was published in March 2009, available online at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/prices/index.html/statistics/publications/prices/index.html
For an average consumer using 3,300 kWh of electricity and 18,000 kWh of gas per year and paying their bills on receipt (standard credit), in 2008 the average annual electricity bill was £405 and the average gas bill was £570.
Housing: Insulation
The following tables detail the number of homes insulated in (a) each region of England and (b) Darlington under Warm Front in the last five years.
Region 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 East Midlands 1— 2,904 9,087 9,320 8,562 East of England 1— 2,809 8,980 10,161 10,825 Greater London 9,795 5,079 4,952 6,041 6,105 North East England 10,913 5,463 6,049 4,833 3,353 North West England 33,478 18,930 24,541 20,988 19,166 South East England 13,602 8,709 9,751 8,684 8,889 South West England 12,038 7,487 8,161 8,296 7,987 West Midlands 20,520 11,112 12,844 11,958 10,522 Yorkshire and Humber 1— 4,202 11,283 13,385 9,845 1 Unavailable
Number 2004-05 581 2005-06 221 2006-07 305 2007-08 204 2008-09 134 Note: Households insulated may have received one or more measures, such as cavity wall and loft insulation. Additionally, figures for 2004-05 do not include the Eastern Region or Yorkshire and the Humber as these areas were managed by a different Scheme Manager at this time (Powergen) and the data retained are not sufficient to provide a consolidated response.
International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Co-operation
The International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Co-operation (IPEEC) was formally launched at the meeting of G8 Energy Ministers in Rome on 24 May 2009. IPEEC is intended as a high level forum to co-ordinate international action and facilitate the exchange of information in order to promote the development of effective policies and measures to promote energy efficiency globally.
The partnership will hold its first working level meetings later this year at which the detailed work programme and the indicative budget for the IPEEC will be determined. IPEEC's Terms of Reference provide for all resource contributions, whether in-kind or financial, to be made on a voluntary basis.
The Secretariat for the IPEEC will be hosted by the International Energy Agency and nationals of all the partner countries will be eligible to apply for posts within the Secretariat. The Secretariat will have an important role to play in disseminating the output from the IPEEC work programme through workshops, publications, electronic communication tools and input to wider international energy and climate change processes. We hope that IPEEC will quickly expand beyond its founding members (the G8, China, India, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico and the European Commission). At the G8 Energy Ministers meeting the partners issued an open invitation for all interested countries to join IPEEC. We will report on progress when we report on our international energy strategy as part of the DECC Annual Report.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme
[holding answer 8 May 2009]: Under Phase 2 of the low carbon buildings programme the number of (a) solar photovoltaic (PV) and (b) other projects have been completed are shown in the following table. To date £27.3 million has been committed to solar photovoltaic projects and 155 projects are awaiting approval, which should bring the total commitment to £31.5 million. A further 150 solar photovoltaic projects will be held on a waiting list.
Technology type Committed payment to projects Number of projects paid Solar photovoltaic 1,212 467 Solar thermal hot water 401 93 Wind turbines 171 41 Ground source heat pumps 213 56 Automated wood pellet stoves 0 0 Wood fuelled boiler systems 30 13 Total 2,027 670
Mines Rescue Service: Finance
[holding answer 1 June 2009]: Although the Coal Forum has in the past discussed various aspects of mines rescue provision and its financing, the issue of financial bonds in relation to European Commission research projects has not been specifically raised with it. I have, however, asked my officials to establish with Mines Rescue Services Ltd. the extent to which the bonding requirements in question continue to pose operational difficulties for the company and, if so, to advise me what steps might be taken to mitigate them.
Plutonium
Those invited to the meeting on 21 May were:
1. Allerdale borough council
2. Copeland borough council
3. Cumbria county council
4. Highland council
5. Shetland Highland council
6. SERA
7. Greenpeace
8. Core
9. Nuclear institute
10. Nuclear Free Local Authorities Steering Committee
11. Isle of Man Government
12. Irish Government
13. Nuclear Industry Association
14. Scottish Government
15. Welsh Assembly
16. NuLeAF
17. Corwm
18. Friends of the Earth
19. West Cumbria Site Stakeholder Group
20. Dounreay Site Stakeholder Group
21. Dr. Rachel Western
22. Dr. David Lowry.
Of those who were invited, Greenpeace, Nuclear institute, Nuclear Free Local Authorities Steering Committee, Irish Government, Isle of Man Government, Nuclear Industry Association, Copeland borough council, Cumbria county council, Shetland Highland council, Scottish Government, NuLeAF, Corwm, West Cumbria Site Stakeholder Group, Dounreay Site Stakeholder Group and Dr. Rachel Western accepted. Only the Welsh Assembly formally declined as they were unavailable.
The total cost of the meeting, including the meeting room hire and the facilitators, was about £6,200.
Expenses were not paid to those attending.
Two officials attended the meeting. Their travel and accommodation costs were about £700.
The meeting was facilitated by the Environment Council who helped organise and conduct the meeting.
Regional Electricity Companies
[holding answer 20 May 2009]: According to departmental records there have been no representations to the Secretary of State from either the Association of Electricity Producers or Drax Power Limited concerning the effects of implementing the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
Renewable Energy
The EU renewables directive has set targets to member states for the amount of energy from renewable sources. The following table shows information held by the Department for each of the EU member states, on a comparable basis for 1995 and 2005, as well as the normalised hydro basis, as calculated by Eurostat, for 2005.
The Department does not hold information on the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources in each of the EU member states—this can be found on the Eurostat website.
Share of renewable sources in final consumption of energy, 1995 Share of renewable sources in final consumption of energy, 2005 Share of renewable sources in final consumption of energy, 2005, after normalisation of hydro Sweden 35.7 40.8 39.8 Latvia 30.2 35.5 34.9 Finland 25.3 28.5 28.5 Austria 26.0 23.0 23.3 Romania 9.3 19.2 17.8 Estonia 9.3 18.0 18.0 Portugal 22.8 17.0 20.5 Denmark 8.3 17.0 17.0 Lithuania 9.5 15.1 15.0 Slovenia 13.2 14.9 16.0 Bulgaria 2.6 10.6 9.4 France 11.4 9.5 10.3 Spain 8.2 7.6 8.7 Greece 7.9 7.5 6.9 Poland 6.0 7.2 7.2 Slovakia 3.8 6.9 6.7 Czech Republic 2.2 6.3 6.1 Germany 2.3 5.9 5.8 Italy 4.3 4.6 5.2 Hungary 3.5 4.3 4.3 Ireland 2.0 3.0 3.1 Cyprus 2.3 2.9 2.9 Netherlands 1.2 2.4 2.4 Belgium 1.1 2.2 2.2 UK 1.0 1.3 1.3 Luxembourg 0.8 0.9 0.9 Malta 0.0 0.0 0.0
The proportion of UK electricity generation from renewable sources for 2006 and 2007 are given in the following table. Data for 2008 will be available on 25 June 2009.
UK electricity generation (GWh) UK electricity generation from renewables (GWh) Renewables share of generation (percentage) 2006 397,855 18,116 4.6 2007 396,142 19,664 5.0 Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2008, tables 5.6 and 7.4, as updated on 23 December 2008. Available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page45537.html
Renewable Energy: River Severn
–The Government’s current feasibility study has cost approximately £3 million since 2008. A study by the Sustainable Development Commission in 2007 (which covered all UK tidal power) received £400,000 of public funding. A report by Sir Robert McAlpine Limited in 2002 received £50,000 funding, and approximately £2.8 million was spent on a major study in 1987.
Severn tidal power has also been addressed at other times over the period as part of the wider assessment of UK marine energy potential. However there would be a disproportionate cost involved in obtaining accurate figures for spending related to energy from the Severn.
Renewable Energy: Scotland
[holding answer 2 June 2009]: None.
Solar Power: Finance
An additional £45 million was announced in the Budget on 22 April 2009 for the low carbon buildings programme. This funding provides additional support of £10 million to households applying under phase 1 of the scheme.
We are considering the case on whether there is merit to increase the grant levels for the installation of solar panels. A decision will be made shortly.
THORP
THORP has not been closed; it is currently operating, albeit on a batch basis where each batch has its own safety justification. Existing policy for THORP is the plant will continue to operate until existing contracts have been completed or the plant is no longer economic.
Trade Unions
Wind Power
In line with Government targets for delivering 15 per cent. renewable energy by 2020, we do expect an increase in the deployment of renewable energy, including wind farms, over the next three years. The scale of the increase in wind turbines over this period will depend on how quickly the market brings forward projects, and developers are able to obtain planning consent or construct projects which already have consent.
As an indication of the potential increase in the amount of wind energy over the next three years, 181 onshore and offshore wind developments (7393.4 MWe) have already received consent and are awaiting construction. A further 194 onshore and offshore wind projects (7316.8 MWe) are currently in the planning system1. Those in the planning system may or may not be consented. The timing of construction of those wind farms that have been consented depends on the developers’ plans. Planning applications for further projects for wind farms may also come forward in this timeframe.
The effect that new wind farms will have on UK annual carbon dioxide emissions will depend on the speed of the build rate. It is estimated that in 2007 wind power saved 501 tonnes of CO2 per GWh of electricity supplied compared with emissions from all fuel sources, including nuclear and renewables2.
Our Renewable Energy Strategy consultation last summer estimated that meeting the 15 per cent. renewable energy target could save about 20 Mt CO2 a year in 2020 outside the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and contribute around 50 to 55 Mt CO2 a year to meeting our ETS cap.
1 Source:
AEA Technology, May 2009
2 Source:
Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2008
Wind Power: South Downs
The Department does not hold information on the award of contracts for any proposed wind farms in the South Downs National Park.
Contracting for the construction of wind turbines is a commercial matter for the developer of the proposed project.
I am told that the Department does not hold this information. The contracting arrangements of wind farm projects are a commercial matter for the developer concerned.
There have been no discussions between my Department and the management of Vesta on the issue of wind turbines in South Downs National Park.
The Department does not hold this information. It is a matter for the Vesta.
Children, Schools and Families
Children: Databases
[holding answer 1 June 2009]: Organisations, who implement a wireless network in accordance with the relevant HMG security policy, may allow users to access ContactPoint via that method. Technical security measures prevent access to ContactPoint from anything other than an approved network and it is not possible to gain access to ContactPoint from unsecured wireless broadband or public locations such as internet cafes and wireless “hotspots”.
Departmental Manpower
As of 31 May 2009, 327 officials work in the Department’s Young People Directorate (YPD):
That figure includes staff working for the following Groups:
Young People’s Participation and Attainment Group: 71
Young People: Qualification Strategy and Reform Group: 90
Apprenticeships Group: 15
These figures include 23 officials in the Joint Youth Justice Unit, which reports jointly to Young People Directorate in the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and Criminal Justice Group in the Ministry of Justice. The figure for Apprenticeships Group includes 13 officials working in the Joint Apprenticeship Unit, which reports to both DCSF and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
GCSE: Mathematics
I have been asked to reply.
The following table shows the number of achievements by learners in LSC-funded further education provision of GCSE Mathematics in each academic year since 2003-04, the earliest year for which we have comparable information.
Age 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 Under 16 100 100 — 100 100 16-18 26,900 26,600 26,100 25,900 24,900 19-25 4,800 4,800 4,900 4,800 4,500 Over 25 8,700 8,800 7,800 7,100 6,200 Total 40,400 40,300 38,800 37,900 35,700 Notes: 1. Age is based on age as at 31 August (academic age). 2. This information does not include learners studying GCSE Mathematics in Schools, higher education institutions or privately funded learners. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 4. ‘—’ indicates less than 50. 5. Figures include achievements at any grade. Source: FE ILF
Awarding body data on GCSE examination entries is analysed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of the Secondary School Achievement and Attainment Tables publication. However, this work only covers young people at the end of key stage 4. Therefore, we do not have information readily available on all learners being entered for GCSE Mathematics examinations.
Due to the increased number of pupils taking and successfully passing a Maths GCSE at school, we would expect the volume of learners studying this qualification at a further education college to fall. In 1997, there were 534.7 thousand 15-year-olds (academic age) attempting GCSE Mathematics and 250.3 thousand achieving a C grade or higher (around 50 per cent. of those attempting the subject). In 2004, 606.0 thousand pupils attempted GCSE Mathematics at the end of key stage 4 with 318.9 thousand achieving a grade A*-C (around 53 per cent. of those attempting the subject). In 2008, 609.7 thousand pupils attempted GCSE Mathematics at the end of key stage 4, with 361.1 thousand achieving a grade A*-C (59 per cent. of those attempting the subject).
A GCSE may not necessarily be the most appropriate learning outcome for many learners and colleges have been encouraged to advise learners to study the most relevant qualification to them. Many learners who may previously have undertaken a GCSE in Mathematics now have their numeracy needs picked up through embedded learning in other courses.
Over the past few years the Government have prioritised investment in adult skills towards those courses that best provide individuals with the skills to enter into sustained employment and progress into further learning. In 2007/08 464,000 learners achieved a Numeracy Skills for Life qualification.
Pre-school education
Information on the number of state-funded nursery places in each local authority area is not collected centrally.
The Department publishes information on the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four year olds. This is derived by counting children taking up 12 and a half hours per week as one place, 10 hours per week as 0.8 places, seven and a half hours per week as 0.6 places, five hours per week as 0.4 places and two and a half hours per week as 0.2 places.
The latest information on the number of free early education places filled by three and four year olds can be found in Table 5 of the Statistical First Release (SFR) 12/2008 “Provision for children under five years of age in England, January 2008” which is available on the Department’s website at:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000790/index.shtml
Racial Harassment: Barnsley
Information is not collected in the form requested.
Information on the reason for exclusion from school is broken down into a number of categories. While there are categories for ‘racist abuse’ and ‘physical assault against an adult’ the categories are not broken down to specifically cover racist attacks on teachers.
Exclusions statistics for 2006/07, including breakdown by reason for exclusion, were published in SFR 14/2008 ‘Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusions from Schools in England 2006/07’ which is available at:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000793/index.shtml
Exclusions statistics for 2007/08 are scheduled to be published in the summer; information for 2008/09 is expected to be published in summer 2010.
Statistics are not collected by the Department on the numbers of pupils disciplined for particular kinds of behaviour.
Truancy: Greater Manchester
The Ministry of Justice collects data for England and Wales on prosecutions brought against parents under the Education Act 1996 for the offence under s444(1) of failing to secure their child’s regular attendance at school; and for prosecutions under s444(1A), the aggravated offence of knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly. It is possible, because of the way courts record data that some data is collected under the more general heading of various offences under the Education Act 1996.
The information on the number of parents sentenced and given fines in the Greater Manchester area is detailed in the table. The data for 2008 will be published this autumn. The Ministry of Justice only collects information on sentencing based on police force regions.
The Department also collects and publishes data on penalty notices (fines) issued by local authorities in England to parents for not securing their child’s regular attendance at school. The figures for the last four years for each local authority in the Greater Manchester region are detailed in the following table.
Detail Fined 2003 Parent failing to secure their child’s regular attendance at school 155 Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 3 2004 Parent failing to secure their child’s regular attendance at school 154 Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 24 2005 Parent failing to secure their child’s regular attendance at school 176 Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 58 2006 Parent failing to secure their child’s regular attendance at school 492 Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 51 2007 Parent failing to secure their child’s regular attendance at school 481 Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 105 1 These data are extracted on the principal offence basis. Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. Source: QMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice
Number of PNs for unauthorised absence over: Bolton Bury Manchester Oldham Rochdale Salford Stockport Tameside Trafford Wigan 2004/05 4 53 271 31 0 2 40 6 0 37 2005/06 295 61 118 88 27 416 320 90 8 113 2006/07 228 61 195 80 97 508 329 0 9 198 2007/08 198 106 278 124 211 242 154 30 34 202 Source: Department for Children, Schools and Families data March 2009
Young Offender Institutions: Education
Education in public sector young offender institutions (YOIs) in England is currently provided by contractors appointed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
The LSC learning providers are contracted to deliver a minimum of 15 hours per learner per week. The delivery of the remaining hours to meet the Youth Justice Board requirement of 25 hours per learner per week is the responsibility of the Prison Service. Therefore the figures below do not represent the total spend on education and training or the total average number hours of education and training received by juvenile young people in YOIs because they do not include provision funded and delivered by the Prison Service delivered as part of the wider regimes.
The following table shows the Learning and Skills Council’s total spend in each YOI in the academic year 2007/08 (the most recent figures available) and the average number of hours per learner per week engaged in LSC funded learning and skills which this funding represented.
Some YOIs are ‘split-site’ and contain both ‘juveniles’ (young people mostly aged 15-17, and some 18 year olds near the end of their sentence), and ‘young adults’ aged 18-20, and the figures below cover juveniles only. The data for ‘young adults’ are collected differently and cannot be readily extracted in the same way.
Establishment Spend (£) Average hours per learner per week for those engaged in learning Castington (split site)1 1,244,101.00 18.04 Lancaster Farms 982,054.00 18.05 Hindley 1,764,889.00 16.94 Eastwood Park 255,015.00 16.15 Brinsford (split site)1 1,256,545.00 14.03 Cookham Wood 259,989.00 2— Downview 252,109.00 19.88 Feltham (split site)1 1,907,053.00 22.71 Foston Hall 249,403.00 19.29 Huntercombe 2,256,948.00 14.74 New Hall 383,455.00 22.07 Stoke Heath (split site)1 1,729,089.00 11.38 Warren Hill 1,653,539.00 12.46 Werrington 1,015,765.00 15.36 Wetherby 2,045,829.00 17.94 Total 17,255,789.00 317.07 1 The funding against the split sites only applies to the 15-17 year olds, and does not include the 18-21 (for which the figures cannot be extracted) 2 Between January 2008 and April 2008 there were no young people in Cookham Wood therefore it is not possible to calculate an average that can reasonably be compared to other establishments. 3 This average excludes Cookham Wood
Work and Pensions
Departmental Stationery
During the period April 2008 to March 2009, approximately 94 per cent. of office supplies purchased by DWP were recycled products.
Incapacity Benefit
Information on the number of people claiming incapacity benefit and receiving treatment for drug addiction problems and alcohol addiction problems is not available in the form requested.
We estimate that around 350,000 of the around 400,000 heroin and crack cocaine users in Britain are in receipt of working-age benefits. Research has recently been commissioned to assess the prevalence of alcohol misuse in the benefit system.
Health
Carers: Expenditure
Primary care trust (PCT) expenditure on carers’ breaks and respite care is not collected centrally. The actual level of spend in each year is for PCTs to decide locally in the light of their local circumstances, and priorities as set out in the NHS Operating Framework and Vital Signs.
Community Care: Elderly
The Government recognise the importance of a diverse range of housing support being available and that this helps people live independently within their own homes.
The forthcoming “care and support” Green Paper will lay out a series of options around reforming the care and support system, to ensure that care is high quality and cost-effective; that people have choice and control over the care they receive and that the funding system is fair, sustainable, and affordable for individuals and the state. The detail of the Green Paper will be revealed when it is published later this month.
Dental Services: Per Capita Costs
The NHS Information Centre for health and social care published the following report on 26 March 2008: “NHS Expenditure for General Dental Services and Personal Dental Services: England 1997/98—2005/06”. This report has been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalexpend1997to2006
The report includes information on primary dental care expenditure per population by primary care trust (PCT) for 1997-98 to 2005-06 in tables A2 and B2 of annex 3. table A2 relates to ‘gross’ expenditure and table B2 relates to ‘net’ expenditure. ‘Gross’ expenditure refers to the full cost of the payments recorded; ‘net’ expenditure reflects the cost of these payments to the NHS after the deduction of income from NHS dental charges paid by patients.
This information is based on the old contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. Further notes to aid interpretation of the information are shown in the ‘Contents and Notes’ page of annex 3.
Data on primary dental care expenditure in 2006-07 and 2007-08 can be extracted from the notes of PCT accounts (accounts data for 2008-09 are not yet available) and per capita expenditure calculated. The data reflect the new contract framework for primary dental care services introduced from 1 April 2006, and incorporate additional service costs such as the employers’ superannuation contributions payable on behalf of primary care dentists. They also reflect the revised PCT structures introduced from 1 October 2006. The new data series is therefore not fully comparable with the pre-2006 data provided in the NHS Information Centre report. Information on the gross and net expenditure per capita for each primary care trust in England is set out in a table which has also been placed in the Library.
As patients may attend dentists at any locality of their choice, the level of service provision in a PCT may not be directly related to the size of its resident population.
Depressive Illnesses
We have had no discussions with any organisation regarding the draft National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guideline on the treatment and management of depression in adults.
The Department is a stakeholder in the development of this guideline and has responded to the recent consultation on the draft guidance.
Epilepsy
We have made no estimate of the number of patients with suspected epilepsy who died between first presentation and first appointment with a specialist.
Information on the number of people seriously injured, where epilepsy was a contributing factor, is not collected centrally.
This information is not held centrally. The Department does not collect the data that would be needed to identify what part of the research and development funding allocated to organisations in Leicester has been spent in support of research into epilepsy.
Funding for the treatment of epilepsy is part of the general funding allocation given to primary care trusts (PCTs) and therefore cannot be identified. This information can be acquired from PCTs directly.
Health Services: Conditions of Employment
There were two meetings nationally with the trades union representatives of national health service staff about the “Transforming Community Services: Enabling new patterns of provision” guidance, which was published in January 2009. A copy has been placed in the Library. These meetings were held on 18 November and 8 December 2008, and comments and contributions from those present influenced significantly the content of the final guidance. The union representatives were a sub-group of members of the Social Partnership Forum, and they discussed the potential implications for NHS staff. NHS clinical staff and trade union representatives are also members of the board for the Transforming Community Services programme.
The six transformational practice guides (written principally for clinical team leaders), which are due to be published in June 2009, have also been co-produced with NHS staff.
Hospital Wards: Gender
I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 5 May 2009, Official Report, columns 107-08W.
Copies of the strategic health authority (SHA) plans regarding schemes for the Privacy and Dignity Expenditure have already been placed in the Library. Information is not available to confirm the funding for each individual project. However each SHA will be required to submit a report in early July confirming the delivery of their plans. These will also be made available in the Library once received.
Hospitals: Bristol
The capital value of the new private finance initiative (PFI) hospital development is £430 million. The appointment of preferred bidder business case on the scheme, currently being considered by the Department, includes a proposal for a payment from the trust to the contractor of £7.6 million in advance of financial close. This is for enabling works to have the development site ready for construction of the new hospital.
Additional development works are already under way on the trust site under a separate public capital funded contract.
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will issue statutory guidance for local authorities to clarify their roles and responsibilities under the duty to promote democracy, including the requirements on them in respect of various national health service bodies. We will work with our colleagues in DCLG in the development of the guidance which will be the subject of consultation before publication.
Lung Cancer
This information is not held centrally.
Lyme Disease
(2) what recent advice on Lyme disease his Department has received from the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens; and at what date such advice was received.
The National Expert Panel on New and Emerging Infections (NEPNEI) concluded, in November 2004, that Lyme disease was the most significant public health vector-borne disease in the United Kingdom. The Panel considered incidence and detection of disease in the UK and modes of transmission.
In 2006, the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, asked Professor Brian Duerden, the Inspector of Microbiology and an assessor member of both NEPNEI and the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP), to conduct an investigation into the use of unvalidated tests in the diagnosis of Lyme disease. His report “The use of unorthodox and unvalidated laboratory tests in the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis and in relation to medically unexplained symptoms”, has been placed in the Library.
Since then, the Department has received regular advice on Lyme disease from Professor Duerden, the latest of which was in February 2009, confirming that the current guidance for clinicians on the detection, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease as published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is entirely appropriate for the management of Lyme disease in the UK. Advice was also received confirming that only validated tests that conform to the internationally agreed criteria for the diagnosis of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent for Lyme disease, should be used for the diagnosis of Lyme disease. This advice is consistent with that on the HPA’s website.
The HPA is also represented on both NEPNEI and ACDP.
Memory Clinics
The information requested on the number of memory clinics for dementia sufferers established nationally and in Gloucestershire in each of the last five years is not collected centrally. It is for primary care trusts to decide on the number and location of memory clinics depending on local circumstances.
Mental Health Services
Men and women should not share sleeping accommodation, bedrooms or bed bays, or sanitary provision on mental health units. Effective gender separation can be provided in single sex wards or on mixed sex wards. Currently, 70 per cent. of sleeping accommodation in the mental health estate is in single rooms.
In January 2009, the Department announced a package of measures designed to help hospitals all but eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, the “Same-sex accommodation: your privacy, our responsibility” campaign. This includes:
a £100 million Privacy and Dignity Fund to support improvements and adjustments to hospital accommodation;
providing good practice information and guidance to trusts;
sending an improvement team to hospitals that need extra support; and
introducing rigorous and transparent performance measures.
Primary care trusts are required to work with local providers, including mental health trusts, to deliver substantial and meaningful reductions in the number of service users that report sharing sleeping or sanitary accommodation with members of the opposite sex and to increase the provision of women-only day space in mental health units.
Guidance on achieving effective gender separation on mental health units has been published in the Institute for Innovation and Improvements guide on mixed sex accommodation and in the mental health capital project commissioning guide “Laying the Foundations”.
Mental Health Services: Hospital Beds
We do not collect the exact data requested centrally. However, the following table shows mental health in-patient beds in each provider trust, a number of which will be primary care trusts.
Org ID Name Total 2007-08 England 26,406 2007-08 RR7 Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust 76 2007-08 RX4 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust 993 2007-08 RTF Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 74 2007-08 RX3 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust 809 2007-08 RTV 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust 347 2007-08 RXV Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust 619 2007-08 RXA Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust 329 2007-08 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 810 2007-08 TAE Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust 292 2007-08 RW4 Mersey Care NHS Trust 444 2007-08 RNN North Cumbria Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Trust 190 2007-08 RT2 Pennine Care NHS Trust 510 2007-08 5JE Barnsley PCT 78 2007-08 TAD Bradford District Care Trust 279 2007-08 RXE Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust 332 2007-08 RV9 Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 203 2007-08 RGD Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 345 2007-08 TAN North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus 34 2007-08 5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 55 2007-08 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 303 2007-08 TAH Sheffield Care Trust 273 2007-08 RXG South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust 417 2007-08 RXM Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust 346 2007-08 RT5 Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust 434 2007-08 RP7 Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust 221 2007-08 RP1 Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust 238 2007-08 RHA Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 1,079 2007-08 RXT Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust 797 2007-08 RYG Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust 345 2007-08 5PE Dudley PCT 127 2007-08 5CN Herefordshire PCT 76 2007-08 RLY North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 245 2007-08 TAJ Sandwell Mental Health NHS and Social Care Trust 150 2007-08 RRE South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 422 2007-08 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 118 2007-08 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 76 2007-08 RWQ Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 202 2007-08 RV7 Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust 257 2007-08 RT1 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 319 2007-08 RWR Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust 444 2007-08 RMY Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 453 2007-08 RRD North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 387 2007-08 RWN South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 511 2007-08 RT6 Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 202 2007-08 RRP Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust 619 2007-08 TAF Camden and Islington Mental Health And Social Care Trust 377 2007-08 RV3 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust 734 2007-08 RWK East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 655 2007-08 RAT North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 416 2007-08 RPG Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 484 2007-08 RV5 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 1,084 2007-08 RQY South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust 706 2007-08 RRV University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 10 2007-08 RKL West London Mental Health NHS Trust 596 2007-08 RXY Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust 602 2007-08 RXX Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust 432 2007-08 RX2 Sussex Partnership NHS Trust 701 2007-08 RWX Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 245 2007-08 RW1 Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust 577 2007-08 5QT Isle of Wight NHS PCT 70 2007-08 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 64 2007-08 RNU Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 430 2007-08 5FE Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 159 2007-08 RVN Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 729 2007-08 RJ8 Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust 162 2007-08 RWV Devon Partnership NHS Trust 341 2007-08 5QQ Devon PCT 15 2007-08 RDY Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust 290 2007-08 5QM Dorset PCT 123 2007-08 RTQ Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust 184 2007-08 RVJ North Bristol NHS Trust 20 2007-08 5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 117 2007-08 RH5 Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust 205 Source: The Department of Health form KH03
Myasthenia Gravis
Data on the average waiting time for treatment for those diagnosed with myasthenia gravis are not collected centrally.
Organs
We understand from the Human Tissue Authority that the findings will be published later in the year.
This information is not collected by the Department.
Treasury
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
(2) how many staff have been employed for the purposes of Sir John Chadwick's review of the payment of compensation to Equitable Life policy-holders;
(3) what the salary is of each member of staff employed for the purposes of Sir John Chadwick's review of the payment of compensation to Equitable Life policy-holders;
(4) which agency was used to recruit staff for the purposes of Sir John Chadwick's review of the payment of compensation to Equitable Life policy-holders.
The Government are committed to giving Sir John Chadwick all the support he needs. He is currently assisted by a core team of three staff in his office: counsel, private secretary and administrative support, and his team will be joined shortly by professional actuarial advisers. The Treasury keeps Sir John’s resource requirements under review and will fund any additional staff for his office he believes necessary to meet his terms of reference in a timely way.
No agency was used. Sir John is responsible for recruiting his staff and services, using a competitive procurement process to buy the services. The salaries of each member of the team constitute personal data and release of this data would breach the Data Protection Act 1998 as it would disclose personal financial information without public interest justification.
Gold and Foreign Exchange Reserves
It is not possible to provide a consistent series for the official reserves before 1999, given changes in accounting methodology. Back data for the UK's official reserves prior to 1999 can be found on the ONS publication, “Economic Trends Annual Supplement No. 32 2006 edition.”
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/ETSupp2006.pdf
Detailed historical data for the official reserves on a consistent basis from July 1999 can be found on the Bank of England website:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/reserves/index.htm
This information can be found at:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/reserves/Tempoutput.pdf
Housing: Sales
(2) what steps he plans to take to increase the level of consumer protection in the sale and rent back market;
(3) when he expects a new framework for the regulation of the sale and rent back market to be implemented; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will extend the remit of the Financial Services Authority to regulate sale and rent back agreements.
On 2 June 2009, the Government laid before Parliament secondary legislation to extend the scope of Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulation to include sale and rent back agreements, and published, “Regulating the sale and rent back market: summary of responses to consultation”, available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_sale_rent.htm
Members: Correspondence
A reply has been sent to the right hon. Member.
Revenue and Customs
Correspondence received by HM Revenue and Customs on paper is manually stamped with the date the letter was received and the name of the receiving office. For correspondence which is scanned the date of receipt is recorded electronically. E-mails and faxes have the date of receipt automatically recorded.
Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have no right of forced entry for debt recovery work without a court order. HMRC’s current small scale six month pilot to test the use of private debt collection agencies does not involve face to face contact or visits to home or business premises.
Taxation
The figures are in the following table:
(a) Total cost of administration 2007-08 (£000) (b) Cost per thousand of revenue collected 2007-08 (£) (i) Value Added Tax 451,055 5.55 (ii) Income Tax 1,754,362 11.58 (iii) English local authority revenues1 Council tax 484,000 20.20 National non domestic rates 99,000 5.40 1 Information relates to England only, and can be found in the Local Government Financial Statistics volume 19, at: http://www.cornmunities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/financialstatistics192009
Revenue raised by local authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the respective devolved administrations.
Communities and Local Government
Allotments
At a meeting between my noble Friend Baroness Andrews and allotment policy stakeholders on 20 February 2009, it was agreed that the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens should be commissioned to update the Local Government Association (LGA) publication “Growing in the Community” and that this should be made available online, to ensure that it reaches a wider audience. “Growing in the Community” is a good practice guide for local authority allotment officers, which assists them in their statutory duty to provide allotments. A free copy was sent to all local authorities following its revision in March 2008 and it is available on request from the LGA.
In respect of research into the potential contribution of allotments, my officials have started discussions with DEFRA about jointly commissioning research to identify and collect evidence on how communities can be engaged and empowered to realise the benefits of urban green spaces (including allotments), which align with key Government priorities.
Departmental Film
The Department does not maintain a central record of films produced. A range of short films produced in digital format during the period specified have been published on the Department’s YouTube channel at:
www.youtube.com/user/CommunitiesUK
In addition, the Department’s Communication Directorate has produced one internal film, entitled “Making it Happen”, in a digital format for the purpose of introducing departmental values to staff.
Departmental Legal Costs
The legal costs incurred by the Department amounted to £43,930. These included the cost of representing the Board of Medical Referees. Any costs incurred by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority are a matter for the authority.
The Department will also pay the appellants' reasonable costs in the Court of Appeal as are agreed or, if not, following a detailed assessment.
Departmental Marketing
The Department buys advertising space via the central contracts operated by the Central Office of Information. They have confirmed that the Department spent £405,165 in total on regional press advertising through the COI last year, £1,184,904 in total in 2007-08 and £646,826 in total in 2006-07.
COI do not hold records of any such spend by CLG’s predecessor Departments in the period requested.
Departmental Publications
(2) how many staff were employed to produce her Department’s We Can publication; what the job title is of each such member of staff; and how much has been spent on staff salaries for those staff in each of the last three years;
(3) how many copies of each edition of her Department’s We Can publication have been printed; and what the cost of (a) publishing and (b) printing the publication has been in each of the last three years;
(4) what budget has been allocated to her Department’s Local Democracy and Participation Directorate for production of the We Can document in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.
In the last four quarters we have produced three editions of WeCan! The publication is distributed to 1,350 subscribers comprising local authorities (county, district and parish levels), third sector and voluntary organisations, Government Departments, housing, police and health organisations and tenant associations, think tanks, charities, minority representative groups, university departments, NHS trusts and community groups. In each quarter 1,350 print copies were distributed to subscribers with the remainder provided for internal staff, partner organisations and for distribution at conferences and events.
There is no dedicated member of staff working on the WeCan! publication, it is part of one person’s wider job remit.
In 2006-07 three editions were produced and 2,000 copies were printed per edition. In 2007-08 two editions were produced and 3,000 copies were printed for each edition and in 2008-09 three editions were produced and 3,000 copies were printed for each edition. The total publishing and printing costs for these were £21,000 in 2006-07, £17,000 in 2007-08 and £38,000 in 2008-09.
The funding for meeting these costs was allocated to the local democracy and participation directorate for the production of the WeCan! publication in each of the last three years.
Departmental Security
In the last five years there have been eight breaches of security. These are:
Security breaches Fire Service College 6 Ordnance Survey 2 Planning Inspectorate 0 QE2 conference centre 0
The Department and its agencies report all significant personal data security breaches to the Cabinet Office and the Information Commissioner’s Office. Information on personal data security breaches is published on an annual basis in the Department’s annual resources accounts as was announced in the data handling review published on 25 June 2008.
Additionally, all significant control weaknesses including other significant security breaches are included in the statement of internal control which is published within the annual resource accounts.
Departmental Training
The information has been deposited in the Library of the House.
Economic and Monetary Union
Euro Ministers are responsible for euro preparations in their department and attend Euro Ministers Steering Group meetings. Meetings are held only when necessary to discuss practical preparations to ensure a smooth changeover.
Eco-Towns: Publicity
The cost and work of the four agencies referred to by the hon. Member is as follows:
Company Work commissioned Cost (£) Redhouse Lane Design work 49,996 Skyline Whitespace Exhibitions 7,870 Transmedia Website transcription 200 Louise Burston Photography 1,006
Fires
The item first ignited is recorded in the statistical reporting of fire incidents. Pushchairs and infant car seats would both be recorded in the category ‘other’. Consequently statistics on the incidence of such fires cannot be derived.
HomeBuy Scheme
The Department commissioned the design of the current HomeBuy brand logo mark through the Central Office of Information, who assigned the advertising agency Chick Smith Trott under standard COI terms and conditions. Under these terms the intellectual property and copyright in the design transfers to the Crown.
Housing: Energy
All new homes built in England in the last five years have been required to meet the energy efficiency standards set out in part L of the Building Regulations. Part L standard for new homes was raised by 25 per cent. in 2002 and by a further 20 per cent. in 2006. This requirement will progressively increase leading up to the target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016.
Housing: Expenditure
Information on public expenditure on housing and community amenities, including on housing development, is available in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2008 (PESA)
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pespub_pesa08.htm
published by HM Treasury. Spending by my Department on housing in England is also set out in the Department’s published annual reports. Further analysis to disaggregate the element to support the construction of new housing stock, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Within Communities and Local Government, the Affordable Housing programme is the primary route for funding the construction of new affordable housing in England; this is now delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency. Figures for allocations made through the Affordable Housing programme specifically for new affordable housing provision, are only readily available from 1999-2000 and are shown in the table: figures further back than that could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Total (£ million) 1999-2000 417 2000-01 493 2001-02 652 2002-03 800 2003-04 1,387 2004-05 1,639 2005-06 1,316 2006-07 2,092 2007-08 2,068 2008-09 2,587
Housing: Floods
This information is not held centrally. The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 gives local authorities wide powers to provide assistance for repairs, improvements, adaptations and to demolish and re-construct homes. Local authorities must have policies in place setting out how they will use these powers and they must make summaries of their policy available. If they wish to use the funding attached to this for flood resilience measures they can do so without specific instruction.
DEFRA has provided funding for LAs to assist home owners to protect their homes from flooding through the property level flood protection grant scheme.
Housing: Low Incomes
Data on the number of new tenancies initiated under the Rent to HomeBuy scheme are not held centrally.
Under Rent to HomeBuy prospective purchasers rent a home for up to five years with the opportunity to buy on shared ownership terms during or at the end of this period.
When the tenant subsequently buys an initial share in due course, this information will be recorded on CORE (continuous recording) sales returns from registered social landlords to the Tenant Services Authority.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett) gave to him on 6 May 2009, Official Report, column 244W, 19 May 2009, Official Report, column 1357W, and 21 May 2009, Official Report, columns 1540W and 1546W respectively.
The Tenants Services Authority has not provided any funding to the Rent to HomeBuy scheme. All investment in this scheme by Communities and Local Government has been directed through the Homes and Communities Agency.
Housing: Regeneration
The date, venue and number of attendees for each event are set out in the table.
Region Location Attendees 3 September National—for corporate/professional bodies British Library, London 83 11 September South West Thistle Hotel, Exeter 134 19 September Yorkshire and Humber Royal Armouries, Leeds 162 26 September North West Kings Waterfront, Liverpool 162 1 October South East Mandolay Hotel, Guildford 124 10 October London British Library, London 195 15 October East of England Homerton College, Cambridge 91 22 October West Midlands ICC, Birmingham 228 30 October North East Baltic Mill, Gateshead 132 5 November East Midlands Pera, Melton Mowbray 168
In addition, there were a further 54 attendees who came to events without having advised their attendance in advance. While a record of the number of these attendees exists, there is no record of which particular events they attended. Taken with those in the table above, this gives a total of 1,533 attendees.
The total cost for all 10 of the above events was £141,923.15. This included venue hire, audio-visual equipment, catering, branding and display materials, and support from an event management company. It is not possible to disaggregate these items into each budgetary category in respect of each event other than at disproportionate cost, as some items were based on a fee for all 10 events.
Local Government: Official Cars
Subject to their legal duties, including European procurement law and the duty of best value, local authorities are responsible for taking their own procurement decisions.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Consumer information leaflets for the Mortgage Rescue Scheme and Homeowners Mortgage Support have been designed and produced at a cost of £9,000 for both leaflets. Hard copies are provided in response to requests from delivery partners and the Homeowners Mortgage Support leaflet is available to interested households and delivery partners electronically.
Official figures on numbers of households entering the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme will be published later this year.
HSBC, Barclays, Alliance and Leicester, Abbey and Nationwide have been offering their customers comparable arrangements to the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme, while opting not to take up the Government guarantee, since their commitment to do so in the press notice published by Communities and Local Government on 21 April 2009.
The press notice is available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1205071
Standard Life Bank formally joined the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme on Wednesday 20 May 2009. The Government continue to work closely with the Bank of Ireland, GE Money, GMAC, Kensington Mortgages and the Post Office, all of whom are committed to join the scheme, to ensure that they are in a position to offer the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme as soon as possible.
Non-domestic Rates
(2) whether under the business rates deferral scheme a business will be able to defer (a) a maximum of 60 per cent. of its 2009-10 business rate liability and (b) 60 per cent. of the amount of liability that remains unpaid at the time the deferral scheme became operational.
As announced on 31 March 2009 and confirmed at Budget, the Government will enable business rate payers to defer payment of 60 per cent. of the annual RPI inflation increase in their 2009-10 business rates bills until 2010-11 and 2011-12. Ratepayers occupying property that received transitional relief in 2008-09 will in addition be able to defer payment of 60 per cent. of the increase in their 2009-10 rates bills due to the end of the 2005 transitional relief scheme.
The Government do not have the power to make the regulations that will implement the scheme apply retrospectively. So where a ratepayer has, for whatever reason, already paid their full liability for 2009-10 under the existing legislative scheme, the billing authority will not be able to grant the ratepayer a deferral and give the ratepayer a refund. However, all ratepayers with enough outstanding 2009-10 rates liabilities will be able to defer the amounts set out above, which will be deducted from their remaining 2009-10 instalment payments. Those whose outstanding rates liability is less than the amount they can defer will be able to defer whatever is remaining of their 2009-10 liability.
(2) how many weeks after the coming into force of regulations implementing the business rates deferral scheme she expects local authorities to take to (a) inform businesses of the deferral option, (b) process requests for deferrals and (c) begin issuing rates bills that incorporate any requested deferral;
(3) what recent guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the time between coming into force of regulations in respect of the business rate deferral scheme and the issuing to businesses of revised bills.
As announced on 31 March 2009, the Government are planning to bring regulations implementing the business rates deferral scheme into force by the end of July.
Further details on the timetable for implementation and the availability of the scheme to ratepayers are described in the business rate information letter issued on 5 June 2009. This letter, which was sent to all billing authorities in England, can be accessed at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/busratsl.htm
I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
The figures cited in Table C11 of the 2009 Financial Statement and Budget Report setting out the Departmental Expenditure Limits for Communities and Local Government cover costs associated with implementing deferral of business rate payments.
Any net additional costs to local government as a whole arising from the business rates deferral scheme will be fully funded under the new burdens principle.
Official Hospitality
(2) what financial thresholds trigger requirements for her Department's special advisers to make a declaration of (a) interest and (b) gifts and hospitality.
Civil servants may not accept gifts, other than in very limited circumstances. Where a gift is accepted, departmental procedures require that details of all gifts, other than items such as diaries, calendars or other small items of modest value bearing a company’s name or insignia, must be declared in writing.
All hospitality received by staff, with the exception of light refreshments and meals provided in the course of normal departmental business must also be declared in writing. Government publish information on hospitality received by departmental board members. A copy of the published board hospitality report can be found in the Library of the House, and on the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/publications.aspx
In accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code, civil servants, including special advisers, must declare any business interests which they would be able to further as a result of their official position.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are not designed to prevent fires. It is therefore not possible to make a causal link between the number of dwelling fires and smoke alarm ownership. The alarms are designed to alert people to the presence of a fire and thereby prevent deaths and injuries.
The percentage of households with a smoke alarm increased from 8 per cent. in 1988 to 83 per cent. in 2000. There were 64,200 primary dwelling fires in 1988. By 2000 the number of primary dwelling fires had increased to 70,900. However, the number of deaths in accidental dwelling fires fell from 661 in 1988 to 397 in 2000.
Travelling People: Caravan Sites
The count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans, carried out in January and July each year, and published on the website of Communities and Local Government, provides details of the number of authorised and unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller caravan sites. It provides the following breakdown for the period January 2000 to January 2009:
Count Period Number of caravans on sites on Gypsies’ own land Number of caravans on sites on land not owned by Gypsies Tolerated Not tolerated Tolerated Not tolerated January 2009 1,279 1,086 770 545 July 2008 1,224 1,016 725 971 January 2008 1,054 1,233 687 823 July 2007 992 1,112 572 1,316 January 2007 997 1,255 491 795 July 2006 964 1,258 589 1,183 January 2006 714 1,440 438 680 July 2005 630 1,342 673 1,422 January 2005 704 1,563 513 778 July 2004 530 1,325 593 1,816 January 2004 610 1,367 573 1,021 July 2003 451 1,213 652 1,663 January 2003 505 903 539 1,081 July 2002 439 799 458 1,803 January 2002 533 604 615 1,022 July 2001 417 547 487 1,895 January 2001 458 507 379 1,259 July 2000 364 439 486 2,027 January 2000 299 429 684 1,104
International Development
Afghanistan: Overseas Aid
The Department for International Development’s (DFID) allocation of its bilateral programme through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for use in Afghanistan in the last five years is listed as follows:
£ 2004-05 10,200,000 2005-06 5,100,000 2006-07 27,633,000 2007-08 19,958,000 2008-09 16,000,000
DFID contracts are tendered and awarded in accordance with DFID’s procurement guidance, drawn up in line with the EU Public Procurement Directive.
Burma: Overseas Aid
In March the UK Government committed an additional £20 million to Burma over two years, increasing the Department for International Development’s aid programme to £25 million in 2009-10 and £28 million in 2010-11. Approximately 60 per cent. of this additional funding will be allocated to further relief following Cyclone Nargis. No UK aid is delivered though the Government of Burma.
Departmental Billing
Details of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) payments under the Late Payments of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 are published in the DFID Resource Accounts, which are available online at:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk
Departmental Finance
Co-locating and sharing offices with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), where practical and feasible, can provide certain opportunities to reduce costs and to improve the effectiveness of our work abroad. In some countries these opportunities will contribute to the Department for International Development's (DFID) overall target to deliver value for money savings in administration costs. Progress towards this target is set out in DFID's Autumn Performance Report and Departmental Report. These documents are available in the Library of the House and on the DFID website:
www.dfid.gov.uk
Departmental Marketing
The majority of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) advertising expenditure relates to recruitment advertising. The breakdown of expenditure on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers in the last five financial years is as follows:
Weekly publications Regional newspapers 2004-05 6,139 91,458 2005-06 7,330 84,547 2006-07 2,303 26,658 2007-08 7,779 9,314 2008-09 Nil 28,505 Total 23,551 240,033
Departmental Public Appointments
Information on appointments made by the Department will be published in its annual report which will be available on its website in due course. Vacancies may be advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at:
www.publicappointments.gov.uk
The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication “Making and Managing Public Appointments”. For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the “Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies”. Copies are in the Libraries of the House.
Departmental Recruitment
The Department for International Development only uses recruitment agencies to provide temporary staff. Since 2005 we have predominantly used three agencies.
The following table shows the total costs paid in the last three financial years to the three suppliers.
Financial year Total amount paid (£) 2005-06 1,226,530 2006-07 1,113,890 2007-08 1857,156 1 This total includes executive agency costs in the support of the recruitment of DFID’s Permanent Secretary and two Non-Executive Directors.
Individual departments within DFID also have delegated authority to appoint professional and specialist staff from specialist suppliers and recruitment consultants, but details of this expenditure are not held centrally.
In accordance with the civil service recruitment code, all DFID permanent appointments are made on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Although the Israeli Government announced on 25 March that all humanitarian food items would be allowed into Gaza, this has not yet been implemented. Inconsistent clearance criteria and thorough checks at crossings continue to cause delays.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be of serious concern. The UK Government monitor UN reporting closely and consistently lobby for unrestricted access for food and other humanitarian supplies into Gaza. We are funding the UN Logistics Cluster and the UN Access Support Team to help UN agencies and NGOs get aid into Gaza. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provides up to date reports on the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including on delivery of aid into Gaza. These are available on its website:
http://www.ochaopt.org/
The United Nations (UN) has recently reported that the difficulty in importing concrete and construction materials continues to hinder efforts to rebuild homes and essential infrastructure destroyed during the conflict. Meaningful reconstruction will not be possible while restrictions remain in place. The UN estimate the lack of spare parts for public infrastructure and industrial equipment, along with restrictions on the entry of cash and fuel, is preventing the implementation of almost all planned early recovery activities. They also report that procedures for approved humanitarian items into Gaza remain subject to unclear and often inconsistent criteria. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) makes regular reports of the humanitarian situation in Gaza available on its website:
http://www.ochaopt.org/
Sri Lanka: Overseas Aid
The UK Government have given no financial support to the Government of Sri Lanka.
Since September 2008 the Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £12.5 million of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. Of this, approximately £6.5 million has been used to support resettlement camp work through impartial international agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
£6 million remains to respond rapidly to needs on the ground as they evolve.
St. Helena: Aviation
Demographic studies, carried out as part of the 2005 Feasibility Study, suggest that in the absence of air access, the population of St. Helena will decline by around 1.5 per cent. a year.
Written Questions: Government Responses
A response to parliamentary question 263970 has been issued.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Zimbabwe’s social and economic decline has forced many Zimbabweans to leave the country during the last few years. The vast majority of those leaving do so by irregular means and do not request refugee status. They are viewed by neighbouring governments as illegal economic migrants and run the risk of deportation. It is therefore difficult to assess their numbers or provide assistance. Since 2000, oppressive policies and post-election violence have also seen hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans forcibly displaced within the country. However the Government of Zimbabwe deny the existence of internally displaced people and have thus refused a comprehensive national assessment of their numbers and needs.
In Zimbabwe, the Department for International Development (DFID) is the second largest donor to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), providing £5 million to deliver humanitarian assistance to 250,000 Zimbabwean deportees from South Africa and 30,000 from Botswana, at key border crossing points, as well as over 240,000 victims of forced internal displacement. The UK also provides further support to Zimbabwean migrants, including street children, in Zambia and South Africa. DFID will provide around £49 million of humanitarian and other essential support to the people of Zimbabwe this financial year, none of which goes through the Government of Zimbabwe.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Cabinet: Glasgow
The information is as follows:
(a) No special advisers accompanied the Secretary of State or Lord Drayson to Glasgow when they attended the Cabinet meeting there on 16 April 2009.
(b) One official accompanied each Minister on their visit to Scotland to attend Cabinet in Glasgow on 16 April 2009—making two Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills officials in total.
For information relating to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Wednesday 3 June 2009, Official Report, column 487W.
The then Secretary of State travelled from his London home to London City airport. On arrival, the then Secretary of State travelled by car from Glasgow airport to the regional Cabinet meeting. Following the Cabinet meeting, the Secretary of State went by car to visit the University of Strathclyde before returning to Glasgow airport. He flew back from Glasgow to Southampton airport and travelled to his constituency home.
Lord Drayson travelled to Bristol airport from his home to fly to Glasgow. He was driven from Glasgow airport to the University of Glasgow before journeying to the Cabinet meeting. Once the Cabinet meeting had finished, Lord Drayson travelled to Glasgow airport for his return flight to Bristol airport—from there he travelled home.
For information relating to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Wednesday 3 June 2009, Official Report, column 487W.
Companies House: Standards
A report on Companies House's performance is laid before Parliament each year before the summer recess. The report for 2008-09 will be laid on 16 July 2009.
Conditions of Employment
The impact assessment produced in 2007 when the right to request flexible working was extended to carers of adults estimated that 2.65 million carers would be eligible.
The impact assessment published in March 2009 to accompany the Government response to the recent consultation on implementing the recommendations of the Walsh Review estimated that an additional 4.5 million parents would be eligible to request flexible working under the extended legislation. The impact assessment also estimated that 3.5 million parents were already eligible under the existing legislation. The total number of parents who have the statutory right to request flexible working is around 8 million.
Overall more than 10 million employees have the statutory right to request flexible working.
Departmental Contracts
The Shareholder Executive engaged UBS on three separate assignments—the sale of British Energy, the sale of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's sites and to advise the Shareholder Executive on the process for finding suitable partners for Royal Mail. These assignments were covered by two separate contracts, the values of which are commercially confidential on an individual basis but with the total value up to £15 million depending on success factors.
The Department also spent £135,175 with Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd in financial year 2008-09. These relate to salary costs for the secondment of Philip Remnant as Chairman of the Shareholder Executive.
The Department does not currently have any contracts with Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers and has not made any payments to them in 2008-09.
Departmental Manpower
As of 31 March 2009, 457 officials work in the Department's Further Education and Skills and Higher Education Groups. This figure is taken from the TRENT payroll system.
Further Education and Skills Group (FESG): 310
Higher Education Group: 147.
This includes 13 staff working in the Joint Apprenticeship Unit, which reports to both DCSF and DIUS.
These two Groups are currently restructuring to become the Universities and Skills Group with a separate Directorate whose work will be to set up the new Skills Funding Agency. Adult Skills Directorate, which was part of FESG will be moving to join the new Business Innovation Group.
The staffing for the new groups is being finalised, until it is we cannot give final information on staff numbers.
Departmental Stationery
In the 12-month period up to 30 April 2009, 78.5 per cent. of all office supplies purchased by the then Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform were considered sustainable and annotated as such by our supplier.
Export Credit Guarantees
[holding answer 13 May 2009]: The Government are aware of the problems that some businesses are facing in getting access to short-term export finance. ECGD is consulting on a new facility to support UK exporters by sharing risk with banks that confirm letters of credit for UK exporters. The Export Credits Guarantee Department is also considering other potential interventions in the short-term market.
Graduates: Science
Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show in the 2007/08 academic year 73,150 postgraduate enrolments listed their highest qualification on entry to their science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) postgraduate course as a first degree from a UK institution. This represents 41 per cent. of all STEM postgraduate enrolments whose highest qualification on entry is known. Equivalent figures for 1976 to 1980 are not available.
It is important to note that students who entered their STEM postgraduate course with a qualification higher than a first degree (i.e. those who already held a postgraduate qualification) will not be included in the above figures. A number of these students may have obtained a first degree from a UK institution.
Higher Education: Plymouth
The latest available information is shown in the following table. Figures for the 2008-09 academic year will be available in January 2010.
Academic year Enrolments 1997-98 2,405 2007-08 3,710 1 Covers undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled on full-time and part-time courses. 2 Parliamentary constituency is defined by full and valid home postcodes recorded on the HESA student record. Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Insolvency: Greater London
There were 4,820 administrations (Enterprise Act 2002) in England and Wales in 2008. Statistics covering business administrations are not currently available on a regional basis within England and Wales.
Metals: Prices
The recent fall in scrap metal prices is a global issue brought about by a sharp reduction in world metals demand and production, which has fed through to the entire supply chain for this sector including raw materials such as scrap metal. Official employment statistics do not identify numbers employed in the scrap metals industry, although the data do show that employment in basic metals production fell by 14.7 per cent. between January 2005 and February 2009.
Minimum Wage
The outcome of our consultation on tips and the national minimum wage was issued on 6 May 2009. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and from BERR’s website:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51166.pdf.
Newsagents: Closures
My noble Friend the Secretary of State and BIS Ministers meet regularly and discuss a wide range of issues.
Professional Bodies
(2) how many individuals are licensed by each recognised professional body.
The Department sometimes receives complaints about accounting firms and professional bodies. In these cases we refer the complainant to the relevant professional body or to the Professional Oversight Board as appropriate. The information on the numbers of complaints received by the Professional Oversight Board is contained in its Annual Report to my noble Friend the Secretary of State, on pages 23 and 47. This is published on the website of the Financial Reporting Council
http://www.frc.org.uk/.
The information about the number of complaints in which the Department intervened is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
With regards to the question as to how many individuals are licensed by each recognised professional body, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform does not hold this information. The Director of the Professional Oversight Board of the Financial Reporting Council has informed us that he wrote to my hon. Friend on this matter on 19 March 2009.
Regulation
The Government have no plans to replace the existing professional bodies. In 2002 Parliament set up the current regime, which gives the Financial Reporting Council and its operating bodies oversight over the recognised professional bodies. This is kept under review by the Government, but the Government have no evidence that this system is not working well.
Risk and Regulation Advisory Council: Expenditure
The Risk and Regulation Advisory Council (RRAC) support team is co-located with the Operational Research Unit in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and they have operated from mid-financial year 2008-09 as a single unit for accounting purposes. The following figures are the most detailed currently available for the combined unit, and should be considered estimates prior to the publication of BERR final accounts for 2008-09.
Public Relations and Marketing: £114,000—which includes forum events, publishing and public relations.
Research: £125,000—(b) research.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 April 2009, Official Report, column 1448W.
Students: Employment
The Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2007/8, published on the 21 April 2009, is a comprehensive study of student income, expenditure, borrowing and debt. It showed that 53 per cent. of all English domiciled full-time undergraduate students undertook paid work at some time during the academic year—either during term-time, during the short vacations or both. For those undertaking such work, earnings over the academic year were on average £4,005 (after tax).
Justice
Climate Change
All Departments are actively involved in the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme, which aims to help society adapt to climate change. The role of the programme is to develop and provide a comprehensive evidence base including adaptation tools, to raise awareness of the need to adapt, to measure success and to work across Government at all levels to embed adaptation. Further details about the programme's work can be found at:
www.defra.gov/adaptation
The steps the Ministry of Justice has taken to adapt to climate change in the last two years are publicised on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/adapt/programme/moj.htm
The Ministry of Justice is not yet at the stage where it can provide information on what estimate has been made of potential gross costs (a) savings and (b) arising from its climate change adaptation measures in the next three years.
It has, however, been shown in the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change that timely and well-targeted climate adaptation measures will yield benefits in excess of their costs. The main rationale for investment to address climate risk will be to reduce the UK's vulnerability to longer-term climate change impacts.
The Government are undertaking a Climate Change Risk Assessment and Economic Analysis, which will provide estimates of the costs and benefits of adaptation to the UK. This analysis will be presented to Parliament within three years of the Climate Change Act 2008 coming in to force.
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
New retailer sanctions under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 for the persistent sale of tobacco products to young people under the age of 18 years came into force on 1 April 2009.
Court proceedings data for 2009 will be available in the autumn of 2010.
Departmental Foreign Workers
Information on the nationality of Ministry of Justice staff (including public sector Prison Service and National Offender Management Service Headquarters staff) is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
The Ministry of Justice’s application packs contain information about nationality requirements and documentary evidence is rigorously checked at interview stage. At point of employment the Ministry of Justice ensures that the correct security checks and clearances are made.
Departmental Older Workers
On 30 April 2009 the Ministry of Justice employed (a) 14,314 staff over 55 years of age and (b) 801 staff over 65 years of age.
Fines
Information held by the Ministry of Justice for the number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PND) issued to persons aged 16 and over for the offence of Theft (retail under £200), and for alcohol related offences in England and Wales in 2007 that were paid (i) at the earliest opportunity within the 21 day suspended enforcement period is shown in the table. 21 days is the minimum period before which forces can register a fine against the recipient for not responding to a notice, so forces can accept payments after the SEP for administrative purposes. It is not possible to identify the payment rate of fines arising from unpaid PNDs separately from other court-imposed fines. However, the latest enforcement rate for all fines including those from unpaid PNDs, is 85.2 per cent. for the period April to December 2008.
Information on the number of persons who requested a court appearance after being issued with a PND has been provided in the table. It is not possible from the information collected centrally to provide details on the outcomes of these cases.
PND data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
Certain motoring offences, including parking offences where not de-criminalised, can be dealt with by the offer of a fixed penalty. Information reported to the Home Office on outcomes of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) are not broken down by offence, therefore data on payment rates for FPNs for parking offences are not available.
Offence Number issued Paid in full within 21 days Percentage Court hearing requested Percentage Shoplifting Theft (retail under £200)3 45,146 15,390 34 172 0 Alcohol related offences Drunk and disorderly2 46,996 19,727 42 244 1 Sale of alcohol to drunken person5 81 50 62 3 4 Supply of alcohol to a person under 18 54 31 57 1 2 Sale of alcohol to a person under 183 3,583 2,623 73 13 0 Purchasing alcohol for a person under 183 555 244 44 4 1 Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18 for consumption on the premises 64 23 36 — — Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery3 431 219 51 1 0 Drunk in a highway 2,066 942 46 8 0 Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place 1,544 259 17 6 0 Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises3 85 55 65 — — Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises3 11 8 73 — — Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 185 158 85 54 — — Alcohol related offences total 55,628 24,266 44 280 1 1 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 2 Offence moved from the lower tier (£50) to the upper tier (£80) on 1 November 2004. 3 Offence added with effect from 1 November 2004. 4 Offence added with effect from 11 October 2004. 5 Offence added with effect from 4 April 2005. Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit—Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice
Internet: Advertising
The Ministry of Justice has recently received a number of representations on the data sharing implications of Phorm. Those representations tended to focus on issues surrounding privacy and consent regarding the Phorm Trial.
The Information Commissioner’s Office is the independent regulator with responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Representations have also been made to the Information Commissioner about the data sharing implications of Phorm and he has noted his intention to keep the matter under review.
Land Registry: Complaints
The figures set out in the following table show the number of complaint reviews completed and the number of separate allegations investigated that were considered in the reviews. The 2008-09 annual report has not been finalised.
Number of complaints Number of allegations investigated 2005-06 16 75 2006-07 24 121 2007-08 22 98
Lindholme Prison
Information provided by the prison shows that at Lindholme Prison no cell designed for two occupants has been used to hold more than two occupants in the last three years.
National Offender Management Information System
There have been three Senior Responsible Owners of the C-NOMIS Project and its successor, the NOMIS Programme. Their names and dates of appointment are as follows:
Christine Knott (SRO C-NOMIS Project)—June 2004;
Roger Hill (SRO C-NOMIS Project/NOMIS Programme)—April 2007;
Ann Beasley (SRO NOMIS Programme)—April 2008.
National Offender Management Service
(2) whether all the vacancies in the National Offender Management Service for Directors of Offender Management have been filled;
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost to the National Offender Management Service of employing each of its Directors of Offender Management in 2009-10.
The recruitment costs for the directors of Offender Management (DOM) in the National Offender Management Service is £168,000 as of 4 June 2009.
Nine of the 10 vacancies for DOM have been filled. The remaining vacancy, the north-east, is currently being covered by an interim appointment.
The director of Offender Management role has been evaluated, in all cases, to be senior civil servant (SCS) pay band 2. The salaries paid will be commensurate with this pay band and are expected to be in the region of £80,000 to £120,000. The exact salaries of the directors will be different because the roles vary in scale and this will be recognised accordingly.
The savings generated from the regional restructuring in the National Offender Management Service, which includes the creation and appointment of directors of Offender Management will result in a cost base reduction of £10 million.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) became part of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) when it was formed in May 2007. Before then it was part of the Home Office.
The NOMS agency unaudited resource and capital expenditure outturn for the financial year 2009-09 is: resource £4,452 million and capital £550 million. The final audited figures will be included in the MOJ annual departmental report and accounts that will be published in due course.
The agency’s predecessor was announced in January 2004. The resource and capital expenditure outturn figures for each financial year are shown as follows.
Financial year Resource Capital 2007-08 4,722 577 2006-07 4,358 400 2005-06 4,034 354 2004-05 3,680 403
Figures for 2004-05 to 2006-07 have been taken from the Ministry of Justice departmental report 2007-08. Figures for 2007-08 have been taken from the Ministry of Justice annual accounts 2007-08.
The figures for 2008-09 will not be directly comparable with those for previous years as a result of the reorganisation of the service and the establishment of the new NOMS Agency, and the transfer of strategic functions to the newly formed Criminal Justice Group in the MOJ, from April 2008.
National Offender Management Service: Ethnic Groups
The information requested is not collected centrally. An accurate calculation of time spent recording and collating ethnic monitoring data would involve calculations across a number of processes and functions in prisons, young offender institutions and probations areas locally and at a regional and national level. Gathering this information would be at disproportionate cost.
Prison Accommodation
The following shows the list of sites included on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) disposal list, issued in March 20061. A number of options relating to sites under consideration for disposal by the MOD but not included on the disposals lists were also discussed.
A short list of former military sites with potential for prison development was subsequently identified. This included 18 sites on the March 2006 MOD disposal list, indicated in the table, as well as Chelsea Barracks, RAF West Drayton, Rowcroft Barracks and RAF Coltishall.
DCSA Inskip, Preston2
RAF Church Fenton, Tadcaster2
Uniter Rawcliffe, Goole
ATE Caerwent
Croughton highway land, Brackley
RAF Stoke Holy Cross, Poringland
RAF Syerston2
RAF Watton2
TAC Worcester2
RAF Kinloss
Peterhead SFA
Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot2
Upnor Bridging Hard, Frindsbury
Kent Volunteer Estate, Maidstone
Wandsworth Volunteer Estate, Balham
Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot
Aldershot Garrison2
Browning Barracks, Aldershot
Normandy Barracks Montgomery Lines, Aldershot
Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone
RAF High Wycombe2
Parsons Barracks, Aldershot
Thornhill Barracks, Aldershot
Ordnance Barracks, Aldershot
HMS Daedalus, Gosport and Fareham2
RNMT Portsmouth
DMC Plymouth
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth
DMC Bullpoint, Plymouth
Commando Training Centre, Honiton
Bovington Camp, Wareham
RAF Lyneham
Wyke Regis Training Area, Weymouth
GPSS Goostrey, Holmes Chapel
Anzio Barracks, Leek2
HMS Forest Moor, Harrogate2
RAF Boulmer
RAE Llanbedr
RAF West Raynham2
DPA Seismic Stations, Norfolk
RAF Newton2
Arbroath SFA
Cultybraggan Trg Camp, Crieff
Rathfriland
Killymeal Hse, Dungannon
Aughnacloy
Clogher
Kinmel Park, Kinmel
RAF Neatishead
Dreghorn Bks, Edinburgh
RAF Alconbury2
Lisnaskea
Shetland Islands SFA, Haroldswick
RAF Halton, Wendover2
RAF Brize Norton, Bicester2
DMC Dean Hill, West Dean2
DLO Pixash Lane, Bristol
Wainscott Barracks
Drummond Barracks, Ludgershall
RNAD Broughton Moor
DERA Eskmeals, Millom
Eskmeals, Millom
Hillside Crescent, Ashton under Lyne
RAF Tuddenham
Aberdeen SFA
Forres SFA
Kinloss SFA
Lossiemouth SFA
DE West Freugh, Portpatrick
Helensburgh SFA, Rhu
HMNB Clyde, Rosneath
DE Farnborough, Aldershot
Rochester
RAF Fire Service Central Training Establishment, Ramsgate
Seaton Barracks, Plymouth
GPSS Swanvale, Falmouth
RAF St. Mawgan, Newquay
Ashchurch SFA, Tewkesbury
Salisbury SFA, Wilton
DE Durrington, Salisbury
Devizes SFA
RAF Chilmark, Salisbury2
DE Durrington, Salisbury
1 Where more than one site within an establishment is listed for disposal, only the establishment is shown
2 Sites assessed as potential for prison development
A number of former military sites were visited by the National Offender Management Service officials since 2006 to assess further their potential for prison development. These are listed as follows and include Rousillon Barracks, previously used for prison use, and Connaught Barracks.
RAF Alconbury;
Aldershot Garrison;
Anzio Barracks;
RAF Coltishall;
Connaught Barracks;
Rousillon Barracks.
A proposal to convert Connaught Barracks to a prison was considered but a decision was taken not to proceed.
In response to Lord Carter’s report, “Securing the Future: Proposals for the Efficient and Sustainable Use of Custody in England and Wales”, in January 2008 Ministers agreed to the acquisition of the former RAF Coltishall site in Norfolk for conversion to a prison.
With the exception of Coltishall, there are no current plans to build new prisons on any of these former military sites.
From the current data available there are 1,729 places recorded as out of use from the total certified normal accommodation (CNA) of the prison estate. This represents 2.3 per cent. of the total CNA.
The data available do not allow for a breakdown of whether these places are for young offenders or adults.
Comprehensive information on why these places are out of use is not held centrally, however the majority of out of use accommodation will be due to maintenance or refurbishment work taking place.
There is a planned programme of refurbishment of accommodation which requires the temporary closure of prison places. This allows the critical maintenance of the estate to be undertaken while having no significant change on the number of net places in use, e.g. 127 places are currently out of use at HMP Swaleside to enable essential electrical re-wiring of one wing to take place.
The following tables show the total number of places that were recorded as out of use by male and female establishments.
HMP Ashwell has 415 places out of use following an incident in April. HMP Wealstun has 380 places out of use while part of the establishment is re-rolled to closed conditions.
Establishment name Number of places out of use Percentage of CNA Ashfield 7 1.7 Ashwell 415 69.3 Bedford 3 0.9 Buckley Hall 4 1.1 Camp Hill 1 0.2 Channings Wood 2 0.3 Cookham Wood 31 21.4 Dartmoor 20 3.2 Dorchester 8 5.5 Elmley 18 2.4 Full Sutton 8 1.3 Grendon 59 23.3 Highpoint 14 1.5 Hindley 84 14.0 Kingston 24 12.1 Lincoln 12 2.7 Liverpool 20 1.7 Norwich 5 1.1 Pentonville 100 11.0 Portland 20 3.3 Ranby 25 2.6 Risley 2 0.2 Rochester 107 14.7 Shrewsbury 7 3.8 Spring Hill 1 0.3 Standford Hill 2 0.4 Stoke Heath 72 11.4 Swaleside 127 13.6 Swansea 18 7.3 Wealstun 380 42.9 Whatton 3 0.4 Whitemoor 28 5.7 Woodhill 5 0.8
Establishment Number of places out of use Percentage of CNA Askham Grange 24 16.0 East Sutton Park 3 3.1 Foston Hall 19 6.7 Holloway 33 6.2 Low Newton 16 5.1 Styal 2 0.4
Prisoners
This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as it would involve contacting every prison who would then have to consult individual prisoner records.
There has been no relaxation of security categorisation standards.
Public protection remains paramount when undertaking the categorisation process.
Prisons
Category A, B. C and D refers to the regime by which prisoners are managed, not the prison. All prisons, apart from open (Category D) prisons, are built to common standard, with certain modifications where additional security requirements are required and appropriate to the category of prisoner housed there.
Category C are prisoners who cannot be trusted in open conditions but who do not have the resources and will to make a determined escape attempt. The security in prisons holding these prisoners will include a secure fence/wall in accommodation blocks.
Category D are prisoners who present a low risk, can reasonably be trusted in open conditions and for whom open conditions are appropriate. There are currently no direct build standards for Category D conditions.
Prisons: Military Bases
A total of 39 new prisons, including the prison ship the Weare which has since closed, have opened since 1979.
A number of these were built on sites either directly acquired from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), or acquired from a third partly but which previously belonged to the MOD.
A detailed investigation of the site records is necessary to determine their precise origin. I will write to the hon. and learned Member as soon as this investigation is complete.
Probation Officers
There are 556 trainee probation officers (TPOs) due to complete the Diploma in Probation Studies in September 2009. A recent survey of the 42 probation areas, who are the employers, has shown that it is too soon to be certain how many of these graduates will be offered jobs in the Probation Service.
The regional directors of Offender Management have been asked to review the position of their local Probation Boards and Trusts to ensure that decisions about TPO employment are based on credible workforce plans that take full account of the staffing requirements of the next three years within the region and elsewhere in the country.
Probation: Expenditure
Expenditure on probation services is as follows:
Resource Capital 2000-01 539 16 2001-02 596 39 2002-03 660 17 2003-04 768 20 2004-05 768 28 2005-06 906 4 2006-07 920 5 2007-08 976 15
Information for 2008-09 is not yet available. The financial data include probation boards, the National Probation Directorate and (from 2004-05) the National Offender Management Service. Comparisons over a long period are difficult due to machinery of government changes and accounting methodology changes.
Probation: North Yorkshire
(2) how many cases were referred to multi-agency public protection panels in North Yorkshire Probation Area in each of the last five financial years.
The total community and pre-release custodial offender caseload for North Yorkshire as at 31 March in each of the last five years was as follows:
Supervised in community Supervised in custody 2004 1,451 544 2005 1,562 527 2006 1,767 541 2007 1,805 582 2008 1,717 551
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
The following table shows the total number of multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) eligible offenders living in the community in North Yorkshire. The table also shows the number of eligible offenders who were managed at the higher MAPPA levels and who were considered by multi-agency public protection panels. Cases are referred to level 2 where the ongoing involvement of several agencies will be required to implement or monitor the risk management plan and to level 3 where more senior oversight is additionally required. The data are taken from North Yorkshire's MAPPA annual report.
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Total MAPPA eligible offenders 425 507 490 605 632 Level 2 1— 91 81 192 192 Level 3 27 18 17 21 21 1 Not collected.
The doubling of level 2 cases from 2006 to 2007 reflects a change in the way North Yorkshire approached identifying category 3 cases and not a doubling of complex cases at that time.
There has been a 70 per cent. increase in probation funding in real terms over the last 10 years and an increase of more than a third in staff. The Probation Service continues to cut reoffending rates, increase successful drug treatments and offending behaviour programmes, and carry out visible and punitive community payback.
Probation: Staffordshire
(2) how many cases the Staffordshire probation area referred to multi-agency public protection panels in each of the last five financial years;
(3) how many offenders in Staffordshire probation area were categorised as Tier 4 in each of the last five financial years.
The total community and pre-release custodial offender caseload for Staffordshire as at 31 March in each of the last five years was as follows:
Supervised in community Supervised in custody 2004 2,834 931 2005 2,839 914 2006 3,009 969 2007 3,227 982 2008 3,224 1,058
The total number of offenders in Staffordshire who were categorised as Tier 4 as at 31 March in each of the last three years was as follows:
Number 2006 522 2007 752 2008 825
Information on tier prior to 1 April 2005 was not recorded.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
The following table shows the total number of multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) eligible offenders living in the community in Staffordshire. The table also shows the number of eligible offenders who were managed at the higher MAPPA levels and who were considered by multi-agency public protection panels. Cases are referred to level 2 where the ongoing involvement of several agencies will be required to implement or monitor the risk management plan and to level 3 where more senior oversight is additionally required. Cases can be referred by any agency but the identity of the referring agency is not recorded. This data is taken from Staffordshire's MAPPA annual report.
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Total MAPPA eligible offenders 652 722 798 841 920 Level 2 1— 298 277 295 283 Level 3 48 43 33 46 37 1 Not collected.
There has been a 70 per cent. increase in probation funding in real terms over the last 10 years and an increase of more than a third in staff. The Probation Service continues to cut reoffending rates, increase successful drug treatments and offending behaviour programmes, and carry out visible and punitive community payback.
Referral Orders
(2) how many referral orders have been made in the last six months.
The referral order is the primary community sentence for under 18s. It is available for under 18s appearing in court for the first time who plead guilty. Legislation implemented on 27 April has extended the availability of the referral order so that a referral order may now be made on second conviction where the offender pleads guilty and has not previously had a referral order. Also, in exceptional circumstances, on the recommendation of the youth offending team, a second referral order may be made where the offender pleads guilty.
Under a referral order the young offender is referred to a youth offender panel consisting of two volunteers from the community advised by a member from the youth offending team (YOT). The young offender is required to attend the panel with their parent/s and must agree a contract which includes reparation or restoration to the victim, or the wider community if there is no direct victim or the victim does not wish to be directly involved, and a programme of interventions and activities to address their offending behaviour. A referral order can be made for a maximum period of 12 months.
The most recent information on the number of referral orders made is for 2007. In this year a total of 29,090 referral orders were made. Court proceedings data are not yet available for 2008 or 2009.
Regional Offender Managers
Offender managers are national probation service staff who are probation officers, senior practitioners, senior probation officers and professional development assessors.
The latest available data, which are from 31 December 2007, show that there were 508 staff carrying out these roles in Prison Service establishments. Information relating to the two more recent years is subject to a validation exercise and is not yet available.
Restorative Justice
(2) what research his Department has undertaken in connection with the high-visibility community payback scheme.
Probation areas have been required to promote the unpaid work community sentence as Community Payback since 2005. This has been done in a variety of ways including the use of signs at Community Payback work sites and on vehicles. In addition probation areas have also worked to generate local and national publicity in order to increase public awareness of the millions of hours worked by offenders to make reparation for the crimes and to improve local communities. To further increase visibility and public confidence the use of distinctive clothing, to be worn by offenders sentenced to Community Payback, was introduced on 1 December 2008. This followed the review, ‘Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime’, which proposed that community payback should be made increasingly visible. A survey of members of the public conducted as part of the review found that:
90 per cent. agreed that all punishments for crime should involve some payback to the community;
77 per cent. agreed that people should be informed about when and where the work would be carried out; and
a strong majority wanted work under community sentencing to be made more visible.
The number of hours worked by offenders and the number of Community Payback work projects on which high visibility clothing is worn is recorded by the National Offender Management Service and in March over 400,000 hours of Community Payback were undertaken by offenders wearing the distinctive clothing.
Community Payback has featured in the recent ‘Justice Seen, Justice Done’ campaign where the public were able to have their say on work offenders carry out in 54 local authority areas. The Community Payback work projects nominated will be announced in the near future. Further work will also be undertaken to determine the level of public awareness of Community Payback.
The use of high-visibility clothing by offenders undertaking community payback was introduced on 1 December 2008. Implementation of this policy has been monitored by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The overwhelming majority of the offenders comply with this requirement. The number of hours worked by offenders and the number of community payback work projects on which high visibility clothing is worn are recorded by NOMS. Data are available for the period December 2008 to March 2009 and are shown in the following table.
Number of projects Hours worked December 2,566 210,974 January 2,538 321,853 February 2,422 326,618 March 2,938 401,680
West Midlands Probation Service
The total community and pre-release custodial offender caseload for West Midlands as at 31 March in each of the last five years was as follows:
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Supervised in community 12,872 12,966 12,892 13,550 13,530 Supervised in custody 5,907 5,992 6,202 6,182 6,142
Total probation staffing (expressed as full time equivalents) was up from 13,968 in 1997 to 20,869 by June 2007, a 49 per cent. increase over the period.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
West Midlands Probation Service: Finance
The proportion of the west midlands probation budget spent on management and administration is:
Percentage 2004-05 17.8 2005-06 18.8 2006-07 15.6 2007-08 14.5 2008-09 16.6
West Midlands Probation Service: Manpower
The following table shows the numbers of probation officers and probation service officers in post in the west midlands probation area on 31 March in each year since 2004:
Probation officers1 Probation service officers 2003-04 407 215 2004-05 446 327 2005-06 482 384 2006-07 499 411 2007-082 473 388 1 Probation officer figures include senior probation officers, senior practitioners and probation officers. 2 The information provided has yet to be published and may therefore be subject to minor amendment upon publication. Notes: 1. Figures are shown as full-time equivalents. 2. Figures for the year 2008-09 are not yet available.
Young Offenders: Crime Prevention
Local authorities' youth offending teams are responsible for providing and commissioning local programmes aimed at reducing reoffending. Funding for youth offending teams comes from a variety of agencies, such as the police, probation and social services. The following table shows the amount of funding that the Youth Justice Board has allocated to youth offending teams in England and Wales since 2000-01 when the teams came into being.
£ million 2000-01 39 2001-02 69 2002-03 100 2003-04 102 2004-05 113 2005-06 115 2006-07 117 2007-08 117 2008-09 115
In addition, programmes to reduce reoffending are run within the secure estate. However, the cost of these is incorporated in the overall “cost per bed” and it is not possible to identify the expenditure separately.
The recently published National Statistics on Juvenile Reoffending show that juvenile reoffending is at its lowest since records for the frequency of reoffending began in 2000. This success reflects the Government's investment in the youth justice system and the significant reforms implemented over the past 12 years.
For 2009-10, the Youth Justice Board has allocated £11 million for preventative programmes from its Ministry of Justice grant. In addition, the Youth Justice Board will receive £6 million from the Department of Children, Schools and Families and £18 million from the Home Office for preventative programmes.
Final budgets for 2010-11 and 2011-12 will be allocated at the beginning of the financial year.